Airlie Beach is one of my favourite places in the entire world! I love it so much, that I was there three times this year. Airlie Beach is the perfect affordable destination for people who want to access the Great Barrier Reef and The Whitsundays.
#1 - Accomodation
The three times I visited Airlie Beach, I stayed at three different locations. The first was at the Mantra Boathouse at the Port of Airlie. Our room overlooked the marina and we got the most beautiful sunsets from our balcony. It was such a peaceful place to stay, and there was an incredible Italian restaurant La Marina directly below the resort. There was also a few other cafes along the marina, and lots of tours leave from that marina. There was a beach quite close by that had stinger nets, so during stinger season it was perfect. The resort was walking distance to town (10-15 mins depending where you want to go), and around a 25 minute walk to Coral Sea Marina. The second time I stayed at Airlie, I stayed at Shingley Beach Resort. The room was lovely and spacious and once again had beautiful views. We also got visited by some friendly cockatoos! To walk to Coral Sea Marina it was around 13 minutes, and the centre of town it took around 25 minutes. It doesn't sound too bad, but when it is extremely hot it feels like a bit of a hike. The third time I stayed at Nomads Backpackers which was a fantastic budget option. My friend and I had our own room and bathroom, and the air con was fantastic and much needed! The location was perfect, as it is right in the centre of town and you can walk anywhere. All three places were amazing to stay at, it just depends on your budget, and the location you are after.
Tip #2 - Whitehaven and Snorkelling day trip with Ocean Rafting
You can't go to Airlie Beach without a day trip to the world famous Whitehaven Beach. No matter the weather, Whitehaven is postcard perfect! I highly recommend going on a tour with Ocean Rafting. They say it's not about the destination, but about the journey, and on a tour with Ocean Rafting the journey to get to Whitehaven is just as fun as going to the destination itself. You go on a super fast open air boat, that offers gorgeous views of the surrounding islands. The driver will do some fun tricks along the way which will have you laughing and constantly smiling from the thrill and excitement. You also stop at either one or two snorkelling spots depending on which tour option you choose, where you get to see The Great Barrier Reef in all its glory!
Ocean Rafting is one of the only companies that have access to both the Southern and Northern ends of Whitehaven. South is the long strip of white sand and beach - the perfect place for a swim, and North is the inlet where the famous instragrammable tree is! North also has the stingrays and reef sharks which are so much fun to watch while you are swimming. Both sides are beautiful, and a tour with Ocean Rafting will most likely give you access to both. The water is just as magical as they say it is. Pirates of The Caribbean, and numerous other Hollywood blockbusters have filmed at this pristine location. You will also do the 15 minute walk up to Hill Inlet which has the most stunning views of the famous swirling sands and the magical blue and turquoise water. The swirling sands aren't always visible as it depends what time of day you are there, but it is still beautiful regardless.
Tip #3 - Scenic Flight over The Great Barrier Reef and Whitsundays
After spending a day in the reef, you MUST spend a day above it! I did a one hour scenic flight with Ocean Rafting and had the most unforgettable morning. The views of The Great Barrier Reef were breathtaking. From the plane window you could see all the shades of blue and turquoise you could imagine. There is no view like it in the world! I got to see the famous heart reef which is more beautiful in real life than on the post cards. You also fly over Hamilton Island, Hayman Island and of course, Whitsunday Island the home of Whitehaven Beach. Seeing Whitehaven beach from above was magical. The swirling sands were glorious to see from above. We flew through the clouds, and got great commentary from the pilot and learnt a lot about what we were seeing. I even saw a huge turtle from the sky, and other people on the plane saw a shark, and a manta ray. I can't recommend this experience enough.
Tip #4 - Cedar Creek Falls - in wet season
If you are visiting Airlie in the wet season (January - March) or just after, be sure to visit the Cedar Creek Falls. It is a 30 min drive from Airlie, which is perfect if you have a car. If not, there are some tour companies that go there. Once you arrive you may have to walk around 10mins to the falls if there is water over the road. The waterfall was so beautiful! When I was there, there was so much water that the waterfall itself was so strong and incredible to watch. The waterhole is the perfect spot for a refreshing swim, and the surrounds are lush and green. It was a magical place to visit for a few hours.
Tip #5 - Sunset cruise/sailing trip
While you are in Airlie, why not go on a sunset sailing trip! We went out on The Providence, a traditional sailing boat and had a magical evening on the water. We were treated with a glass of champagne, and some delicious nibbles. In my opinion, there is nothing better than being out on the ocean on a beautiful boat, especially at sunset. Once the sun goes down, there are beautiful views of Airlie Beach at night, with all the golden lights on, it is quite spectacular. There are many tour companies that do similar trips, and I highly recommend going on one.
Tip #6 - A day at Coral Sea Resort
In town there is the Airlie Beach lagoon pool which is perfect for a swim but if you want to escape the crowds and spend a day in luxury, I highly recommend going to the Coral Sea Marina Resort. To access the resort you pay $40, but it was honestly one of the most relaxing and wonderful days of our trip. There are comfy sun lounges with views of the ocean, if you are lucky you will see some turtles!!! The pool is beautiful, and there is a little bit of shade (hooray!). The ambience is so peaceful and luxurious with classy music playing, and a poolside bar and restaurant which has delicious food and cocktails that you can enjoy with a view of the ocean. There is also a super pretty swing that you can take beautiful photos with.
Tip #7 - The best places to dine
Airlie Beach has plenty of delicious restaurants and cafes to enjoy meals at. Like I mentioned earlier, my top pick for food would be La Marina which has some of the best Italian food I have ever had, as well as lovely views of the Port of Airlie marina. Sorrento's at Coral Sea Marina is another of my top picks. You are not only guaranteed to have beautiful food, but also beautiful sunset views of the marina. Definitely book before going. The Airlie Beach Hotel in town has a typical pub feel, with loud music and lots of people! It is fun, the food is delicious and the portions are very generous. My other favourites are d'Viet House which has amazing Vietnamese food, Rufus & Co as well as Sidewalk Cafe for a yummy brunch.
Tip #8 - Jet-skiing with GSL Marine
If you are in the mood for a thrill, go on a one hour jet ski trip with GSL Marine. I was very nervous as I had never driven a Jet-ski before, but I still had a blast (even though I was going around 20km/hr slower then everyone else!!). You get great views of Airlie, and might even spot some turtles while you are out on the water. If you don't feel comfortable driving one, double on someone else's ski and enjoy the ride.
Airlie Beach, the ultimate holiday destination!
Airlie Beach is a wonderful destination for couples, families, friends or solo travellers. It is a place that both the young and old can enjoy. If you have any questions please don't hesitate to reach out! Be sure to check out my YouTube below.