1. Enjoy the rainforest in the rain - on the Whitsundays Great Walk (may be closed February/March) - Highlights of the Whitsunday Great Walk include wandering through majestic tropical rainforest, relaxing by seasonal creeks, and looking beyond coastal townships to the Whitsunday Islands. Use your senses to watch for the blue flash of a Ulysses butterfly, smell lemon myrtle flowers in summer and listen for the distinctive call of the wompoo fruit-dove.
2. Or take a shorter walk of discovery on one of the many scenic forest walks that depart from Shute Harbour and offer picturesque, well kept tracks with views over the islands. Check for possible closures depending on weather-related and slippery conditions.
3. Walk the brand new ‘Airlie Creek Walking Track’ departing from central Airlie Beach and winding up the hills to see rare and unique Whitsunday Bottle Trees and a stunning cascading rock pool at the top of the walk.
4. The rain brings out all kinds of wildlife. Birdwatch for Magpie Geese, Brolgas and Jacanas and species migrating from Papua New Guinea such as Spangled Drongos and Buff-breasted Kingfishers. Frogs are also out and about, filling the air with raucous calls. Be cautious of snakes and crocodiles moving about looking for higher, drier ground.
5. If you’d prefer a guided tour, the Whitsunday Crocodile Safari includes a calm river cruise spotting crocs and a wetland tour within the Goorganga Plains.
6. Sit in one of the cosy, sheltered restaurants and enjoy great food and wine on the Airlie Beach Esplanade/Main Street. Cuisine is very multi cultural from fresh local seafood (the rains make for excellent barramundi & prawn catching) to Indian, Italian, Mexican, modern Australian, Thai, Chinese, Japanese.
7. Too rough in the ocean? Have a swim at the perpetually warm and calm Airlie Beach Lagoon.
8. Go shopping at the weekend markets or peruse the Whitsundays’ many boutiques or large shopping centres in Cannonvale.
9. Get pampered and relax at a day spa. Try a fake tan so at least you can go home looking like the sun was shining the whole time!
10. Put on your thinking cap – attend trivia night at local pubs like the Cannonvale Reef Gateway Hotel, the Whitsunday Terraces or Club Croc throughout the week.
11. Enjoy free live music every Sunday at the Esplanade and live local music daily in many of the pubs in Airlie Beach.
12. Sleep all day and experience the night life of Airlie.
13. Enjoy some country hospitality at a local pub.
14. ‘Dry out’ at the Rum Bar!
15. Take a day trip to one of the islands to explore – marvel at all the marine life in the world’s biggest open air aquarium on Daydream Island; explore Hamilton Island by golf buggy; hike on one of the many walking tracks on the islands.
16. Catch up on your emails at one of the many internet cafes in town.
17. Take the opportunity to write postcards to friends and family back home and tell them about your amazing time spent here in the Whitsundays. Head to the local Day and Night Chemist, in the middle of the main street, for beautiful postcards and stamps.
18. Burn off some of that ‘excess baggage’ and go for a work out at the PCYC gym – casual memberships are $10 per visit. Or $5 to shoot some basketball (cheaper prices available if you’re a PCYC member anywhere else across Australia). Shute Harbour Road, just past the ‘Port of Airlie’.
19. Check with local hotels/hostels/backpackers/caravan parks for wet weather entertainment like games and movies.
20. Watch for special events like wine tasting or cooking displays at local restaurants.
21. Borrow a good book from the local Library at Cannonvale. If staying for one month or more, a $50 refundable deposit Casual Membership can be arranged. If staying for a shorter time, anyone can go to the library and pull up a bean bag, chair or couch and read a book, magazine or newspaper. There is also a Wii, Playstation and DVD for use at the Library. Internet is available for a small cost.
22. Enjoy an Aussie BBQ in one of the many undercover shelters along the Airlie Beach and Cannonvale foreshore.
23. Investigate sailing and boating training courses available through the Whitsunday Sailing Club or various other operators.
24. Learn all about the Great Barrier Reef’s marine biology with the many resources available at the Fantasea on the Esplanade coffee shop/information centre. Enquire about the Fantasea Foundation’s regular, free talks from their marine biologist.
25. Can't decide on dinner? Try a bit of everything with a progressive dinner - entree at one place, dinner at another and finish with dessert or ice cream at a third.
26. The Airlie Beach Hotel operates a ‘Localvore’ tour including a meal at the hotel on the last Saturday of every month. You’ll be amazed at the variety of fresh produce that is available within a 100 mile radius of the hotel and delight at the innovative meals that head chef Tim Whitethorn creates from them.
27. Rain = prawns! Grab yourself a cast net and some good advice from a local fishing tackle store and try your luck at catching your own feast of fresh Whitsunday prawns.
28. Wile away an afternoon at Fun to Bead making a special personalised bracelet, necklace or anklet for yourself or as a unique souvenir for someone back home.
29. If you’re looking for a fun activity to keep the kids entertained, head to Centro to buy some paint for face painting or purchase a canvas from a bargain store and make a holiday masterpiece to send to the loved ones.
Hire a car, mini moke or scooter and take a drive...
30. Drive to Hydeaway Bay for lunch – 40 mins.
31. Go croc spotting on the Proserpine River – 30 mins to the Proserpine River.
32. Explore the beautiful beaches and fringing reefs of Bowen – 45 mins.
33. Taste the tropical delights of a Bowen mango – 45 mins.
34. Head inland to the old mining area of Collinsville and the Coal Face Experience museum – 2 hours.
35. Check out the live fish display at Bowen Harbour with fish ready for export – 45 mins.
36. Visit Muller’s Lagoon, 23.57 hectares of picturesque parkland in the centre of Bowen, with superb botanical gardens and wetlands habitat – 45 mins.
37. Visit the sites in Bowen where ‘Australia’ the movie was filmed – 45 mins.
38. Enjoy a movie at the Bowen Summer Gardens Cinema – 45 mins.
39. Take a step back in time at the Proserpine Historical Museum - 20 mins.
40. Shopping trip to Colour Me Crazy, Tropical Beach Hut and Cherrie Baby Boutique in Proserpine, with a stop-off at Crocodile Cafe & Wholefoods for lunch – 20 mins.
41. Enjoy the tranquil scenery of Dingo Beach while beachcombing. Have a drink at the Dingo Beach Hotel – 40 mins.
42. Enjoy a scenic drive to Eungella National Park through beautiful rainforest as it winds up the mountain. At the top, look for platypus! Another highlight is Finch Hatton Gorge with its stunning waterfall - 2.5 hours.
43. Warm up with a local coffee at the Whitsunday Gold Coffee plantation in Proserpine. You can experience a tour of how Whitsunday Gold Coffee is produced and manufactured and enjoy a cuppa of the divine brew afterwards – 20 mins.
(Drive times approximate from Airlie Beach, one way).
(Check road conditions before making the trip. Obey any road closures and drive with caution when there is water on the road).
You’re wet already, so why not:
44. Go fishing at many of the great spots off the Whitsunday Coast (eg. the marina wall), or at the Shute Harbour fishing pontoon. Head further inland for estuary/barramundi fishing.
45. Catch a monster barramundi at Peter Faust Dam (permit required).
46. Hire a kayak and experience the islands from a different perspective.
47. Explore the Ngaro Sea Trail – a trail of walks on the Whitsunday Islands linked by on-water trails.
48. Compete in the weekly Wednesday afternoon sailing (from Whitsunday Sailing Club) – volunteer crew welcome!
49. Become a certified diver with one of our local Whitsunday Dive operators in Airlie Beach and get your ticket in as little as 3 days.
50. Take advantage of the winds, fly a kite at Conway Beach (40 minute drive from Airlie Beach).
51. Splash around in the freshwater swimming hole and enjoy a scenic picnic at Cedar Creek Falls (25 minute drive from Airlie Beach).
52. Enjoy the views and explore all the way from Cannonvale Beach to Airlie Beach along the Bicentennial Walkway.
53. If you’re after a thrill, rent a Jetski from Jetty Watersports at Coral Sea Resort when the sea is a bit rough.
54. The choppier the sea, the more fun the adventure ride on Ocean Rafting gets. Always the last boat to cancel and often heading out in windy wet conditions, operators of the Whitsundays adventure boat ride Ocean Rafting say 25 knots will give you an exhilarating wild ride (if you dare).
The summer rain isn't cold, so why not still get out and do all the water activities you'd planned - snorkelling, sailing, cruising and exploring the Whitsundays. Just because it is raining in Airlie Beach doesn't mean it's raining on the islands or at the reef (or vice versa), so make sure you check with local operators as to the conditions of the day. The greens of the islands are spectacular during and following rains and you might spot different wildlife out enjoying the fresh weather or come across a seasonal waterfall. The water remains an average 25 degrees throughout the year and is always enjoyable to swim – raining or not.