Once again showing the spirit the Whitsundays is known for, over 400 locals came together on Sunday afternoon to raise funds for fellow Aussies affected by the recent bushfire crisis. Light winds, a sunny sky and a stunning sunset provided the perfect backdrop for the Whitsundays’ Bushfire Benefit charity event held at Coral Sea Marina.
A total of $6,438.20 was raised for the Whitsundays’ Bushfire Benefit by the Whitsundays community which saw a range of local operators come together for a family friendly event for a good cause, with 100% of all proceeds being donated to the Australian Tourism Industry Bushfire Relief Fund. With rides starting from $5 per adult and $3 per child, locals and tourists alike were able to enjoy a taste of some of the Whitsundays’ favourite activities including exhilarating joyrides with Ocean Rafting, a spin off shore with Whitsunday Jetski Tours, a glide around the marina with Whitsunday Segway Tours or a pedicab through the streets with Just Tukin’ Around.
Guests had a choice of venues to enjoy the atmosphere with a bite to eat and a drink or two, with a BBQ fired up by Coral Sea Marina, a special “Bushfire Benefit Cocktail” on offer at Sorrento Restaurant & Bar, a discounted menu at Garden Bar Bistro, delicious platters by Marine Provisioning Australia and a cool evening drink from The Kiosk Café.
Live music played until 7.30pm with local musicians Kaylee West, Jack McCabe and Tim Eastwood donating their talent and time to provide the perfect laid back atmosphere. Whitsundays Rocks held painting workshops and children delighted in face painting provided by Colourful Faces.
A range of other Whitsunday businesses donated their equipment and time including Whitsunday Party Hire who provided high bars, Rewards Distribution donated the plates and cutlery and Whitsunday Audio Visual supplied the PA equipment.
Over 750 raffle tickets were sold on the night, with prizes donated by local businesses including Ocean Rafting, Skydive Australia, Heli Biz, A-One Fishing Charters, Sundowner Cruises, Shingley Beach Resort, Hangar Bar and Café, Sorrento Restaurant and Bar, Garden Bar and Bistro and Northerlies Bar and Grill.
Ocean Rafting owner, Jan Claxton, whose team was responsible for the conception and organisation of the event in a period of just two weeks, expressed her gratitude to the local community and all the local businesses involved.
“From the 24 businesses involved in this event who all donated their time, services, equipment and product offerings, as well as everyone’s staff, we extend a very big thank you to the local community who all came down and enjoyed this event, while at the heart of it, dug deep to support our friends down south affected by the bushfire crisis. The Whitsundays were tested with Cyclone Debbie nearly three years ago and the rest of Australia helped out in many ways, including visiting the Whitsundays the following year, many of them from these regions affected, so we really wanted to reach out and support our fellow Australians as a community,” said Mrs Claxton.
Whitsunday Jetski Tours owner, Toni, Ward, said “It makes me so proud to be a Whitsunday local when I see an event like this come together. It was a great afternoon and a great vibe all round with lots of people having fun, while coming together for a good cause. We are so happy we were able to be a part of it all.”
Zak Kelly, owner of Whitsunday Segway Tours, continued “As a born and bred Whitsunday local it was so humbling to see our community doing the Australian thing in supporting our friends down south. It was great to see so many people including locals, tourists and families have an afternoon out enjoying the many experiences the Whitsundays offer.”
After recently purchasing Just Tukin’ Around and moving to the Whitsundays, Marty and Brooke Mosley, enjoyed their first big Whitsunday community event. “Wow, to see the community spirit is such a wonderful impression of this beautiful place we have moved to and invested in. We loved working with everyone on this charity event and so pleased we were collaboratively able to raise these funds for those in need,” said Mr Mosley.
Whitsunday local, Tanya Cran, was one of the many who attended the event with her family and friends. “Our kids enjoyed all the activities on offer, doing more than one ride I must say. We wanted to come down for an afternoon out with our family and friends but it was just as important to support this event. Everyone’s small contribution will hopefully make a big difference for our friends down south. We saw some of the worst of it when we were holidaying over Christmas and had to evacuate. We left feeling so sad and helpless for those poor people so we will help in any way we can and our kids feel very strongly about it as well,” said Mrs Cran.
All proceeds from the Whitsundays’ Bushfire Benefit will be donated to the Australian Tourism Industry Bushfire Relief Fund and anyone else who would like to donate can visit: https://fundraise.redcross.org.au/fundraisers/AustralianTravelIndustrysBushfireReliefFund/fundraise-for-disaster-relief-and-recovery
Whitsunday Jetski Tours’ five male staff have taken on a new challenge and a new alias, in the form of the Whitsunday Jet Mos. The team are supporting well know charity, Movember, raising funds for men’s health with a ‘mo’ of their own.
Movember is the leading charity changing the face of men’s health. Since 2003, Movember has funded more than 1,250 men’s health projects around the world, challenging the status quo, shaking up men’s health research and transforming the way health services reach and support men. By 2030, Movember aim to reduce the number of men dying prematurely by 25%.
Heading the Whitsunday Jet Mos is owner of Whitsunday Jetski Tours, Steve Ward, supported by staff members Ian Wilson, Alex Taylor, Nathan Linnell and Rick Dawson.
Mr Ward said, “The team have been proudly growing and manicuring their fine new facial hair and now it’s time to show it off and ask for people to support us with our Movember fundraising goal. We are aiming to raise $2,000 by the end of November and are confident we can reach this amount.”
“We are participating in Movember as we all have so many important boys and men in our lives, from our Whitsunday Jetski Tours crew to our family including sons, brothers, fathers, grandfathers, uncles and family friends. It’s always time to look after them and be aware of men’s physical and mental conditions. We have experienced men’s health issues on a personal level, as have most people, so we feel this is a charity that everyone would be passionate about and can resonate with,” continued Mr Ward.
Funds raised through Movember go towards world-class programs in the areas of mental health and suicide prevention, prostate cancer and testicular cancer.
To donate to the Whitsunday Jet Mos please visit: https://mobro.co/14187953
The Whitsunday Jetski Tours team proudly took home silver in the much-contested Adventure Tourism category at the 2019 Queensland Tourism Awards held on the Sunshine Coast on Friday night.
Owners, Steve and Toni Ward, attended the gala event and were thrilled to have been acknowledged at a state level in this category. “This award recognition reflects the unique adventure experience we offer with the aim to create lifelong memories for our guests. Our passionate staff complement the excitement of the tour with exceptional and personalised customer service,” said Mr Ward.
Mr Ward continued, “Our adventure tours offer a thrill for everyone, whether they have ridden a jetski before or not. The exhilaration of riding a jetski for the first time, while having control of your own ‘ride’ is a unique experience for many. Our tag line says it all; “your ride, your adventure”. Our guests enjoy the thrill of riding the latest model Sea-Doo jetskis into the world heritage Whitsunday Island Marine Park on four exciting adventure tours.”
“We would like to acknowledge our team’s outstanding contribution to the business and dedicate this award to them, as well as all everyone who supports our business, including our guests, agents and partners within the industry. We also extend our congratulations to all the other winners, finalists and entrants from the 2019 Queensland Tourism Awards, particularly our fellow Whitsunday operators,” said Mr Ward.
Whitsunday Jetski Tours offers exciting guided jetski tours from Airlie Beach to the Whitsunday Islands. Guests ride the latest model jetski into the beautiful world heritage Whitsunday Island Marine Park. Four tours operate daily, the Airlie Adventure, with sea turtles often encountered, the Two Island Safari, exploring the waterways of South Molle and Daydream Islands, the Jetski to Paradise, a jetski adventure visiting exclusive Paradise Cove Resort and the Ultimate Island Trek, an epic jetski journey to the island oasis of Palm Bay. All riding apparel is included and no licence or experience is necessary, offering an adventure for everyone!
The Whitsunday Jetski Tours team walked away with both a gold and bronze award at the 2019 Whitsunday Tourism Awards held at Daydream Island on Saturday night, winning gold in the Tour and Transport Operator category and bronze in the Adventure Tourism category.
It’s been quite the year for Whitsunday Jetski Tours with the company being awarded the #1 Tourism Experience in the whole of Australia in the 2019 TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Awards 2019, as well as the #5 Top 10 Experience in the South Pacific, being the only Australian company.
Whitsunday Jetski Tours also launched two exclusive new tours to unique locations at Paradise Cove Resort and Palm Bay Resort and created three exciting new packages with fellow adventure tourism operators.
Owners Steve and Toni Ward attended the gala event with staff.
“The recognition from these awards was achieved by offering a fully-inclusive immersive adventure and a unique experience. The tours are more than just a jetski ride. Guests immerse themselves in the experience, stopping between the action of driving their own jetskis to catch their breath and enjoy the natural beauty of this World Heritage listed area. It’s here where the guides share entertaining stories of the Whitsundays, its islands, history and marine life, offering a truly memorable experience,” said Toni.
“We are so pleased with all the results from the last year and being named as the number one tourism experience in the whole of Australia by TripAdvisor was a very big deal. Now these awards are the icing on the cake. We would like to acknowledge our team’s outstanding contribution to the business, as well as our guests, agents and partners within the industry. A big thank you also to the team at Tourism Whitsundays for putting on such a brilliant 2019 Whitsunday Tourism Awards event and congratulations to all the winners on the night,” said Toni.
Whitsunday Jetski Tours has also entered the upcoming Queensland Tourism Awards in the same two categories and the team are looking forward to representing the Whitsundays on a state level.
Whitsunday Jetski Tours offers exciting adventure tours in the Whitsundays and is the first and only guided jetski tour operating from Coral Sea Marina, Airlie Beach to the Whitsunday Islands, with guests riding the latest model Sea-Doo jetskis into the beautiful world heritage Whitsunday Island Marine Park.
Airlie Beach’s premier adventure activity operators have been wrapped into a range of combos offering guests the ultimate Whitsunday experiences with the recently launched Airlie Adrenalin Adventures packages.
Whitsunday Jetski Tours, Ocean Rafting and Whitsunday Segway Tours have teamed up to offer the following adventure packages..
Ocean Rafting Whitehaven Beach and snorkelling adventure including lunch and Whitsunday Jetski Tours’ Airlie Adventure!
Ocean Rafting Whitehaven Beach and snorkelling adventure including lunch and Whitsunday Jetski Tours’ 2 Island Safari!
Whitsunday Jetski Tours’ Airlie Adventure and Whitsunday Segway Tours’ Sunset & Boardwalk Tour!
Whitsunday Segway Tours’ Rainforest Discovery Tour and Whitsunday Jetski Tours’ Two Island Safari!
Whitsunday Jetski Tours’ Airlie Adventure, Whitsunday Segway Tours’ Sunset & Boardwalk Tour and Ocean Rafting Whitehaven Beach and snorkelling adventure including lunch!
The Airlie Adrenalin Adventures packages make the most of your time in the Whitsundays, bundled into special offers to provide an exciting Whitsunday adventure, both on and off the water!
In more exciting news, not only did the team achieve this accolade in winning the top spot on an Australian level, but were also announced as number five in the Top 10 Experiences in the whole of the South Pacific.
Owners Steve and Toni Ward were ecstatic to receive the news that they had just been voted the number one tourism experience in Australia.
“This came as a complete surprise but it is a testament to all of our hard work since starting the business in 2010. Even more satisfying is the fact that we don’t specifically focus on reviews or ratings. Our focus is more holistic and has always been to exceed guests’ expectations and provide exceptional service with state-of-the-art equipment in one of the most beautiful areas of the world, the Whitsundays, and this award is a consequence of that effort,” said Steve.
Steve continued, “This award is particularly special as it is from guests giving first-hand feedback of the experience they have had with us. It is that combination of two main things, the unique product that we offer and the exceptional, personalised service that our team provide from start to finish which delivers that ultimate accolade.”
Steve and Toni acknowledge that this achievement in being recognised as a truly exceptional business wouldn’t be possible if it didn’t start from the ground up.
“We have the amazing support of people who help us pull it all together to achieve this, from our guests, loyal agents, suppliers and our tourism industry partners, to the world class marina facility that we operate from. Most importantly, it is ultimately our passionate team who deliver amazing customer service over and above and an experience whereby guests leave like friends and feeling like they have had one of the best adventures of their holiday,” said Steve.
With the tag line, “Your ride, your adventure”, Toni believes that guests are searching for immersive unique experiences that offer healthy outdoor adventure activities and tours, with that combination in mind. TripAdvisor’s 2019 Experiences Trends Report correlates with that, showing that preferences for outdoor activities are increasing, with global bookings in the category jumping 56% this past year.
“People want more adventure and outdoor activities and, of course, with that adventure comes the natural beauty of the Whitsundays, so we’ve got a good combination,” said Toni.
The Whitsundays is the only region in Australia featuring twice on the list, with Ocean Rafting also being awarded the number seven spot.
6 Days…over 800 kilometres… we are up to the challenge on the Yamaha Variety Jet Trek!!
Whitsunday Jetski Tours’ owner, Steve Ward, is getting ready to make some waves on his ninth Yamaha Variety Jet Trek which will set off from Bundaberg to Hamilton Island between 25th March and 30th March. Steve is part of approximately 110 riders on personal watercraft who will undertake the six-day, 860km adventure which finishes in the Whitsundays – all to raise funds to give more Aussie kids a fair go!
Our motto has always been ‘DOING IT FOR THE KIDS’!!! There are some very special kids and families out there who are struggling a little harder than most and we are more that happy to give up a couple of weeks of our fortunate lives and dedicate our time to GIVING, as well as take on the challenges of jetskiing some incredible coastlines of Australia!
With your help the Wardys can reach our goal….remember a little goes a long way! It’s easy to ‘Pay it forward’ when you see how dramatically improved these families lives are.
So, our target is to raise $2,500 and we WILL make a difference!
If you would like to support Steve please click the following link to make some sort of donation. Big or small…it all counts in making a difference to Aussie kids in need. Simply visit https://yamahavarietyjettrekwhitsundays2019.raisely.com/steveward
Variety – the Children’s Charity is a national not-for-profit organisation committed to empowering Australian children who are sick, disadvantaged or have special needs to live, laugh and learn.
Thanks so much for your support!
Multi award winning Whitsunday Jetski Tours has launched two new exciting and unique tours to two exclusive Whitsunday locations. A first for the Whitsundays, Whitsunday Jetski Tours will visit exclusive Paradise Cove Resort on the Jetski To Paradise and Palm Bay Resort on the Ultimate Island Trek, both of which will complement the existing popular Airlie Adventure and Two Island Safari tours.
The fantastic new Jetski to Paradise tour will satisfy your thirst for adventure, jetskiing away from the crowds to the very exclusive mainland resort of Paradise Cove Resort. Enjoy a cool drink and a delicious tropical brunch before spoiling yourself in the resort pool, go for a paddleboard or just relax. Once invigorated, prepare to hang on as the adventure reignites on the return journey. This exciting new adventure incorporates a one hour resort stopover and two hours of thrilling jetskiing.
Solo riders will love the epic adventure on the Ultimate Island Trek as you journey to the island oasis of Palm Bay Resort on Long Island. Enjoy a beautiful poolside lunch including delicious woodfired pizzas, salads and chips. Relax with a drink, take a dip in the pool or chill on the beach, before the thrills are amplified on the return journey, delivering more scenic splendour exploring numerous islands and resorts as you conquer the ultimate 70km trek. This exhilarating new tour includes a one hour resort stopover and three hours jetskiing, however given the longer distances travelled, the Ultimate Island Trek is for solo riders only.
The ever-popular Airlie Adventure tour combines island views, bays with sea turtle encounters and one and a half hours of jetskiing. This popular tour is suitable for everyone, offering a perfect mix of adrenalin and eco adventure, driving your own jetski out to view the Whitsunday Islands from the protection of the coastline, before exploring Airlie’s beautiful bays and enjoying some turtle spotting.
The Two Island Safari offers open water jetskiing cruising Daydream and South Molle Islands and two hours jetskiing. This tour is a great tour for the more adventurous traveller who wants to maximise their time on the water. Explore the beautiful Whitsunday Islands including the scenic waterways round Daydream and South Molle Islands while pausing for photos, power snacks and the occasional marine life encounter.
All tours include informative and entertaining commentary by qualified tour guide and all riding apparel including lifejackets, rash tops/thermal tops, wetsuit shorts, polarised sunglasses, riding hats and sunscreen is provided. All photos of your tour are provided free of charge on Facebook and courtesy bus pick ups and drop offs within the Airlie Beach area are also included. And the best part? No licence is required and no experience is necessary, just big smiles and a sense of adventure!
The Whitsunday Jetski Tours team walked away with both a gold and bronze award at the Whitsunday Tourism Awards last night, winning gold in the Tour and Transport Operator category and bronze in the Adventure Tourism category.
At the gala event, held at Discovery Parks Airlie Beach, owners Steve and Toni Ward enjoyed their success on the night with their staff, acknowledging the team for their excellence in customer service and announcing the launch of two exciting new products.
“It’s been a big year again for our team in regards to streamlining our touring options and working hard behind the scenes on new jetski adventure tours to the exclusive locations of Palm Bay Resort and Paradise Cove Resort. We will be rolling these two new tours out in the next week and we are very excited about growing and developing our product offerings,” said Mr Ward.
Whitsunday Jetski Tours commenced operating guided jet ski adventure tours eight years ago and has seen significant growth each year, even through some challenging periods.
“We have been in the tourism industry for a very long time and we will always continue to evolve in order to offer completely unique experiences like nothing else, so this is another very exciting time for us,” said Mr Ward.
Mr Ward continued, “We would like to acknowledge our team’s outstanding contribution to the business and dedicate these Whitsunday tourism awards to them, as well as all everyone who supports our business, including our guests, agents and partners within the industry. A big thank you also to the team at Tourism Whitsundays for putting on such a brilliant event and congratulations to all the winners on the night.”
Whitsunday Jetski Tours has also entered the upcoming Queensland Tourism Awards in the same two categories and the team are looking forward to representing the Whitsundays on a state level.
Whitsunday Jetski Tours offers exciting adventure tours in the Whitsundays and is the first and only guided jetski tour operating from Abell Point Marina, Airlie Beach to the Whitsunday Islands, with guests riding the latest model Sea-Doo jetskis into the beautiful world heritage Whitsunday Island Marine Park.
The Whitsunday Jetski Tours team were proud winners of two awards at the Queensland Tourism Awards held in Brisbane on Friday night, winning a silver award for the Tour and Transport Operator category and a bronze award in the Adventure Tourism category.
Owners Steve and Toni Ward, attending the evening with three of their staff, were thrilled to have been acknowledged at a state level in two categories. “We are just so proud to have been placed twice as one of the top three operators in the state in these two categories. We endeavour to offer an adventure that our guests with never forget and our passionate staff complement the excitement of the tour with exceptional and personalised customer service,” said Steve
“We would like to acknowledge our team’s outstanding contribution to the business and dedicate these awards to them, as well as all everyone who supports our business, including our guests, agents and partners within the industry. We also extend our congratulations to all the other Queensland winners from Friday night, particularly our fellow Whitsunday operators who all did very well,” said Steve.
Now in its sixth year of operation, Steve highlighted that the company’s continued growth will make for a busy year ahead. “We have some exciting new plans in the pipeline and will continue to offer a range of adventure experiences in the Whitsundays, in addition to what we already offer, including our new Airlie Adrenalin Adventure packages and Island Jet Boating tours, so there is much more to come,” said Steve.
Whitsunday Jetski Tours operates three daily jetski tours, the Airlie Adventure, a soft adventure tour around Pioneer Bay, the Two Island Safari to South Molle Island and Daydream Island, as well as the Daydream Extreme, offering the thrill of jet skiing across the passage to award winning Daydream Island Resort and Spa and including a range of activities such as the popular Living Reef Experience.
