Whitehaven Beach, an idyllic beach that fringes the east of Whitsunday Island for 7km, is one of the finest beaches in Australia. A picture of absolute perfection, where blue sky, turquoise sea and tropical vegetation are layered, all underscored by a strip of dazzlingly white sand. The reason for this hypnotic whiteness? The sand at Whitehaven Beach is composed of 98% silica.