How To Spend 24 hours in Airlie Beach
24 hours in Airlie Beach? Airlie Beach is a stunning resort town which is the gateway to both the Whitsundays and the Great Barrier Reef. A roadtrip through Queensland would not be complete without stopping here. You could spend many days at Airlie Beach exploring; however, if you are short on time, this post is going to tell you the best way to make the most out of your time at Airlie beach including, a trip through the Whitsundays, red cat adventures Airlie Beach, how to get to Airlie Beach, accommodation and dining options in Airlie Beach.
This post is all about how to spend 24 hours in Airlie Beach.
How to get to Airlie Beach:
Airlie Beach is a seaside town located between Mackay and Townsville on the Queensland coast. It can be reached by bus, plane, car or train.
By Car:
Whether you are driving from the North (Townsville) or from the South (Mackay), you will need to drive on the Bruce Highway until you get to the turn-off near Proserpine. The road is signposted well so you cannot miss it. From the turn-off, it is around a 30 minute drive before you arrive at Airlie.
By Bus:
Interstate coach companies travel up and down the Queensland coast and lots stop off at Airlie Beach including the Greyhound buses. Check their website for specific times, prices and information.
By Plane:
There are domestic airlines who fly to Proserpine Airport. From there, you can either hire a car or take a taxi to get to Airlie Beach. The journey will take around 30 minutes. Some accommodation also offer a pickup service, so make sure you check to see if this option is available.
By Train:
The Sunlander train which is operated by Queensland rail goes between Brisbane and Cairns. If you are wanting to take the train to Airlie Beach, you will have to get off the train at Proserpine station and then take a taxi/ rent a car to get into Airlie Beach, which is around half an hour’s drive.
Things to do in Airlie Beach:
The main highlight of Airlie Beach has to be visiting the Whitsundays. This is the main reason people travel to Airlie, as it is the gateway to the Whitsundays.
However, if you have extra time, why not also walk around the town, spend some time on the beach, and swim in the free Airlie Beach lagoon (park and swimming pool).
If you are in Airlie over the weekend, there is usually a market on the Esplanade every Saturday morning from 7am until 1pm. There are local handicrafts, food, souvenirs and much more.
If you are staying for longer, there are also hiking opportunities in Conway National Park which is located in the hills behind Airlie. This could allow you to skip the crowds and get back to nature.
The Unmissable 24 hours in Airlie Beach Activity:
Exploring the Whitsundays!
There are many different boat trips and cruises you can go on. Ranging from sailing adventures, ferries between the different islands, day trips and activity trips including snorkelling or diving.
If you are short for time, and only have 24 hours in Airlie Beach, I highly recommend booking a boat trip online before you arrive. That way, you know for sure that the boats are not fully booked, and you will be able to visit the Whitsundays.
Personally, I went with Red Cat Adventures Airlie Beach and did their Thundercat Whitsundays 1 day tour and had an amazing time. Let me tell you more about it!
Red Cat Adventures Airlie Beach:
Red Cat Adventures Airlie Beach picked us up from our hotel early in the morning. They then drove us to Coral Sea Marina where we were greeted, given a wristband (for our group- there were many boats!) and given a stinger suit.
We were then welcomed by the boat crew of our Thundercat boat and taken onto it. The boat was a high-speed boat which is one of the fastest catamarans on the Whitsundays, so it was great for someone like me who gets VERY seasick! The boat can hold up to 32 people and is possible for backpackers, travellers, couples and families.
Note: I didn’t get seasick (which is great as I could get seasick on a lake!)
Our first stop was Whitehaven Beach and Hill Inlet lookout.
Here, we started with a guided walk to Hill Inlet where the guide gave us lots of information about the Whitsundays, Hill Inlet, the wildlife and Whitehaven beach. We then had around 2 hours of free time to spend longer at the beautiful Inlet Hill lookout where you can see different colours of blue and typically the sand. (The day I went, it was a very high tide, so it was more the blues than the sand) and Whitehaven Beach – which is a beautiful and iconic beach in the Whitsundays. You can explore the beach, take a dip in the sea, or just marvel at how soft and white the sand is!
After this, we jumped back in the boat for a spot of lunch. Lunch was great with a selection of cold meats, salads, bread rolls and fruit. While eating lunch, it was possible to spot turtles popping up out of the water around the boat which was quite amazing!
After Lunch:
After lunch, we then went to the northern tip of Hook Island for a spot of snorkelling at Mantaray Bay. It was fantastic to go snorkelling here, the waters were calm and there was an abundance of fish in the sea.
We then went to a quieter location for our second snorkel along the northeast side of the Whitsunday Island. Here, the corals were beautiful and more colourful than the previous site and we drifted along the corals and were picked up at the other side.
After that, it was time to head back to the Coral Sea Marina and then the minibus took us back to the hotel. It was an amazing day and a great way to see the Whitsundays!
I would highly recommend this company (not sponsored), as I had a great time, they really tried to do their part for the environment and protecting the reef and the staff were fantastic!
Where To Dine In Airlie Beach:
The Airlie Beach hotel had great food available which was tasty and delicious. We ended up eating here twice as the food was so good. With every meal, they also give you a plate so that you can also go up and get extra food from the buffet, or a dessert (from the buffet) as well as having your a la carte menu.
Another option which was great for coffee, breakfast and brunch was Sidewalk Café which is also located on The Esplanade. They do an amazing ham and cheese croissants and coffee which we took away and sat on the beach to enjoy the morning sun before heading north on our road trip!
Where To Stay:
I also would recommend staying at Airlie Beach hotel. The rooms were comfortable, clean and big with everything you needed to make your stay enjoyable. It is on The Esplanade and just a stone throw from the beach. They also have their own parking, so if you are driving to Airlie, you do not have to worry about your vehicle.
Airlie Beach is a fantastic place which is definitely worth a visit on any Queensland roadtrip. Whatever you end up doing in Airlie, I hope you have an amazing time!
Safe travels, have fun and explore!
Love
This post was all about 24 hours in Airlie Beach
