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Relaxed Sailing Adventure to Langford Island with Snorkelling, Beach Time and Sunset Cruise
Tour Information
Tour Operator:
Red Cat Adventures
Duration:
Full Day (8.5 hours approx)
Departure Point:
Coral Sea Marina North End
Phone:
07 4946 4444
Departure Times:
Winter: 9:30 AM
Summer: 10:00 AM
Group Size:
Maximum 38 guests
Where This Tour Goes
Departure Point
Coral Sea Marina
Island Visited
Langford Island
Snorkelling Sites
Langford Reef, Hook Island reefs
Marine Park
Great Barrier Reef Marine Park
Departure Location & How to Get There
Meeting Point
Coral Sea Marina North End (Meeting Point B)
From Town Centre
1.5km from Airlie Beach Lagoon (15-20 min walk)
Check-In Time
30 minutes before departure
Parking
Pay and display parking available at marina
About Tongarra Day Sailing Tour
Tongarra Day Sail is a full-day sailing tour operated by Red Cat Adventures, departing from Coral Sea Marina in Airlie Beach. The relaxed 8.5-hour tour visits Langford Island and its spectacular sandbar, with snorkelling at pristine fringing reef sites in the Whitsunday Islands Marine Park.
Unlike the faster power boat tours, Tongarra offers a more chilled-out sailing experience. You'll spend a proper chunk of time at Langford Island - around 2 to 3 hours - which means you can actually relax on the beach, explore the bushwalk to the lookout, and snorkel straight off the sand without being rushed. The catamaran has heaps of deck space with beanbags for lounging, plus they're BYO friendly (just no glass or red wine).
Red Cat Adventures won the 2024 Best Adventure Tourism Business award in the Whitsundays and the 2021 National Gold Winner for Adventure Tourism. They're also certified Climate Action Leaders, the highest level of eco-certification in Australia. The crew are experienced, knowledgeable about the reef and islands, and genuinely passionate about what they do. Maximum 38 guests means it never feels packed like some of the bigger boats.
What Guests Are Saying
"Amazing scenery, but what really made Tongarra an incredible experience was the crew. They were great fun, super informative about our surroundings and as a first time snorkeller they put my mind at ease! The banana boat ride was so much fun and we loved exploring Langford Island."
Viator
"Absolutely loved this tour despite some rain. Great music and vibes, good food, and we even saw turtles on the snorkelling spot. I also loved that they take you to more secluded places to avoid crowds. The sunset sail back was beautiful."
GetYourGuide
"Cooper and Nat were great guides and ensured we had a great day. The boat was very spacious so you could have your own spot to lie down. The food provided was good and there was plenty of it. We loved the beanbags on the front deck!"
Google Reviews
Heads up: The sailing out to Langford Island takes around 2 hours each way, so you're looking at a fair bit of time on the boat. If you're prone to seasickness, take medication beforehand. The catamaran is quite stable though, so it's much smoother than a monohull.
What's Included
Snorkel Gear
Mask, snorkel, stinger suits provided
Buffet Lunch
Freshly prepared on the day
Banana Boat Ride
Fun inflatable ride included
Morning & Afternoon Tea
Snacks and refreshments throughout
Sunset Sail
Beautiful sunset cruise back
Eco-Guides
Climate Action certified crew
Marine Park Fees
All reef and park fees included
BYO Esky & Ice
Bring your own drinks (no glass/red wine)
The Experience
Tongarra Day Sail is all about the chill sailing vibe. You're not rushing between multiple spots like the power boat tours - instead, you get a proper relaxed day on the water with plenty of time to actually enjoy being at Langford Island. The catamaran is spacious with beanbags on the front deck, so you can stretch out and soak up the sun while sailing through the Whitsunday Islands.
Your Itinerary
Check-In: Arrive at Coral Sea Marina North End (Meeting Point B) 30 minutes before departure. The crew will get you sorted with stinger suits and give you a safety briefing. Winter departures (June-October) leave at 9:30am, summer departures (November-May) at 10:00am.
Sailing Out: Settle into the beanbags or find a spot on deck as you sail through the turquoise waters. It's about 2 hours out to Langford Island, but the time goes quickly. You'll pass various Whitsunday Islands and the crew provides commentary about the reef and islands. Morning tea and snacks are served along the way.
First Snorkel Stop: Depending on conditions, you'll stop at a snorkel site around Hook Island, Border Island, or another nearby location in the Whitsunday Islands Marine Park. The fringing reefs here are absolutely stunning - colourful corals, tropical fish, and often turtles. The crew provides full snorkel instruction if you've never done it before.
Lunch on Board: Back on Tongarra, a buffet-style lunch is served on deck. The food is freshly prepared and there's always plenty of it. Vegetarian options available if requested when booking. This is also when the crew often does their eco-talks about the islands and marine life.
Langford Island Time: You'll spend 2 to 3 hours at Langford Island, and this is the highlight of the day. The island has a spectacular white sand beach and sandbar that stretches out into crystal-clear water. You can snorkel straight off the beach at the fringing reef - the coral and fish are incredible, and turtles are commonly spotted here. Take the bushwalk to Langford Lookout for stunning views over the sandbar, or just relax on the beach. The banana boat rides are also done here - they're surprisingly fun and definitely worth a go.
Sunset Sail Home: Late afternoon, you'll sail back to Airlie Beach catching the sunset over the water. Music playing, cold drinks in hand (BYO eskies with ice provided), and the atmosphere on board is always great. Afternoon snacks are served. You'll arrive back at Coral Sea Marina around 6:00pm (winter) or 6:30pm (summer).
Before You Book
Important Information
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund. Tours operate in most weather conditions. Red Cat Adventures runs 365 days a year, but severe weather may occasionally cause cancellations. The operator will contact you if conditions are unsuitable. Check in opens 30 minutes before departure - don't be late as the boat won't wait.
What to Bring
Swimmers (wear under clothes), towel, reef-safe sunscreen, hat, sunglasses, and a reusable water bottle (refill stations on board). BYO alcohol and drinks welcome - no glass bottles or red wine allowed. The crew provides eskies with ice. Underwater camera or GoPro highly recommended. There's storage space on board but don't bring too much.
Who Can Come
Suitable for ages 4 and up (children under 6 must be approved beforehand and require their own lifejacket). Not recommended for pregnant women or anyone with serious mobility issues, as you need to board and move around the boat. The catamaran is stable and smoother than monohulls, but if you're prone to seasickness, take medication 30 minutes before departure. A reasonable level of fitness helps but it's not overly strenuous.
Frequently Asked Questions
What islands does Tongarra Day Sail visit?
The tour visits Langford Island for beach and sandbar time, with snorkelling stops at fringing reefs around the Whitsunday Islands.
How long do you spend at Langford Island?
You get 2 to 3 hours at Langford Island, giving you plenty of time to snorkel, walk to the lookout, try the banana boat, and relax on the beach.
Can non-swimmers do Tongarra Day Sail?
Absolutely - the crew provides personal attention to nervous snorkellers, and you can stay on the beach at Langford Island if you prefer not to snorkel.
Is lunch included in the Tongarra tour price?
Yes, a buffet-style lunch is included, plus morning and afternoon tea, snacks, and drinking water throughout the day.
What makes Tongarra different from other day tours?
Tongarra focuses on a single destination with extended beach time rather than rushing between multiple spots, creating a more relaxed sailing experience.
More Sailing Tours from Airlie Beach
If you're interested in exploring the Whitsunday Islands by sailing boat, there are other excellent day tours and overnight sailing tours departing from Coral Sea Marina. For more snorkelling adventures, explore our snorkelling tours, or see all tours from Airlie Beach.
Why Trust This Guide?
We're Airlie Beach locals who've called the Whitsundays home since 2001. Over more than two decades living and working in this stunning corner of tropical North Queensland, we've personally experienced the tours on offer, walked every street, and know which operators genuinely deliver on their promises.
Red Cat Adventures is family-owned and operated, and they've built an outstanding reputation in the Whitsundays. They won Best Adventure Tourism Business in 2024 and the National Gold Award in 2021, plus they're certified Climate Action Leaders. The Tongarra crew are experienced, passionate about the reef, and it shows in the quality of the tours they run.
The recommendations are honest, unbiased, and based on genuine local knowledge to help make your Whitsunday holiday unforgettable.
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