3 Days in Airlie Beach, Australia: Things To Do, See & Eat
Airlie Beach is a small town in Queensland, Australia and it’s often hailed as the “Gateway” to the Whitsundays, which is hailed as one of the most beautiful beaches in the entire world. I definitely think it’s worth visiting just to see the Whitsundays!
The town itself is a bit touristy, so I wouldn’t spend too much time staying in the actual town itself, and I think 3 to 4 days is more than enough. However, there are a few really lovely things to do and see, especially around Airlie Beach, as well as a few pretty good spots to eat.
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Things To Do
Visit the Whitsunday Islands
Probably the main reason why you are visiting Airlie Beach is to see the beautiful Whitsunday Islands; a Unesco heritage site. It is really a sight to behold seeing the turquoise waters and the ultra white sands.
The best way to visit the islands is by joining a tour. There are various tours available, for example on GetYourGuide.
There are only a few tours that are licensed to go to the Inlet, which is the swirling blue sands that you see in the picture. We did this tour from GetYourGuide with a speed boat, that was licensed to also go to the inlet. It was really super beautiful to see, and the tour itself was also very fun, so I definitely recommend it! You can check the availability directly below:
Snorkel the Great Barrier Reef
Even though Airlie beach lies a bit further from the Great Barrier Reef, it is still possible to go there by boat and spend the day there.
If you’ve got enough time to visit the Great Barrier Reef and you haven’t been yet, you should definitely book a snorkel tour to go there!
Check out this tour on GetYourGuide:
Relax On The Beaches
Airlie beach has a few beaches including Boathaven Beach and the Airlie Beach beach.
My favourite was Boathaven beach, which is just a 10 min walk from the centre of the town, and is a bit less busy than the other one. There is also a stinger net present, which is great because you can actually have a swim in the warm waters during stinger season.
Swim at the Airlie Beach Lagoon
The Airlie Beach Lagoon is a free pool area next to the beach. This is a great alternative to the beach, especially during stinger season, when you won’t be able to swim at most of the beaches. I do recommend to get there earlier to snag a spot in the shade because it can get quite busy.
Of course, this is also a fun option for kids!
Hike the Honeyeater Lookout trail
If you like hiking and want to get closer to the lush nature in Queensland, then this hike is a great activity. Just beware that it is quite steep so it’s not a trail for complete beginners.
Whitsunday Saturday Markets
Check out this cute little market on Saturday morning (7AM to 1PM) close to the beach, where they sell all sorts of souvenirs, jewelry, snacks and other nicknacks.
Where To Eat
Dinner at the Belvedere at Toscana
Breakfast & Coffee
Rufus & Co. Cafe - Our favourite spot for breakfast, with great coffee and decent breakfast options. It’s located at the Port of Airlie, where you can sit on the terraces and enjoy the beautiful setting.
3 Little Birds Espresso - Another decent coffee spot is this cafe located close to the town centre.
Lunch & Dinner
Ceviche at Eastwoods Dining
Eastwoods Dining - A lovely place for dinner or lunch is this restaurant called Eastwoods dining, which serves Asian fusion food.
The Belvedere at Toscana - This is a beautiful little Italian restaurant that’s located in a hotel on top of a hill. It has a gorgeous view on the sea, so definitely come a bit earlier to watch the sunset. The food is really good as well!
Ramen in May - On the last day of our stay we went to this Ramen place and had the cold Soba which was really delicious! The ramen also looked good.
The Garden Bar Bistro - A lovely cocktail place right by the sea, with beautiful views on the harbour.
Where To Stay
Because Airlie Beach town can be quite loud, especially at night, I would recommend to stay a bit outside of the main town area. Make sure that it’s still easy to walk to the town centre, though.
We stayed at a motel called Colonial Palms Motor Inn, which was quite cheap, but I actually wouldn’t recommend it because it’s quite old and I don’t think it was worth the price at all.
Check out all the other hotels available on Booking.com:
When To Go
Airlie Beach has tropical and hot climate all year round. So anytime is a good time to visit, at least weather wise.
The one thing you do need to consider is that it’s Stinger Season from November to May, meaning there are venomous jellyfish present in the waters. That means you won’t be able to swim at all beaches, unless you wear a stinger suit. This also applies if you go to the Whitsundays and the Great Barrier Reef.
If you want to avoid high season and the crowds, the best time to visit Airlie Beach is September, October and November.
How To Get There
Airlie beach closest airport is Proserpine Airport, which is about a 30 minute drive from the town. There are domestic flights from Sydney, Melbourne, Cairns and other places in Australia. We took a flight from Melbourne with Jetstar and it was about a 3 hour flight.
From Cairns by car, it’s about a 6 to 7 hour drive along the coast.
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