The tropical resort town of Airlie Beach, the mainland hub of The Whitsundays, is ready to welcome you! With an abundance of accommodation styles that will suit whatever holiday or budget you are in search of. Airlie’s main street is filled with delicious restaurants, bars, and specialty shops, as well as the famous Airlie Beach lagoon where families and couples can sit, relax and soak up the blissful holiday vibes this town offers.
Airlie Beach is THE best location for water adventures and relaxing on the beach, taking in the azure blue view.
Soak up the sun and enjoy a swim at the Airlie Beach Lagoon, a massive swimming pool bordered by sandy beach areas and grassy knolls, located within close distance to the main street of Airlie Beach. It is the perfect place to kick off your tropical adventure on the mainland, and the free public Lagoon and surrounding parkland area also feature a children’s splash pool and playground equipment, providing the perfect location for families. There are also several barbeque facilities situated throughout the lagoon’s parklands.
Just a short stroll from the lagoon, on the Airlie Beach foreshore, you will find further barbeque facilities and a new gigantic children’s playground standing 10.5m high.
Enjoy the sand, sea and spectacular views across the bay at Boathaven Beach, just a short stroll from the Airlie Beach Lagoon and main street. Alternatively, meander along the Bicentennial Boardwalk to Cannonvale Beach, taking in the magnificent views across the Coral Sea, with the bonus of coffee stops available along the way.
Airlie Beach boasts a broad array of accommodation from stylish 5-star resort hotels on the water's edge and apartments on the hillside overlooking the panorama of beach, bay and islands, to bed and breakfast options, motels, action-packed holiday parks with cabin, camping and caravan facilities, as well as backpacker accommodation. The town easily achieves the perfect balance between all of these styles, with all accommodation houses taking maximum advantage of the stunning views, and the village atmosphere unifying travellers of all budgets together in the same relaxed, holiday feel.
For more information on accommodation in Airlie Beach click here.
Airlie Beach is a great launchpad for the water tours heading out and experiencing the beauty of the Whitsunday Islands. Tours take off from Airlie Beach offering snorkelling, bareboating, or exploring the region including world-renowned Whitehaven Beach.
If you are keen to take in this stunning landscape by air, with many wanting to experience the beauty of Whitehaven Beach, Hill Inlet, The Great Barrier Reef, and Heart Reef from a birds-eye-view a number of scenic flight operators take off from the mainland.
Fishing is also a favoured pastime of our local residents, with Lake Proserpine crowned the barramundi mecca of Queensland, or try some big game fishing out on the open water.
For those who prefer to remain on the mainland why not check out the great land-based activities on offer. Check out crocodiles in the wild, take a tuk-tuk ride through Airlie Beach or see the lush rainforest of our National Park via Segway!
If you are travelling between June and September, in The Whitsundays, every tour could be a whale watching tour! Get out on the water to experience the magnificent migrating humpback whales.
Fresh seafood and produce are in abundance in The Whitsundays, after a fun-filled day, why not enjoy a delicious meal prepared with fresh local ingredients at one of the many restaurants that line the main street. If you like your evening with a little action; party the night away at bustling bars and pubs of Airlie Beach. The nightlife, great weather, stunning vistas, and friendly locals are some of the reasons people love visiting this town.
Check out “Where to Eat” for more info!
