Being out in the islands is great, but it does make it difficult to take a quick trip to the shops to collect extra provisions. Planning and organization are critical to ensuring that your holiday is as enjoyable as it should be.
Here are a few tips if you have not been on a sailing holiday before:
The boat’s galley “kitchen” is usually much smaller than the one you have at home. There’s certainly no reason you need to eat dried packet noodles all holiday, but you should aim to serve up meals that are easy to prepare and everyone will enjoy: BBQs, cold platters, nibbles and fruit are excellent choices for meals on-board.
On the other hand, cooking a roast dinner from scratch may be awkward in the limited space on a boat.
If you are travelling for 7 days or more you’ll need to plan well to make sure you have enough space in the fridge for everything you’ll need. In the tropical environment some things that you may be used to keeping at room temperature – like bread – won’t last more than a couple of days outside the fridge, so you’ll need to allow fridge space for more than you might think!
On top of that, boats typically have much smaller fridge/freezers than you’re used to at home, so you should choose your meal ingredients carefully based around your available refrigeration.
All of our boat listings specify how much fridge/freezer space is available in litres. To help you visualise what those litres mean for you, keep in mind that small two-door fridges of the type generally found in city apartments are usually between 250 and 300 litres, mid-size two-door fridges in family homes and some luxury apartments are usually between 350 and 500 Litres, and the largest ‘french door’ and side-by-side fridge/freezers hold around 600 to 650 litres.
A provisioning service can deliver everything you need to the boat ready for you to set sail.
They’re experienced at providing everything you need for your trip and they know all the tricks to getting the most delicious, easy to prepare meals out of a boat’s kitchen facilities.
You can set sail confident that your food won’t perish before the end of your holiday and that you’ll not have to share your bed with a few dozen eggs that wouldn’t fit in the fridge.
If you will be chartering a yacht for the first time then we highly recommend using a provisioning service.
Whitsunday Provisioning has over 30 years experience in stocking boats for charter and is your one-stop-shop for ALL your provisioning needs. We have a wide range of simple ‘package plans’ to pick and choose from including kids options. Add your favorite extras from our ‘supermarket section’ and compliment your meals with a selection from our wide range of wines, beers and spirits.
Whitsunday Provisioning do everything to make your Charter enjoyable. All your provisions are packed and delivered directly to your boat – 365 days a year.
Packages start from as little as $33.00 per person.
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Make the most of your charter around the Whitsunday Islands with meals made easy.
• Gluten Free • Veggie • Dairy Free
Choose your wholesome recipes from our fresh, healthy, seasonal produce all chopped, prepared and portioned for your convenience.
We cater for all types of dietary requirements and have all your provisions delivered right to your vessel. Enjoy your carter even more by having your all your dinners catered. You can even add breakfast, lunch and snack options.
We do everything but the cooking!
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Say ‘No way, Jose’ to wasting good, fun holiday time planning, shopping and preparing meals!
Airlie Providores will prepare your holiday meals and deliver them fresh to your charter boat. (Bareboat 3 meals a day packages start from just $33.50 per person per day.) Choose from ready to cook breakfasts, lunches, dinners or the lot. You’ll want to try our mouth-watering heat and eat meals too.
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Corner Paluma And Proserpine Shute Harbour Roads, Cannonvale 4802 (map)
Phone: (07) 4967 5702
Opening Times
8.00am to 9.00pm Monday to Friday
8.00am to 5:30pm Saturday
9.00am to 6.00pm Sunday
Shute Harbour Road & Island Drive, Cannonvale 4802 (map)
Phone: (07) 4946 4869
Opening Times
8.00am to 9.00pm Monday to Friday
8.00am to 5:30pm Saturday
9.00am to 6.00pm Sunday
Hamilton Island’s new IGA Supermarket is now open. Located at the southern end Front Street in the Marina Village, the store offers a range of products including fresh fruit and vegetables, meats and deli produce, kitchen supplies and pantry items. Keep an eye out for the weekly specials catalogue which can be found in store.
The Hamilton Island IGA Supermarket is a plastic bag free store, so we encourage guests to bring their own carry bag. However cloth bags can be purchased for 0.99 cents.
Open: 8.00am – 7.30pm daily
Phone: 07 4946 8898
All our charter vessels are provided with: Linen, blankets, pillows, towels, fully equipped galley, crockery, cutlery, expendables (soap, toilet paper, dish-washing liquid, cleaning agents, vinegar, garbage bags, sponge), dinghy with outboard, snorkeling equip, safety gear, navigational aids, gas deck BBQ, 4 hour boat & area brief. Additional sail training available if required.
See individual boat listings for extras on some vessels only, like additional fridge/freezer space.
We can arrange for you to stay on-board your vessel from the night before your departure, this gives you time to unpack, familiarize yourself with everything, and arrange any last minute shopping that you might need – it also saves you the cost of a hotel night and extra transfers.
