Cremation Only Options in the Whitsundays: Prices, Paperwork and Ashes

When someone you love dies, not every family wants a formal funeral. Some would rather keep things quiet and private, some are honouring the wishes of a person who never wanted a fuss, and some simply want to gather later, in their own way. If you are looking into cremation only options in the Whitsundays, this guide explains what a cremation only (also called a direct cremation) involves, what it costs with our Proserpine team, what is included, and what you can do with the ashes afterwards.

Whitsunday Gentle Way Funerals is the Proserpine office of Mackay Gentle Way Funerals, a locally owned funeral home. We care for families in Proserpine, Airlie Beach, Cannonvale, Bowen, Collinsville and across the islands, and our phone is answered by a real person, 24/7, on (07) 4881 0491.

Your local office

Whitsunday Gentle Way Funerals, Proserpine

• Shed, Building J, 4A/2 Mann St, Proserpine QLD 4800
• Office hours Monday to Friday, 9am to 4pm
• Phone answered 24/7 by a real person: (07) 4881 0491

Call (07) 4881 0491Get directions

About our Proserpine office →Funeral services in the Whitsundays →

Published prices, inc GST

Simple FarewellDirect water cremation, no service$2,640

Gentle Funeral ServiceService, then water cremation$5,500

Burial ServicePlus council cemetery fees$5,800

Same prices as our Mackay office. No travel surcharge anywhere in the Whitsunday region.

What does cremation only mean?

A cremation only, or direct cremation, is a cremation with no funeral service beforehand. There is no viewing, no celebrant and no ceremony on the day. Your loved one is brought into our care, the paperwork is completed, the cremation takes place, and the ashes are returned to you. Some families call it a no-service cremation, an unattended cremation or a simple cremation. They all describe the same thing.

Choosing cremation only doesn't mean choosing no goodbye. It means the goodbye can happen when and where it suits you: a gathering at home, a morning on the beach at Airlie, or a memorial a few weeks later when family have been able to travel.

Water cremation: how we cremate

Every cremation we arrange is a water cremation, a gentle, flame-free process. Instead of fire, it uses warm water and a mild alkaline solution to return the body to its natural elements. The ashes are returned to you in an urn, just as they would be after a flame cremation, and you can keep, scatter or inter them in the same ways. Your loved one stays in the region, in the care of our local team, the whole time.

Cremation only options in the Whitsundays and what they cost

Our published prices are the same in Proserpine as at our Mackay office, and there is no travel surcharge anywhere in the Whitsunday region, whether you live in Bowen, Collinsville, Midge Point or on the islands. All prices include GST.

• Simple Farewell (direct water cremation): $2,640. Our cremation only option, with no service. It includes transfer into our care (business hours), all documentation and permits, including the $75 doctor's cremation permit, the water cremation, an official death certificate and the return of ashes in an urn.
• Gentle Funeral Service: $5,500. A full service at a church, a hall or another place that matters to you, followed by water cremation, with a celebrant, casket, flowers, printed booklets, music and a video tribute included.
• Burial Service: $5,800. For families who would prefer a burial, plus council cemetery fees, which we pass on at the exact cost.

There are no hidden extras. The only possible surcharge is an after-hours transfer fee of $400 + GST, which applies only if your loved one comes into our care outside business hours. Third-party costs may vary, and we will always give you a full, itemised quote with no obligation. You can see every item on our pricing page, or build your own estimate with the funeral cost planner.

Families searching for a cheap cremation in the Whitsundays are usually looking for something simple, respectful and clearly priced. The Simple Farewell is exactly that. Payment plans are available (interest applies), so please ask us for details.

Interactive

Which option fits your family?

Switch on anything you would like, and we will suggest the option that fits and its published price.

• A service or ceremony before the cremationWith a celebrant, music and family and friends gathered
• A viewingA private time to see them one last time
• A burial instead of a cremationAt a council cemetery, such as Proserpine or Bowen
• A gathering or memorial laterDays or weeks after the cremation, when everyone can travel

Suggested option

Simple Farewell

$2,640 inc GST

A direct water cremation with no service. Transfer into our care, all documentation and permits, the water cremation, an official death certificate and the ashes returned in an urn.

See everything included →

Price comparison, inc GST

• Simple FarewellDirect water cremation with no service$2,640
• Gentle Funeral ServiceA full service, then water cremation$5,500
• Burial ServiceBurial, plus council cemetery fees$5,800

A guide only. The only possible surcharge is an after-hours transfer fee of $400 + GST, if your loved one comes into our care outside business hours. Third-party costs may vary. For an itemised estimate, try the funeral cost planner or see our full price list.

What's included in a direct cremation

Open each option below to see what is included. If you would like something added, such as a particular urn, a keepsake urn or an engraving, just ask and we will talk you through the options and prices.

How to arrange a cremation only in Proserpine, Airlie Beach or Bowen

Whether the death happens at home, in aged care, at Proserpine Hospital or Bowen Hospital, the steps are the same:

1. Call us, day or night. Ring (07) 4881 0491. A real person answers, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
2. We bring your loved one into our care. We come to the home, hospital or aged care home anywhere from Bowen to Midge Point. If someone passes on one of the islands, we coordinate with island staff, ferry and barge operators to bring them into our care as quickly as conditions allow.
3. We look after the paperwork. Death registration, the death certificate and the cremation permits are all arranged for you.
4. The water cremation takes place locally in Proserpine. The ashes are usually returned within 24 hours of the cremation, in an urn.
5. You decide what happens next. There is no rush to decide where the ashes will rest.

You're welcome to visit our Proserpine office, Monday to Friday, 9am to 4pm, or we can come to you. If the death has only just happened, our guide to what to do when someone dies covers the first practical steps.

The Queensland paperwork, in plain English

Even with no service, a cremation in Queensland still needs the right paperwork. Here is what happens behind the scenes:

• Cause of death certificate. A doctor completes this first. If the death is reported to the coroner, the coroner's process comes first.
• Permission to cremate. Under Queensland's Cremations Act 2003, a cremation can only go ahead with a permission to cremate issued by an independent doctor (or by the coroner, if there has been an autopsy). A close relative can apply through a funeral director, and we do this for you. This is the $75 doctor's cremation permit included in our cremation prices.
• Death registration. The death must be registered with the Queensland Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages within 14 days. Usually the funeral director registers it on the family's behalf, and we do.
• Death certificate. An official death certificate is included in the Simple Farewell. You will often need it for banks and other organisations. Read more in how to get a death certificate in Queensland.

Where we care for families

Our Whitsunday service area

From Bowen to Midge Point, Collinsville and the islands, with no travel surcharge anywhere in the Whitsunday region. Tap a town to learn more.

Stylised map, not to scale.

Proserpine: our Whitsunday office

Shed, Building J, 4A/2 Mann St, Proserpine QLD 4800. Open Monday to Friday, 9am to 4pm, with the phone answered 24/7. Every water cremation we arrange is carried out locally in Proserpine.

Our Proserpine office →

• Proserpine
• Airlie Beach
• Cannonvale
• Jubilee Pocket
• Shute Harbour
• Bowen
• Collinsville
• Midge Point
• Whitsunday islands

Collecting the ashes and scattering them in the Whitsundays

After the water cremation, the ashes are returned to you in an urn, usually within 24 hours. Many families keep them at home for a while before deciding what feels right. Others already know. Around the Whitsundays, the most common choices are:

• Scattering at sea. We arrange scattering of ashes at sea from Airlie Beach, Shute Harbour and Abell Point Marina, and can help you arrange a private boat from Coral Sea Marina or Port of Airlie. A flower ceremony on the water is a lovely way to mark the moment.
• A beach or a favourite place. From Horseshoe Bay and Queens Beach in Bowen to the coast around Cannonvale, many families choose a place their person loved.
• The national parks and islands. The Queensland Government says you may scatter ashes on land or water in Queensland's parks and marine parks and hold a small, private ceremony, with no permit required. Please leave nothing behind except natural flowers.
• A columbarium wall. Whitsunday Regional Council has columbarium walls at Proserpine and Bowen, and we arrange the council paperwork for you.
• Keeping them close. Keepsake and share urns let several family members each keep a small portion. If you plan to return the ashes to the sea, a biodegradable urn is a natural fit. See our urns page.

Holding a memorial later

One of the gentlest things about cremation only is that it gives you time. Many families hold a memorial or celebration of life days or weeks after the cremation, when everyone can travel, with the ashes present if you wish. That matters in the Whitsundays, where family often live far away and wet seasons, road closures and ferry timetables can all affect plans.

A memorial can be as simple as a free gathering at home, in a park or on the beach that you organise yourselves. If you would like help, we can arrange a memorial service on the foreshore near the Airlie Beach Lagoon, at Coral Sea Marina, at a local church or at the Proserpine Entertainment Centre, with a celebrant if you'd like one. A memorial is quoted to suit what you have in mind. Our guide to writing a eulogy may help when the time comes.

Planning a direct cremation ahead of time

If you already know you would like a cremation only, you can record your wishes with us and pre-pay a direct cremation at today's price. A pre-planning chat is free and there is never any pressure to commit. It's a kind thing to do for the people you love, because it takes the guesswork out of a hard week.

Cremation only in the Whitsundays: common questions

Talk to our Proserpine team

Whether you are arranging a cremation now or thinking ahead, our local team is here to help, with no pressure. Read more about our Proserpine office and funeral services across the Whitsundays, see what funerals cost in our Proserpine funeral cost guide, or contact us online. You can also call (07) 4881 0491, day or night.