Are you planning a short trip to Airlie Beach and Australia’s slice of paradise- the Whitsunday’s but don’t know how to make the most of it? Well keep reading because our 3 days in Airlie beach itinerary is perfect for you.
Airlie Beach is the main hub for visitor’s wanting to visit the Whitsunday’s and the Great Barrier Reef, but this coastal town is so much more than just that! Airlie Beach is a vibrant, multicultural town full of character. The loveable, laid back beach vibe is what makes Airlie Beach a favourite with travellers, families and adventure seekers. Our 3 days in Airlie Beach blog includes our 3 day itinerary, where to eat, where to stay and tonnes of fun activities to do. 3 days is definitely not long enough in this tropical paradise but we have made sure this itinerary is jam packed with the best things to do in Airlie Beach.
How to get to Airlie Beach?
The closet airport to Airlie Beach is Proserpine Airport (PPP Whitsunday Coast). Virgin, Qantas and Jetstar each have daily flights to Proserpine (PPP). Skytrans offer a direct service from Cairns and Rockhampton every weekday.
PPP airport is located 26 kilometres southwest of Airlie Beach which is only a 30 minute drive. There are a few transport options including hiring a car, taking a taxi, booking a shuttle or organising a transfer bus through your accommodation.
Alternatively, Hamilton Island Airport is a 50 minute ferry ride to the mainland (Port of Airlie). Qantas, Jetstar and Virgin have regular flights from Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne. The town of Mackay is less than 2 hours south so there is an option with rental cars or bus transfers available.
We flew to Proserpine with Jetstar with a layover in Brisbane. On the way back we also flew with Jetstar but this time Proserpine- Sydney and then Perth.
Check out our YouTube video of this trip below.
3 days in Airlie Beach itinerary starts now….
Day 1: Explore Explore Airlie Beach and Conway National Park
Settle in to Airlie Beach by wandering the Main Street which is bustling with cafes, local gift shops, galleries, in-famous pubs and a variety of restaurants. As soon as the sun rises the esplanade and main strip comes alive with locals and visitors from all over the globe.
Walk down to the man made lagoon in the morning for a dip or enjoy a scenic walk through the gardens along the esplanade. Airlie Beach Lagoon is located right on the shoreline in the city centre, which makes it the ideal spot to chill out, go for a swim, have a picnic and enjoy the sunshine. The Lagoon is a 4,300 sqm swimming pool with two seperate pools to choose from. One being a small kiddies pool and the other a large pool that goes to a depth on 2.5 meters. The lagoon is free to use which is why it’s a favourite for all and is open with life guards from 6am to 6pm.
For the most delicious coffee, ocean views and friendly service be sure to pop into Wisdom cafe.
Take a walk along Coral Sea Marina
For a short scenic stroll take the Bicentennial walk way past Coral Sea Hotel to the Coral Sea Marina. The Marina is filled with some really nice luxury boats and yachts. There are a number of restaurants and shops located along the walk. Every day from 3-4 pm Sorrento Restaurant and Bar offers 2 for the price of 1 pizzas! Sit outside on their wooden deck for view over looking the water. With that special its a must have meal in Airlie Beach!
Dinner: Check out Mika BBQ and Bar for delicious Latin American food and a vibrant atmosphere. The sangria is a must try!
Day 2: Adventure out on a kayak and enjoy a scenic trail through Conway National Park
For a fun and adventurous way to explore some of the inner Islands, we highly recommend booking a half day kayak tour with Salty Dog Sea Kayaking. The half day tours start in the morning at 8:30am from Shute Harbour. There is a curtesy bus available for pick up and drop off.
After the safety brief we jumped into our kayaks and kayaked over to the White Rock Island. On the way we kayaked past Repair Island, over fringing reefs and had the guides share their local knowledge. Once we reached White Rock Island we had free time to either relax in the sun or go for a snorkel. We also were provided with juice boxes, muesli bars and fruit.
On the kayak journey back we were taken on a different route past Shute Island. If you are concerned about your fitness ability don’t worry because this tour is for both experienced and beginner paddlers.
To book your Salty Dogs Sea kayaking adventure click here. This tour is a really fun way to see the Inner Islands that would normally be missed. Price: Adult: $90 Child: $80 under 15 years old.
Check our more fun activities to do in Airlie Beach below.
Spend the afternoon exploring Conway National Park.
A visit to Conway National Park is a must do when in Airlie Beach. There are a number of trails within the National Park as well as Cedar Falls.
The National Park near Shute Harbour is great for exploring rainforests, secluded bays and beaches. The Coral Beach Trail is a short 3.4 km return hike that takes you through rainforests and has a number of gaps in the trees where you can see out to the Whitsunday passage. The trail will come out at Coral Beach where you can explore the bay. Continue the walk just 180 metres east along the beach and look for the walking track up to the Beak Lookout. Beak Look out is a great spot for panoramic views of the Whitsunday Islands as the sun starts to go down.
Dinner: Paradiso Rooftop Bar & Restaurant serves delicious seafood and fancy cocktails with amazing views of the esplanade and ocean front.
Day 3: Explore the Whitsundays with Camera Sailing Adventure
No visit to Airlie Beach is complete without sailing through the iconic Whitsunday Islands. The best way to take in the real beauty of some of the 47 Islands is to spend a whole day out on a catamaran!
Cruise Whitsundays offer a variety of different experiences of the Great Barrier Reef, Whitehaven Beach and the Whitsunday Islands. The one we chose to book was the all inclusive Camera Sailing adventure tour and we HIGHLY recommend that tour to everyone.
The 85 foot purple catamaran departs from the Port of Airlie at 8:15am which is just a short walk from town. Harness the wind, turn off the engines and simply sail through the azure waters of the Whitsunday’s before the opportunity to jump in and snorkel the fringing reefs.
Leave your footprints on 2021’s #1 Best Beach in the World!
The next stop is what attracts millions of people from all over the world and is regularly voted Australia’s best best- Whitehaven Beach. With its warm turquoise-hued water and soft white sand you can see why its on everyone Bucket list. Whitehaven Beach is simply heaven on earth. The 7km stretch of dazzling white sand is 98 per cent pure white silica, which is almost pure quartz giving it the white, near luminescent colour.
We spent a few hours exploring the beach, having a swim and taking in every moment of this dream-like paradise. You can also take a small trail up to a lookout for views over the whole Whitehaven Beach.
Unfortunately due to extremely low tide the Catamaran wasn’t able to pull up to the Hill Inlet. On most occasions when the tide is high enough you can take a guided hike to Hill Inlet lookout, following a path walked by the Whitsundays’ traditional owners, the Ngaro people.
Back on the boat a BBQ lunch is cooked and served on board. Enjoy a variety of different salads with meat and veggie burgers. Cool off with cold unlimited alcoholic and non alcoholic drinks. Enjoy the remaining afternoon taking more views of the Whitsunday Islands, see if you can spot Whales, mingle with other travellers and enjoy watching the sun go down. A sailing adventure really is a unforgettable way to experience the Whitsunday’s!
Book your very own adventure with Cruise Whitsundays here.
Price: Adult $229 Child $197
Want to read more about Australia’s beautiful beaches? Check out our Australia’s Coral Coast guide here.
Stay: Coral Sea Hotel, Airlie Beach
There are variety of different accomodation types for all budgets, ranging from hostels to luxury apartments to high end Islands.
Cheapest: Magnums, Nomads or Base Backpackers
Mid Range: Airlie Beach Hotel, Boathaven Bay Apartments
Luxury: Peninsular Airlie Beach, Coral Sea Resort
While in the Whitsundays we stayed at Coral Sea Resort in Airlie Beach. The resort overlooks the ocean and is located conveniently on the Bicentennial walkway. Directly between the Marina and Airlie Beach. With its impeccable views, large pool, top class restaurant and bar area- its no wonder Coral Sea Resort ranks as one of the most appealing resorts within Airlie Beach and the Whitsundays.
Click here to book your stay at Coral Sea Resort.
Do you want more of the Whitsundays?
If you have the chance to visit Airlie Beach for longer than 3 days then that is great. There is so much more to do so I will list some of them below.
Explore more of the Whitsunday Islands including, Hamilton Island, Daydream Island and Long Island. Fly over the iconic Heart shaped Reef, snorkel over the Great Barrier Reef, have a swim at Cedar Creek Falls and sleep the night under the stars and over the reef at Reef Sleep.
Thank you for reading.
We hope our 3 days in Airlie Beach blog has inspired you to visit Airlie Beach and the Whitsunday Region. We have no doubt that you will have loads of fun just like we did. If you have been to Airlie Beach and have any more recommendations we would love to read about them in the comment section below.
For more inspiration about road trips in Australia, check out our road trips guides to Port Stephens,The Blue Mountains, Wilson’s Promontory, Australias’ Coral Coast, Kimberley, South Australia, Tasmania and Darwin.
Enjoyed this post? Why not pin it or save for later!
Do you love the way we edit our photos? Want to edit your photographs like us? Head to our Presets store for all our preset collections or click on the products below.
