Barefoot Cruises Australia Queensland Australia

Barefoot Cruises is a boutique cruise company specializing in small ship cruising and fully crewed sailing holidays. It operates three and six night cruises on a fleet of unique sailing and cruising vessels in the World Heritage listed Whitsunday islands and Great Barrier Reef.

Winners of the highest national accolade the 2005 Australian Tourism Award for unique accommodation, Barefoot Cruises strives for excellence and quality in all its endeavours.

Vessels and crews also exhibit character and personality ensuring guests have a very personal experience.

If you seek the slap of sail and creak of timber with a bit of swashbuckling romance thrown in they recommend either the refined, classic schooner Windjammer (one of Australia’s most beautifully crafted sailing boats) or the adventure seeking Coral Trekker, a Norwegian tall ship with dramatic red billowing sails. Both are finely crafted and beautiful vessels to observe, even to the novice. Guests can participate in hoisting the sails, hauling the sheets, taking the helm or just putting their bare feet up on the rail and watching the crew do it for you. Ah… bliss!

Reef Odyssey on the other hand is a 35 metre expedition style cruise ship accommodating 39 guests and 10 crew. It’s finely appointed with cocktail bar, lounge and dining areas, sun decks, deluxe staterooms, air conditioning and ensuites. It’s big enough to be extremely comfortable and small enough to be personal. Guests and crew generate a relaxed atmosphere where people who meet for the first time will chat as if they’ve known each other for years.

All trips provide guests with the opportunity to be as active or passive as they please. Snorkelling beside vibrant colourful coral reefs and tropical fish, beach and rainforest walks on uninhabited islands, swimming in crystal clear waters, or being a complete lazy-bones anywhere on the boat, is quite the perfect holiday.

With 74 islands there’s a plentiful supply of sheltered coves and peaceful anchorages. The islands also provide calm water sailing and cruising.

This is the world of Barefoot Cruises. Kick off your shoes and let the pioneers of sailing in the Whitsundays take you on a voyage of discovery where nearly 20 years of local knowledge and impeccable safety standards are combined with fun-filled adventure sailing and cruising holidays.

The scenery is spectacular, the marine life is teeming with colour, and the crew is ready to welcome you onboard.

Touring Options

Reef Odyssey – Great Barrier Reef and Island Cruise

Reef Odyssey is a 35 metre expedition style cruise ship operating three and six night cruises to the Great Barrier Reef and Whitsunday Islands.

Explore magnificent reefs aboard one of the ships glass bottom boats or try scuba diving and snorkelling. Stop over at the renowned Whitehaven Beach, rated as one of the top ten beaches in the world. Stroll the endless white silica sand, take a swim in the crystal clear water or join a guided walk to eagles landing for a breathtaking view over Hill Inlet.

Coral Trekker – Tall ship sailing adventure

Coral Trekker is a 23 metre tall ship offering three and six night cruises to the Great Barrier Reef and Whitsunday Islands.

Action packed or relaxed! Join the crew in the rigging or just sit back on the wide decks and relax in the tropical sunshine. The itinerary is flexible and unhurried setting aside lots of time for strolling secluded beaches, snorkelling, scuba diving and hiking national park trails. Coral Trekker has a scuba diving compressor and gear on board. The dive instructor can cater for novice as well as qualified divers.

Windjammer – Classic Sailing Holidays

Windjammer offers three and six night sailing holidays to the Whitsunday Islands. This cruise caters for the small group deluxe market and offers personalised service with an emphasis on good food and relaxation.

Considered to be one of the most beautiful yachts ever built in Australia she is a classic example of elegant lines and fine craftsmanship. Designed along the lines of the trading schooners that worked the Grand Banks of the North Atlantic for over 200 years, Windjammer epitomises the grandest of schooner qualities and with her 2000 feet of sail area and raked masts, is a spectacular sight.

Website: www.barefootcruises.com.au