RMC Whitsundays Experience 2026 | Journey Complete

From Tangalooma, the fleet crossed the Wide Bay Bar and continued into the Great Sandy Strait. This passage included navigating the Sheridan Flats bypass—a deeper alternative offering greater flexibility around tide times than the usual route. Credit to Jansz for sharing the local knowledge and guiding the fleet through.

That evening, the boats anchored off Kingfisher Bay Resort before the group headed ashore for dinner at Sand & Wood Restaurant.

The following morning brought sunny skies and ideal cruising conditions for the journey north to Pancake Creek. After settling into the anchorage, everyone headed ashore for sundowners and a rustic beach barbecue. This is always a popular stop, bringing the group together in a relaxed and beautifully simple setting.

Some of the group began the next day with the walk to Bustard Head Lighthouse, enjoying the views before returning to the anchorage.

Later that evening, three Rivieras rafted together for a shared dinner, with each boat contributing a dish. This was undoubtedly one of the highlights of the trip, bringing everyone together around an incredible spread of food. There were clearly plenty of talented cooks among the group, and it made for a memorable evening of good food, conversation and company on the water.

The fleet then travelled to Keppel Bay Marina at Rosslyn Bay, where we stayed overnight and gathered for dinner at The Waterline Restaurant. The following morning, the boats continued north to The Dukes at Hunter Island. Windy conditions kept everyone onboard, making it a quiet overnight stop before continuing the journey the next day.

Scawfell Island in the Lower Whitsundays was our next destination and another standout location. The fresh mud crabs cooked on the beach were a real highlight, shared among the group alongside sundowners as everyone relaxed by the water. The afternoon continued well into the evening as we watched the sun set behind the surrounding islands.

The next morning, the fleet departed Scawfell Island and visited Thomas Island anchorage for breakfast before continuing to Whitehaven Beach.

Arriving early gave everyone plenty of time to enjoy a leisurely afternoon, with many guests taking their tenders ashore to spend time on the beach. As the sun began to fall, the group gathered together on Whitehaven for another memorable evening in one of the Whitsundays’ most recognised locations.

Following a relaxed departure from Whitehaven, the boats made their way to Shute Harbour, where six Rivieras refuelled. The modern facilities and excellent service made it a highly recommended stop for the fleet.

One Riviera 545 SUV then continued directly to Hamilton Island to welcome additional guests for the next leg, while the remaining boats made their way to berths at Coral Sea Marina and Port of Airlie.

The group came together that evening for dinner at Coral Sea Pavilion, enjoying fresh, seasonal flavours and regional produce in a relaxed waterfront setting. It was a fitting way to bring the organised portion of the experience to a close.

The following day allowed time for some routine maintenance, with the RMC crew attending to several small items requested by owners before everyone continued with their individual plans.

All of the Rivieras have remained in the Whitsundays. Some owners, guests and RMC staff have flown back to the Gold Coast, while others have stayed to spend more time aboard their boats and continue exploring Airlie Beach, Hamilton Island and the surrounding islands.

These experiences are an important part of what we offer at R Marine Crawley. They help new owners build their knowledge, confidence and familiarity with their Rivieras while discovering more of the boating lifestyle their vessels make possible. They also provide an opportunity to meet other owners, exchange knowledge and enjoy some remarkable destinations together.

We genuinely value the business and trust our clients place in R Marine Crawley. These journeys are one of the ways we continue supporting our owners well beyond the delivery of their boat.

Thank you to every owner, guest and team member who joined us and contributed to the experience. It was particularly rewarding to welcome several new Riviera owners and share their first extended journey as part of the RMC boating community.

We now look forward to bringing everyone together again for the Circle Whitsundays Experience in late October.

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August 4, 2026

RMC Whitsundays Experience 2026 | Journey Complete