Things to do in Airlie Beach
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Whitehaven Beach Day Tour from Airlie Beach: BBQ & Hill InletYou get hotel pickup, a fast boat to two separate islands with guided walks at each, five hours of beach time split between Hill Inlet and Whitehaven, a full beach BBQ lunch with steaks cooked to order, stinger suits, morning and afternoon refreshments, and a return transfer to your accommodation — all in one day without arranging transport or timing yourself.Is it for me?Book this if you want both of the Whitsundays' main beaches in a single day without arranging your own boat, timing the stops, or paying extra for lunch — the fixed schedule and included meals are what make it possible to see two islands properly instead of rushing between them.
Whitsundays: 2-Day Maxi Yacht Sailing & Snorkel AdventureYou’ll sail between quiet coves and famous beaches on a real maxi yacht from Airlie Beach, sharing meals and stories with new friends under open skies. Expect sunrise coffee on deck, three hours relaxing at Whitehaven Beach, guided bushwalks for those wild inlet views, plus handpicked snorkeling spots—all with crew who actually make you feel at home.
Lady Enid Sailing Tour: Whitehaven Beach & SnorkelYou’ll step aboard Lady Enid for a relaxed adults-only sailing day through the Whitsundays—snorkeling island reefs, walking barefoot on Whitehaven Beach’s soft sand, climbing up to Hill Inlet lookout for wild views, and sharing good food with fellow travelers as the sun sets behind Airlie Beach.Is it for me?Built for adults who want to sail, not just ride: you get a turn at the helm, snorkel the island reefs, and eat gourmet meals with a crew of four tending to a maximum of 24 guests.
Whitsundays Sailing Tour: Whitehaven Beach & SnorkelingA 2-day, 2-night sailing tour of the Whitsunday Islands departing from Airlie Beach, where you board the maxi yacht Hammer and explore Whitehaven Beach, snorkel coral reefs, and sleep in mixed dormitory cabins below deck. The crew handles navigation, meals and timing; you choose between a bush-walk to Hill Inlet Lookout or a final snorkel on day three before returning to Airlie Beach around 11am. Minimum age is 18, and dietary restrictions can be accommodated at booking.Is it for me?Most Whitsundays tours run as day trips from Airlie Beach, so you see one beach and one reef before heading back. This one keeps you on the boat overnight, which means you catch two sunsets, sleep under the stars, and reach Whitehaven Beach early enough to spend three hours there instead of one—plus two snorkel sites instead of a rushed dash to one.
Whitsundays: Scenic Flight Heart Reef, Whitehaven & Hill InletYou’ll board a small plane for a one-hour scenic flight over the Whitsunday Islands, soaring above Whitehaven Beach’s white sand and swirling Hill Inlet before circling Heart Reef itself. Window seats mean every view is yours to keep—and your pilot shares stories along the way. Expect a few goosebumps as you spot that famous heart shape below.
Airlie Beach: Whitsunday Segway Rainforest Tour & Morning TeaYou're picked up from your Airlie Beach hotel, trained on a Segway, then guided 9km through Conway National Park rainforest along the Whitsunday Great Walk. Midway, you stop for morning tea by Impulse Creek. The tour includes all National Park fees, a professional guide, helmet, and air-conditioned transport both ways — 3.5 hours total, no separate arrangements needed.Is it for me?Book this if you want to explore Conway National Park rainforest without the physical demand of hiking 9km on foot, and you'd rather not arrange your own transport or worry about park entry — the pickup, guide, and all fees are handled for you.
Airlie Beach Sunset Cruise & Sparkling Wine from Coral Sea MarinaYou board with a glass of sparkling wine, cruise Pioneer Bay and Turtle Bay for two hours watching the sunset over the Whitsundays, spot turtles and possibly dolphins, eat antipasto, and return to Coral Sea Marina as the town lights come on. The flat catamaran deck means you can wear heels and move freely without gripping railings.Is it for me?Book this if you want a sunset on the water without arranging your own boat or timing — the two-hour window catches the light at its best, and the flat catamaran means you can actually relax instead of holding on.
Airlie Beach: Cedar Creek Eco Tour with Rainforest Walk & TeaYou’ll slip into cool rock pools near Airlie Beach, snack on homemade banana bread beside Cedar Creek, hear Aboriginal stories from your local eco guide, and wander through lush rainforest. It’s relaxed but full of those small moments that stay with you long after you’ve dried off.
Airlie Beach Turtle Spotting Cruise: Electric Boat Max 8A one-hour turtle spotting cruise from Airlie Beach aboard Tallulah, an electric boat carrying a maximum of eight passengers, glides through Turtle Bay, around Pigeon Island and past the Coral Sea Marina's yachts with a live English-speaking guide. The whisper-quiet, fume-free vessel is the only electric tour boat in the Whitsundays, designed to let you watch for loggerhead and green sea turtles without the noise and fumes of a standard engine. A portaloo is available in the forward cabin for emergencies.Is it for me?Glide silently past turtles and hear every word of commentary with just seven other passengers on the Whitsundays' only electric boat.
Snorkeling Airlie Beach: Small group sail with SUP & kayakSnorkel the Whitsunday Islands on a 6-hour sail from Airlie Beach aboard a 60ft air-conditioned catamaran with a maximum of 29 guests. You choose how to explore: snorkel the reefs near Hayman Island, stand-up paddle board, or paddle a clear-bottom kayak to watch coral below. The boat includes premium snorkel gear, wetsuits, morning tea platters and a tropical buffet lunch; the skipper and host pick the anchorage based on the day's weather, choosing from spots like Langford Island, Bali Hi or Stonehaven Bay. Kids from age 5 are welcome, and you'll need to be able to swim to enter the water for any activity.Is it for me?Choose this if you want multiple ways to explore the reef—snorkeling, paddleboarding, or clear-bottom kayaking—so you can pick based on how immersed you want to be that day.
Airlie Beach: Small Group Hinterland Tour & Waterfall SwimYou’ll taste fresh-roasted coffee at Whitsunday Gold Plantation, dip your toes (or more) into Cedar Creek Falls’ rainforest pool, spot turtles along Conway Beach with your local guide’s stories echoing in your ears, and grab lunch at a classic 1950s diner—all with pickup from Airlie Beach. Expect moments that stick with you long after you’re back.
Airlie Beach Segway Tour: Boardwalk Glide & Sunset DinnerA 3-hour Segway tour from Airlie Beach that takes you along all three sections of the Whitsunday Bicentennial Boardwalk, past Pioneer Bay and Abell Point Marina to Cannonvale Beach, with a professional guide, helmet and included dinner at Sorrento Restaurant during sunset. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included; children from age 12 are welcome, and you'll need moderate fitness and the ability to stand unaided on the Segway.Is it for me?Small groups work well here since you're riding your own Segway rather than sitting together on a coach, and the pace is steady enough for anyone with moderate fitness who wants to cover ground without walking. The sunset dinner stop makes this a good choice if you want the ride to end with a meal and a view rather than just dropping back at your hotel.
Proserpine Airport to Airlie Beach: Shared Shuttle with Local DriverYou're met by name at Proserpine Airport arrivals, your luggage is handled, and you're driven door-to-door to your Airlie Beach hotel in an air-conditioned shuttle. Your driver shares local knowledge of the region during the roughly one-hour transfer. Book your return at the same time to lock in your departure transport.Is it for me?Book this if you want to skip the rental car desk and taxi negotiation — the driver meets you by name, handles your bags, and drops you at your door, which turns an airport arrival into one less thing to think about.
Airlie Beach: Trike Tour to Shute Harbour & Conway with LunchYou’ll feel the rush of open-air trike touring from Airlie Beach through lush hills, stopping at Shute Harbour for sweeping sea views before winding into Conway’s wild corners. Pause at Cedar Creek Falls, share laughs over lunch at George’s Diner, and soak up local stories—all with your guide chatting through Bluetooth as you go.
Hardy Reef Overnight: Sleep Under Stars on the Great Barrier ReefA two-day, one-night overnight experience moored at Hardy Reef, 40 nautical miles from Airlie Beach, where you have private use of the entire Reefworld pontoon from sunrise to sunset. You snorkel, ride the semi-submarine, view the reef through an underwater chamber, and sleep in a premium queen-size Reefbed on the upper deck under the stars. Round-trip ferry transport through the Whitsundays, all meals, and beverages including beer and wine are included; optional scuba diving and helicopter flights are available to purchase on board.Is it for me?Choose this overnight option if you want private pontoon access from sunrise to sunset—you'll see the reef at different times of day and move between snorkeling and semi-sub tours without the day-tripper crowds.
Cape Hillsborough: Sunrise Kangaroos & Wallabies Tour with BreakfastYou’ll start before sunrise with hotel pickup from Airlie Beach, then watch kangaroos and wallabies greet the day on Cape Hillsborough’s beach. Share breakfast surrounded by forest scents, join your local guide for a gentle bushwalk past volcanic rocks to a lookout over the bay—and leave with that quiet feeling only early mornings bring.
Whitsunday Coast Airport to Airlie Beach: One-Way TransferYou get picked up at Whitsunday Coast Airport and driven straight to your Airlie Beach resort or B&B in an air-conditioned van or coach, with luggage stored in a trailer so you travel comfortably. Infant car seats are included if you need them. Just provide your flight details at booking and confirm your drop-off location.Is it for me?Book this if you're landing at Whitsunday Coast Airport and want to skip the rental car desk and the guesswork of finding your accommodation — the driver takes you straight to your door, and luggage is handled so you arrive ready to settle in.
Airlie Beach Airport Transfers: One-Way to Whitsunday CoastYou get picked up from your Airlie Beach hotel or nearby accommodation and driven to Whitsunday Coast Airport in an air-conditioned vehicle, with the driver tracking your flight time so you arrive with a buffer. Baby seats are included if you're traveling with infants. The return journey works the same way — airport pickup back to your hotel — so ground transport is one less thing to arrange.Is it for me?Right for travelers flying out of Whitsunday Coast Airport without a rental car or who prefer not to drive unfamiliar roads on arrival or departure. The pickup is timed to your flight, which is what removes the guesswork about when to leave your hotel.
Airlie Beach to Proserpine Airport: 40-Min Shared ShuttleYou're picked up from your Airlie Beach resort, helped with luggage, and driven 40 minutes to Proserpine Airport in an air-conditioned minibus with a local driver. The route is direct, the schedule is fixed, and you arrive with time to check in. Book with your flight number and pickup location confirmed.Is it for me?Choose this if you're staying in an Airlie Beach resort and want a straightforward, fixed-schedule ride to the airport without arranging a private car or waiting for a taxi—the 40-minute drive and included luggage help mean you can focus on getting to your flight on time.
