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Add to favoritesBase yourself in the small coastal town of Airlie Beach the gateway to 74 islands in Whitsundays. It has a great vibe. You can hear live music, eat great food and go on great adventures.
Airlie has a music festival every year but you don’t have to wait for it. You will find sweet sounds coming from band’s and muso’s in most bars.
If your a foodie, you will find everything from pub grub, fresh sea food and steaks to vegan and Vietnamese.
You can also have your own BBQ and swim in the lagoon. Head to one of the beaches and hale a Tuk Tuk to take you around town.
For a small town Airlie has accommodation galore. From hotel’s, motels, Airbnb to Caravan Parks.
As we are back in the Whitsundays. It has been part of our lives for several years. We wanted to share some of the reasons we return.
*Big4 Adventure: This is the place to be if you have kids big or small. They will be wowed with the mega water-slide park and huge lagoon-style pool. If you can get them out of the water how about tennis or mini golf?
The usual jumping pillow is a must as is the pedal carts. Take a breath in the evening with an outdoor movie.
The park has 26 acres of lush landscape gardens to relax in if that’s more your thing. It’s also only a short walk to one of the shopping centre’s which is handy.
Address: 25/29 Shute Harbour Road, Airlie Beach, QLD 4802
Phone: (07) 4948 5400
*Seabreeze Tourist Park: Seabreeze has a tropical Bali theme and is set on 13 acres.
They also have a lagoon-style pool for all to enjoy. You will notice a wide range of bird life here from Cockatoos, Kookaburras to Whistling Ducks.
Close to Airlie Beach, Able Point Marina and a scenic board walk into town. This is a well placed park for shopping as well as activities. Contact them to see how you can store your van so you can go to the islands.
Address: 234 Shute Harbour Road, Airlie Beach, QLD 4802
Phone: (07) 4946 6302
*Gunna Go Caravan park is located in the cane fields outside Airlie. A Great alternative to heading in to town. Conveniently it’s on the highway between Mackay and Bowen so no need to turn off.
Set on 6.5 acres with large green sites, bar, meals and friendly family owned. Check out Gunna Go out the website here
Address: 13067 Bruce Hwy, Myrtlevale QLD 4800
Phone: (07) 4945 1540
*Whale Watching
We have been lucky enough to have been out in a friends tinny and spotted them. Goose bumps and smiles from even the manliest among us.
Humpback whales pass between June and September. You might also see Green Sea Turtles and Dolphins.
If you’re not lucky enough to have your own boat try a couple of whale watching tours are: Whale Watching Whitsundays (see here) and Ocean Dynamics (see here) who also cater for luxury charter and jet ski adventures.
* The Fishing Is Amazing. Go out on a fishing boat, hire a tinny or take your own. You will find Mackerel, Cod, Coral Trout and Spangled Emperor to name a few. Mackerel Bay and the north side of Hook island seems to be a hot spot. Head to the Peter Faust Dam for Barramundi fishing or just through a line in off Shute Harbour jetty as we did.
Fishing charters can be found at Whitsundays Fishing Charters (see here)
Night fishing and live aboard fishing is also available with “Top Notch Game Fishing”(see here)
Cruise Whitsundays head to two pontoons out on the reef. Heart Pontoon is 39 nautical miles from the mainland and is a great place for you to experience the underwater world around you.
Take a breath as you dive down with your snorkel or splash out on a diving adventure. They have Sea-bob Jets to keep you up to speed with some of the sea life and an underwater observation area.
Reef Sleep is a two day one night experience on another pontoon. A unique place to watch the stars, listening to the ocean while you fall asleep in your swag for the night.
Spend the day on Hamilton island. Take advantage of the swim up pool, beach and zoo. You could even get married there (we did).
*Sail Around The Reef
Tongarra and Apollo are but two of the many sailing boats that will take you on the ride of your life. Experience the reef over 2 days and 2 nights.
Sail around and stop on some of the islands. Sunbath on Lanford Island or have a swim in the clear blue waters.
Snorkel at Blue Pearl Bay, off the 5 star resort of Hayman island and see the colourful fish and coral.
Finish your days watching the sunset as whales frolic in its fading light. Sailing Whitsundays (see here) has many tours to choose from.
Park your vehicle on the mainland and sail to a secluded island for a night or two. Some caravan parks in Airlie Beach and surrounds will store your van, car or boat at minimal cost.
You can also park at the harbour depending on your vehicle. Take your own boat or take a ride on Scamper the Whitsundays island camping water taxi. They have camping kits you can hire, all the equipment and gear you need for a trip of a lifetime.
A few island camps include Hook Island, Whitsunday Island, Whitehaven Beach and Henning Island. You will usually find a basic long drop type toilet a bench or two and a magnificent view.
Whitehaven Beach is world famous. Voted number two in the world in 2017 for best beach.
Fly in by sea plane, helicopter or take a boat, either way you get to take in the stunning aqua blue waters. Spend the day relaxing or swimming in paradise.
You can also camp on this national park paradise. Looking over the bright white silica beach tucked away in eucalyptus woodland.
Book all these camps online here at national parks for only $6.55 pp camping permit.
Whitsundays Camping is where you head to book your boat to camping paradise (see here)
Phone: (07) 4946 6285
How about a Tiger-moth flight over the islands, include a heart stopping loop de’loop. Take a sky dive with a view like no other.
You can also learn to fly a helicopter yourself as Larry did. Book yourself a helicopter or sea plane. Fly over the Heart Reef or land on a islands and have a picnic.
You can find more here at Skydive Airlie Beach
Tiger-moth Adventures can be seen here
Helireef is the place to book your helicopter tours, here
*Eungella National park
See the wild platypus and spectacular lookouts. Enjoy bush walking amongst sub-tropical plants on the 22 kilometres of walking track.
Stop and camp if you want to spend more time, which you will!
National park camping is also available here. Fern Flats and Broken River Bush Camp are natures gifts to camping.
Both are set in natural bushland opposite a river and with a toilet available.
Finch Hatton Show grounds is like a caravan park but at a fraction of the cost. A great place for caravans to hook up to power and water. Unhook your vehicle and head out exploring.
The show grounds are at Peoples Street, Finch Hatton, Queensland
Phone: (07) 4958 3162
See National Parks for camping permit (here) and to see the types of camping.
This is a great spot out of town to have a swim and cool down. After the summer rains, the falls flow rapidly over the cliff. Flowing or not the water hole is frequented by locals and visitors alike.
Bring your swimmers, you wont be disappointed.
The Whitsundays, it’s islands and the Great Barrier Reef are breathtakingly beautiful. Airlie Beach is the heart of it all, beating to it’s own rhythm. This is why we continue to come back.
Whether its to rest or play, the choice is yours!
For those of you with Dogs you can still camp on an island. Check your pet in to The Whitsundays Pet Resort, see here
Have you thought about house sitting as you travel? Check out Aussie House sitters and use our discount Coupon Code “AHS15%off”
Prices stated in blog post are correct at time of publishing and will not be updated unless re verified
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The information provided by us is for general informational purposes only. Use common sense or see a professional.