Things to do in Airlie Beach
Welcome to Airlie Beach
It's well worth lingering in the Queensland coastal town of Airlie Beach, best known as the gateway to the Whitsunday Islands and Great Barrier Reef. Soak up the year-round tropical weather on palm-fringed beaches and dine in charming alfresco restaurants; embark on a day trip or overnight cruise to the Whitsundays; or get a bird’s-eye view of the reef on a scenic flight. Another popular thing to do in Airlie Beach is explore the tropical rain forest and waterfalls in nearby Conway National Park.
Top 1 attractions in Airlie Beach
Reefworld Pontoon
Explore Airlie Beach by interest
Trip ideas
Top activities in Airlie Beach
Explore our promoted experiences
All about Airlie Beach
When to visit
Blessed by a subtropical climate, Airlie Beach is great to visit at any time of year. It is also a particularly appealing winter escape; while more southern areas of Australia are feeling the chill, Airlie Beach enjoys some of its best weather from June through September. This period is also the best time to spot migrating humpback whales. The town can get very busy during the country’s three-week school holiday in September and early October, so avoid that window if you don’t like crowds.
Getting around
Airlie Beach is compact, and you can reach most attractions and services by foot. A public bus connects the town with Prosperpine and Shute Harbour, and you can also see more of the area by booking a tuk-tuk tour. If you’re arriving by plane, you’ll want to book a shuttle service to reach your hotel. Airlie Beach is also the gateway to the Whitsunday Islands; the departure points for tours to the archipelago are located in the town center or very nearby.
Traveler tips
While most visitors use Airlie Beach as a base for sailing trips around the Whitsunday Islands, there’s plenty of natural beauty to see on the mainland, too. Head to Conway National Park, just south of town, to explore multiple hiking trails, swaths of ancient rainforest, mangroves, and secluded beaches and to look for wildlife, including paradise kingfishers and the Proserpine rock-wallaby. Guided tours departing from Airlie Beach offer a convenient way to see it all.
People Also Ask
Airlie Beach is known as the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef and the main port for ferries and cruises to Hamilton Island and the Whitsundays. The lively seaside town also has renowned nightlife, white sand beaches, and accommodation options for everyone from backpackers to luxury travelers.
...MoreWith just one day in Airlie Beach, most travelers opt for a day trip to Hamilton Island and the Whitsunday Islands. For the ultimate experience, include a seaplane or helicopter flight over Whitehaven Beach and Heart Reef, and then cruise out to the Great Barrier Reef to swim and snorkel.
...MoreYes, Airlie Beach has two beaches—Airlie Beach and Boathaven Beach—both a short walk from the town center. The rocky shores of Airlie Beach are better suited for sunbathing than swimming, and Boathaven Beach has white sands and a summer swimming area complete with a stinger net.
...MoreRenowned as one of Queensland’s party capitals, Airlie Beach has a buzzing nightlife and a lively backpacker scene. Bars, restaurants, pubs, and nightclubs line the main street, Shute Harbour Road, where you can spend the night sipping happy hour cocktails, tucking into tapas, and dancing into the early hours.
...MoreFerries from Airlie Beach take about 60 minutes to reach Hamilton Island (depending on weather conditions). Up to nine passenger ferries depart daily from the Port of Airlie Marina, arriving at Hamilton Island Marina. Ferries also depart from Shute Harbour (just south of Airlie Beach), taking around 35 minutes.
...MoreYes, Airlie Beach is the closest ferry port to explore the lower Great Barrier Reef or cruise out to Hamilton Island and the Whitsunday Islands. Not to mention it has white sand beaches, buzzing nightlife, and the rainforest hiking trails of the Conway National Park right on its doorstep.
...MoreAirlie Beach information
Number of Attractions | 1 |
|---|---|
Number of Tours | 90 |
Number of Reviews | 17,333 |
Currency | AUD |
Trending attractions
- Colosseum
- Eiffel Tower
- Hoover Dam
- Louvre
- Statue of Liberty
- Sagrada Familia
- Burj Khalifa
- Road to Hana (Hana Highway)
- Acropolis
- Roman Forum (Foro Romano)
- Molokini Crater
- St. Mark's Basilica (Basilica di San Marco)
- Na Pali Coast
- Uffizi Galleries (Gallerie degli Uffizi)
- Great Barrier Reef
- Stonehenge
- Tulum
- Ellis Island
- Tower of London
- Pearl Harbor National Memorial
Popular on Viator
- Statue of Liberty Tours and Tickets
- The White House Tours and Tickets
- Antelope Canyon Tours and Tickets
- Hoover Dam Tours and Tickets
- Alcatraz Tours and Tickets
- Stonehenge Tours and Tickets
- Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum Tours and Tickets
- Beverly Hills Tours and Tickets
- Colosseum Tours and Tickets
- Washington Monument Tours and Tickets
- San Diego Zoo Tours and Tickets
- Space Needle Tours and Tickets
- Eiffel Tower Tours and Tickets
- Pearl Harbor National Memorial Tours and Tickets
- Empire State Building Tours and Tickets
- Art Institute of Chicago Tours and Tickets
- Aquarium of the Pacific Tours and Tickets
- Blue Lagoon Tours and Tickets
- Burj Khalifa Tours and Tickets
- Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met) Tours and Tickets