Rat Race The Reef 2023

A spectacular water-based multi-sport circumnavigation of the world-famous Whitsunday Islands. Think white sands, turquoise waters and incredible sea life as you take on a stunning tropical multi-sporter. Featuring spectacular kayak, SUP and foot stages, you will be accommodated onboard your very own private floating adventure HQ each night, moored up under the watchful gaze of a billion stars out on the Great Barrier Reef.

Starting and finishing in Airlie Beach, this 4-day adventure will see you circumnavigate the two main Islands that make up the Whitsundays, plus take you to some of the lesser-known hideouts of these fabulous islands. Dip your paddle in crystal clear azure waters and imagine coming face to face with one of the Loggerhead or Green Sea Turtles that call this paradise home. If you are really lucky, you may get a free shower from one of the 20,000 Humpback Whales migrating through these waters. Overhead you’ll be in awe of the effortless way the white-bellied Sea Eagles patrol the skies during the day and the mass of stars lighting up the night sky.

But this is no leisure cruise however: There is hard yacka to be done. Be prepared for long days on the water, kayaking your way from island to island, negotiating both wind and tide as you seek your next overnight destination. The course will switch in several foot and SUP stages too, providing a perfect multi-sport mix to the format. All the while, you’ll be following the paths of the Ngaro people, the traditional owners of the region and one of the earliest recorded Aboriginal groups in Australia.
Our overnights will be a little bit special. At the end of each day you will come aboard your very own private floating adventure HQ and our crew will serve up hearty and fresh-cooked meals onboard. Sleep in your cabin or out on deck and savour the real flavour of the Great Barrier Reef the way it was intended – from the water itself.