Airlie Beach Tourism

Airlie Beach – Gateway to the Whitsunday Islands

Airlie Beach is the gateway to the famous Whitsundays, a cluster of 74 idyllic islands off the Queensland coast. Airlie Beach offers a wide variety of water activities from sailing to snorkelling the fringing coral reefs. Take a day trip to the outer reef, sunbake on the pristine sand of Whitehaven Beach, or by Airlie Beach’s lagoon, or head out to explore the stunning Whitsunday Islands and enjoy luxurious Hamilton Island accommodation and Lindeman Island accommodation.

If you don’t want to venture offshore then Airlie Beach also offers a vibrant nightlife scene with cafes and bars a short stroll from the hostel.

Airlie Beach is also known as the heart of the world-famous Great Barrier Reef tours due to its central position along the reef which stretches 2000 kms down Australia’s north-east coast.

Airlie Beach provides tourists and travellers with the perfect tropical climate and relaxed, comfortable lifestyle (and excitement if required) for their holiday. Along with adjacent Shute Harbour, Airlie Beach serves as the ideal base and embarkation point for further exploration of the Whitsunday Islands, the Great Barrier Reef and the tropical far-north of Queensland.

Airlie Beach has a small beach which from November to May is inhabited by a marine Jellyfish called ‘stingers’. The Airlie Beach council came up with a solution and built a swimming lagoon on the foreshore which has become legendary and is important to remember when looking for Airlie Beach Accommodation: ‘how far to the lagoon!’.

Airlie Beach has all types of accommodation for your stay: whether you’re a backpacker looking to pitch a tent, a family looking for a holiday unit, or a honeymooning couple looking to splash out on a luxury 5-star resort. For family holidays, most resorts offer children’s programmes and babysitting, and there are plenty of exciting marine activities, such as cruises out to the reef, to guarantee the little ones will have as much fun as anyone.

There is so much to do: see the reef in a glass-bottomed boat, take snorkeling lessons, enjoy a romantic boat cruise out to the islands, scuba dive the coral reef. Even helicopter trips are available. You can catch one out to the heavenly Whitehaven Beach, with its famous secluded white sands. What could be better than a picnic with champagne on this piece of beach paradise.

Shopping in Airlie Beach is a must, with retail outlets open seven days. If you fancy yourself to be a bargain hunter, you can’t miss the legendary Saturday markets on the Esplanade.

Visiting Victoria

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