Alva
Lynch's Beach at Alva, 20 minutes drive from Ayr, offers a relaxed location providing the perfect setting to unwind and explore at your own leisure. At low tide, the beach makes for excellent exploring with hundreds of solider crabs, endless shells and an abundance of birdlife. Outer sand bars create an inshore lagoon that is popular amongst kitesurfers and paddle boarders on weekends.
The beach is also a hotspot for fishing, with many anglers bringing in decent catches to show off. Four-wheel drive vehicles are permitted on the beach with access points at the causeway and down Yongala Drive. Suitable vehicles can also launch their boats from the beach while larger boats require tractors for launching which is a unique site to site.
The beach is also a hotspot for fishing, with many anglers bringing in decent catches to show off. Four-wheel drive vehicles are permitted on the beach with access points at the causeway and down Yongala Drive. Suitable vehicles can also launch their boats from the beach while larger boats require tractors for launching which is a unique site to site.
On weekends during the summer months, the beach is patrolled by volunteers of the Ayr Surf Lifesaving Club at the beach access in front of the Surf Lifesaving Club. Care needs to be taken if swimming due to changeable conditions, marine stringers and other marine life. If you are unsure on where to swim at the beach or the conditions, please approach the patrolling lifeguards before going in the water.
If you're spending the day at Alva, bring a picnic or barbecue lunch to enjoy at the numerous picnic shelters and barbecue areas. The kids will spend hours playing on the new half basketball court and playground. Make sure you capture the essence of Alva's serene shores through the picturesque tourist frame at the Alva Lookout, perfect for an unforgettable photo.
Yongala Dive, based at Alva, is a PADI 5 Star Dive Resort which offers the fastest way to get to the S.S. Yongala shipwreck, one of the top 10 dive sites in the world. Diving this wreck is an experience matched by few other places on the planet. You'll come face-to-face with a prolific amount of marine life including gaint gropers, enormous marble rays, schools of barracuda, eagle rays, turtles, sea snakes, bull sharks and more.
Wunjunga Beach
For those wanting to experience a truly secluded beach, Wunjunga Beach (Beachmount) is an absolute must. Wunjunga features 14km of coastline and a small community of permanent residents, holiday homes and beach huts. Located 35km south of Home Hill, Wunjunga is accessed by a bitumen and dirt road which travels through a cattle property and is a haven for local wildlife. Wunjunga is perfect for four-wheel driving, picnics, fishing and walks along the beach.
The best way to enjoy all that Wunjunga has to offer is by setting up a tent or caravan at Funny Dunny Park camping grounds. The small camping ground offers limited short-stay caming for self-contained vehicles for $5 per night per site.
Three Aboriginal middens are located at Wunjunga and can be observed from afar. They are a protected site significant to the region's traditional owners.
It is not recommended to swim at this beach due to marine stingers and other marine life.
Cape Upstart
Cape Upstart, located 30km south of Home Hill in the Whitsunday region, is a secluded national park accessible only by boat. Crystal clear waters, running fresh water streams and waterfalls from the mountain tops contribute to the serenity of the area which is dotted with holiday homes.
There are numerous middens in the sand dunes of Cape Upstart which demonstrates the connection of the Juru people to the area. There are also several sacred sites, like the women’s area at Worrungu Bay and the stone arrangements near Mine Island.
There are numerous middens in the sand dunes of Cape Upstart which demonstrates the connection of the Juru people to the area. There are also several sacred sites, like the women’s area at Worrungu Bay and the stone arrangements near Mine Island.
Cape Upstart is home to over 100 species of birds including black swans, lorikeets, jabirus and brolgas. Bush camping is permitted at Coconut Beach, permits and fees apply.