Airlie Beach and the Whitsundays
Reachable by road, rail, train and air.
BY ROAD
Approximate travel times and distances to Airlie Beach:
From Distance Approx. Time
Brisbane 1,180 km 12.5 hrs
Rockhampton 510 km 5.5 hrs
Mackay 150 km 1.75 hrs
Townsville 280 km 3 hrs
Cairns 630 km 6.5 hrs
PARKING
Coral Sea Marina has car parking from $10/day
SELF DRIVE OPTIONS
Self drive is an increasingly popular option for travellers in Australia. Car rentals are available through any of the major car rental chains such as Hertz, Thrifty & Avis.
Campervan rentals are also readily available. We recommend the following:
BY AIR
Airlie Beach and the Whitsundays have 4 carriers servicing the area and have greatly benefitted in the last year from increased flights from budget carriers such as Virgin Australia, Tiger and Jetstar. Direct flights are available from most capital cities in Australia and if you’re lucky and find a special, can be as little as $29 each way!
You have a choice of three different airports to fly into the Whitsundays including – Proserpine/Whitsunday Coast, Hamilton Island, and Mackay.
PROSERPINE/WHITSUNDAY COAST AIRPORT
Daily flights are available from most capital cities via Jetstar, Tiger and Virgin Blue. Please refer to individual carriers’ website for further schedules and prices. Transfers to Airlie Beach take approximately 40 minutes by bus or taxi.
Transfers to Airlie Beach
Whitsundays 2 Everywhere : Operates the latest model 14 Seater Toyota HiAce Commuter Buses. Offering Door-to-Door 5 star personalised service. Whitsundays 2 Everywhere connects to both the Virgin and Jetstar flights daily. For the itineray please visit www.whitsundays2everywhere.com.au
Whitsunday Transit : Meet all airline arrivals and transfer guests to the bus stop nearest their accommodation. Transfers cost approx. $16.
Taxi: Transfers from the airport into Airlie Beach cost approximately $50. Phone:131 008 (within Australia only).
Hamilton Island Airport
Both Jetstar, Qantas and Virgein Blue fly directly into Hamilton Island from most capital cities. Transfers to the mainland are via ferry or light plane.
Air Transfers
Island Air Taxis: Offer transfers from Hamilton Island to Airlie Beach. Transfers take approximately 15 minutes and cost around $65. It is a short taxi ride from the airport (approx. $10). Transfers must be pre-booked. Ph: +61 7 4946 9933. See www.heliaust.com.au for prices and reservations.
Ferry Transfers
Cruise Whitsundays : Offer ferry transfers to Airlie Beach. Transfers take between 30 & 60 minutes, depending on the route, and costs start at around $60. Ph: +61 7 4846 7000 for prices and reservations.
Mackay Airport
Mackay is located about 150 km south of Airlie Beach so it isn’t as convenient as Hamilton Island or Proserpine, but it does give you more options on flight schedules. Qantas , Jetstar Tiger and Virgin Blue all have services into Mackay.
BY BUS
There are regular bus runs to Airlie Beach with Greyhound/McCafferty’s and Premier. The bus terminal in Airlie Beach is located on the south end of the main st . See www.mccaffertys.com.au or www.greyhound.com.au for timetables and prices.
BY TRAIN
If you’d like a more scenic means of transportation, we recommend trying our state rail service, Queensland Rail. Sleeper cars are available, in addition to the regular coach class, and can offer a unique way to see the countryside without sacrificing comfort.
Transfers to Airlie Beach:
Whitsunday Transit : Provides return transfers taking approximately 30 minutes. All transfers must be pre-booked: Ph: +61 7 4946 1800.
*All prices are in Australian Dollars and serve as a guide only. Prices are subject to change at anytime.