The Whitsunday Coast enjoys a tropical climate of hot summers, warm winters and bright spring and autumn days. Average daily temperatures range from around 22 - 23 degrees celsius in the winter months of June and July, and up to 29 - 30 degrees celsius in December and January during the height of summer. Water temperatures remain a welcoming 25 degrees celsius most of the year round.
Airlie Beach is the gateway to the Whitsundays, a colourful, cosmopolitan and inviting holiday town lying on the shores of a palm fringed beach and overlooking the calm waters of Pioneer Bay dotted with yachts. Airlie is part of a picturesque peninsula that reaches out to the Whitsunday Passage and provides the ideal mainland base for holiday fun and adventure in the Whitsundays.
Whitsunday Coast starts from Mackay in the south continuing north until Bowen and the Mt Aberdeen National Park. Off the coast are the 74 Whitsunday Islands, all offering something slightly different for the visitor.
Mackay features a number of beaches, as well as offering trips out to the Great Barrier Reef. It is a great place to stay, with plenty of attractions and places of interest nearby.
North along the coast from Mackay are a number of small bays and beaches leading upto the Cape Hillsborough National Park. There are some pretty beaches within the park backed by beautiful forest, as well as a number of coastal walks around the area.
If you head north west from Mackay you can also visit the wonderful Eungella National Park, which offers spectacular views and some fantastic walking trails. On the way you will pass several small towns, including Marian, which features a sugar plantation, Mirani and Finch Hatton, which is home to the spectacular Finch Hatton Gorge.
Continuing north along the highway you can stop at Proserpine, which is a small rural town, with a large sugar mill. Just south of Proserpine is the turn off for Cathu State Forest which offers some wonderful scenery, as well as the Palm Tree Creek Picnic Area, which is a good place to stop for a rest. North from Proserpine is popular Airlie Beach.
Airlie Beach is a fantastic place to stay if you are interested in heading out to the beautiful Whitsundays. It is a lively and colourful area, offering excitement, as well as relaxation. Airlie Beach is surrounded by attractive park and bushland where yo will find a number of walking trails.
Just south of Airlie Beach on the southern tip of the small peninsula is the Conway National Park, which is also worth visiting. The National Park is made up of thick rainforest, and home to the magnificent Cedar Creek Falls. There are a number of good walking trails through the park, with magnificent views out to the ocean.
Further north along the coast is Bowen, which has a major fruit growing industry and so is perfect for travellers looking for fruit picking work. On your days off there are also a number of glorious beaches along the coastline surrounding Bowen and numerous wall murals around the town. Just south from here along the Delamothe Highway is the rugged Mt Aberdeen National Park.
Featured Whitsunday Coast Activities
TOUR NAME
LOCATION
RATES (AUD) from
Whitehaven Picnic Helicopter Flight(EX329) (Helicopter Flight) Fly by helicopter to Whitehaven beach and on the way take in the breathtaking aerial view of the surrounding Whitsunday Islands and fringing reefs. Spend an hour and a half on one of the most beautifu...
Whitehaven Beach Funseeker Scenic Seaplane Flight(EX331) (Helicopter Flight) Experience the exhilaration of a scenic seaplane flight over the majestic Hill Inlet and Whitehaven Beach. Discover its spectacular pure white silica sand as your seaplane gracefully lands on the tran...
Whitehaven Experience Scenic Seaplane Flight(EX407) (Seaplane) Visit the famous Whitehaven Beach by seaplane. Flights depart daily and include a spectacular direct scenic flight over the Whitsunday passage, islands and Hill Inlet. Our seaplanes land gracefully at...
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.
