Airlie Beach is popular amongst backpackers on their way north to Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef, as well as families and yachtsman looking to relax. Airlie Beach is also the base from which to explore and sail around the Whitsundays, with many trips available out to the Great Barrier Reef.
Before your trip out to the Great Barrier Reef you may like to follow a diving course. Many of the trips offer several days on the mainland as well as diving experiences out on the Great Barrier Reef.
Airlie Beach is a pretty place, with attractive parkland and two beautiful marinas, Abel Point Marina and Shute Harbour.
Although the beach is reasonably small, it is lined with trees, allowing you to take in the beauty of the location and stay cool. There are also several other beaches along the coast, which are secluded and only a short drive away.
As well as sailing around the Whitsundays and diving on the Great Barrier Reef another popular boat trip is whale watching, offered between July and September.
Many of the boat trips leave from Abel Point Marina or Shute Harbour. You can also get your camping permits for the nearby National Parks from the EPA Ph: 4946 7022.
Other attractions around Airlie Beach include plenty of water activities, horse riding, sky diving and walking around the Conway National Park.
There are a number of walking trails around Conway National Park, which give you the opportunity to experience the various scenic highlights of the Whitsunday Coast, with picnic areas along the way.
A popular time for visiting Airlie Beach is during the Whitsunday Fun Race, which includes various competitions for cruising yachts and is held every September.
There is plenty of accommodation around Airlie Beach for all budgets. Many of the hotels and backpackers are situated along the Shute Harbour Road, which is the main road through Airlie Beach. You will also find a number of restaurants, cafes and shops along this road.
The nightlife in Airlie Beach is also good, with plenty of bars and clubs so you can dance the night away. A popular night spot is the M@SS Nightclub which offers live music, a bar, and food situated on an attractive outdoor boardwalk on the main street through Airlie Beach.
Further shops can be found at Abel Point Marina. You can also hire equipment here if you are heading out to the Whitsundays. If you are heading out on a chartered tour then many of the boats leave from Abel Point Marina, they should also supply the majority of the required equipment.
To get to Airlie Beach you can fly to nearby Proserpine, and once you are there you can fly out to several of the Whitsundays by Air Taxi. You can get to Proserpine and Shute Harbour on the Whitsunday Transit Service. Greyhound run services along the Queensland coast with many services stopping at Airlie Beach.
Featured Airlie Beach Activities
TOUR NAME
LOCATION
RATES (AUD) from
8000ft, 10000ft, 12000ft, 14000ft Skydive(EX1705) (Sky Diving) The ultimate adrenalin rush with the ultimate view, location is everything when it comes to Skydiving and if you only ever do it once, you should do it overlooking the Beautiful Whitsunday Islands. Th...
Great Barrier Reef Cruise(EX1708) (Sailing & Yacht Charter) Explore pristine Knuckle Reef Lagoon, acclaimed as the Whitsunday region's most spectacular Great Barrier Reef site. Experience Queensland's most innovative and spacious reef pontoon located at Knuckl...
Twin Island Escape Day Cruise - Whitsundays(EX1711) (Sailing & Yacht Charter) If you would like to visit more than one island and want to have time to experience the attractions of each, our ‘Twin Island Escape’ is for you.
Daydream Island Resort and Spa has the superb D...
Queensland DVD (Queenslands South East - Land of Scenic Wonder)
Purchase the DVD that portrays Queensland's South East including footage of Fraser Island, Glass House Mountains, Blackall Range, Montville, Mount Tamborine and Springbrook's unforgettable rock bridge.
Taking you through the tree tops in Lamington where the thick, green roof shades; the mysterious underworld of the forest floor. On to Noosa, a haven of stunning national parks and brilliant waterways. Plus the amazing coloured sands of Teewah and Rainbow Beach.
PLEASE NOTE: The Queensland travel destinations outlined above are only a small selection from the tens of thousands of Australian travel information pages available on Australian Explorer. A comprehensive list of destinations for Queensland Holidays can be found on the main Queensland Holidays location guide.
