Cheap flights to Airlie Beach will land at Whitsunday Coast Airport, just 25 minutes from the town. Once you're in Airlie Beach, thoughts will turn to the fun you can have before you head off to the Whitsunday Islands.
Airlie Beach is small, just one main street packed full of bars, clubs, restaurants and tour offices. Its accommodation options run from backpacker up to five star.
The stingers can be a problem between October and April and ocean swimming is restricted, but the Airlie Beach Lagoon makes up for it. It's stinger-free year-round, holds 4.5 million litres of salt water, patrolled every day from 7am to 9pm, and is surrounded by landscaped gardens, barbecue facilities and picnic tables.
Six kilometres east of Airlie Beach is Conway National Park, a beautiful coastal park looking across the Whitsunday Passage, home to Proserpine rock-wallabies, the Australian brush-turkey and orange-footed scrubfowl. From the lookout at Mount Rooper, there are views of Hamilton, Dent, Long and Henning islands.
The islands are the main attraction of course and visitors will have the happy problem of deciding which type of boat to charter to the Whitsundays - a bare charter, crewed adventure, diving or fishing? Shute Harbour, 10km east of Airlie Beach, is the departure point for many of the vessels.
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The climate is subtropical - warm temperatures year-round. Summer (December to February) temperatures hover between 25 and 35 degrees with rain and high levels of humidity. Cyclones are also a possibility at this time. Winter (June to August) temperatures are about 20 degrees, and there is little rainfall.
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Peak Season:
The Queensland school holidays are peak season times in Airlie Beach. These take in Christmas, New Years and Easter, the June/July school holidays and the September/October holidays. Schoolies Week in November is also high season. The Blessing of the Fleet takes place on Whit Sunday or Pentecost Sunday each year (May, June depending on when Easter falls). Airlie Beach Food and Wine Festival is on in August and the Airlie Beach Race Week is also in August. The Airlie Beach Triathlon and Whitsunday Fantasea Reef Festival are in September.
Off Season:
In general, when the schools are in session, it's low season in Airlie Beach. Pick and choose your times carefully to get low-season rates. In December, January and February, the weather is hot and humid and cyclones are a possibility.
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Whitsunday Transit offers a shuttle service from the airport. There are also taxis and rental cars (as long as you have booked in advance).
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The public transport is courtesy of Whitsunday Transit. It offers a fast, inexpensive and reliable service. Taxis are available 24 hours per day. And there are hire-car companies too.
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- Conway National Park overlooks the Whitsunday Passage. It's home to Proserpine rock-wallabies, Australian brush-turkeys and orange- footed scrubfowl. There are some sumptuous views. Get to the Mount Rooper lookout and enjoy views of Hamilton, Dent, Long and Henning islands.
- A little outside Airlie Beach is Barefoot Bushman's Wildlife Park.
- Airlie Markets is on Waterson Way. Open between Thursday and Sunday (10am-4pm) year round, it's a great place to pick up arts and crafts and pieces by new designers. Great place to pick up lunch too.
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