The World Unlocked

Best things to do in Airlie Beach:

Best local attractions:

     The Whitsunday Islands & the Great Barrier Reef
Positioned close to the Great Barrier Reef and Whitsunday Island, the Coral Sea is guaranteed to be the first place you go on arrival.

     Airlie Beach is the exit and entry point for the Whitsundays' 74 dreamy islands. With almost all uninhabited these picturesque islands, scattered amongst the Great Barrier Reef, offer extraordinary getaways with each delivering its own unique experience.

Top Whitsunday Islands to visit

     Top Whitsunday Islands to visit include a flight over Heart Reef for iconic pictures of the Whitsunday's naturally-formed heart-shaped reef (if you want to propose – this could be the ideal setting). For more romance in spades, Vlascoff Cay is a deserted isle where you can spend 90 minutes picnicking, swimming and wandering your very own desert island.

Lady Elliott Island

     For wildlife, Lady Elliott Island is the top pick. Teeming with marine wildlife, you'll be amazed to see manta rays with wingspans as wide as 7m and jump at the chance to swim with minke whales. Of course, the see-through waters of the Great Barrier Reef make spotting so much of its awesome marine wildlife truly special .

Mon Repos

      Schedule your visit right at Mon Repos and you could witness loggerhead turtles coming ashore to lay their eggs or baby loggerheads running into the sea after they've hatched.

      And that's just 5 of the 74!

     These waters are of course, teeming with tropical fish and marine wildlife in every colour, shape and size. That means both on the Whitsunday Islands and Airlie Beach, snorkelling and swimming are must-do activities with monumental dive sites, (mostly congregated around Hook Island and Hayman Island) such as The Pinnacles and The Woodpile, unmissable destinations.

Airlie's man-made lagoon

     Airlie's man-made lagoon has multiple pools of different depths and type. You'll appreciate 4.5 million litres of fresh water accompanied by picnic areas and landscaped gardens. Popular with locals and travellers, the lagoon's a lively place to hang out with beer gardens edging its borders.

     For rousing walks, Bicentennial Walkway stretches all the way along the coast, from Cannonvale Beach to Airlie Beach with lots of picturesque scenes and marine life to spot through the glass-like sea water along the way.

     Alternatively, the 27km Conway Circuit, which can be steep in places, takes you through rainforest and streams as you travel from Airlie Beach to Proserpine. Or hike up to Honeyeater Lookout for the best vistas across the Coral Sea and Whitsundays.

Whitsundays Country Golf Club

      If you like golf, you'll revel in the collection of superb golf courses in the area. The 18-hole championship Whitsundays Country Golf Club has legendary views out to sea. Meanwhile, Proserpine Golf Course in the hinterland is renowned for the opportunity to play close to local wildlife.

Conway National Park's

     Trek across Conway National Park's many trails which take you through majestic waterfalls, staggering rainforest, beaches, streams and bays. You'll find picnic areas in places and lots of great views out to sea and across the Whitsunday Islands. Hike to the top of Cedar Creek Falls for amazing views if you dare.

     For other days, there's an endless feast of treats to experience along the coastal road.

     From the sugar cane factory in Mackay bordered by its own sugar cane fields to the sight of kangaroos hopping along the beach for their morning stroll at Cape Hillsborough to gigantic Wallaman Falls, Broken River's platypuses or the crocodiles, minke whales, wallabies en route to the Daintree Rainforest at the other end the road, there's so much to see and do.

Best places to stay in Airlie Beach, Australia

     Enjoy sublime views across the Coral Sea and over the Whitsundays from divine luxury accommodation. Discover a superb range of stunning luxury holiday houses to suit families, couples and groups of every size.

     From centrally located retreats close to Main Street for quick access to the port, sensational holiday rentals nearer town favoured by families or serenity in the hinterland, you'll enjoy luxurious rental accommodation with first-rate facilities for an unforgettable stay.