Airlie Beach is a picturesque coastal town and the perfect launching point for tours to the magnificent Whitsunday Islands. As the hub of the Whitsundays, outdoor lovers will find a range of activities to suit every taste and budget, from day trips to extended tours. Whether its snorkelling around the islands, or discovering the Whitsundays from above in a scenic helicopter flight, you will be mesmerised by the natural beauty of Airlie Beach and its surrounds.
Don’t miss these Airlie Beach attractions
- Fishing charters
- Sailing around the Whitsunday Islands
- Airlie Beach Lagoon
- Heart Reef
- Kayaking and stand up paddle boarding at Shingley beach
Raise the mast
The Whitsundays are made up of 74 islands, and the most popular way to explore them is on a catamaran, ocean raft or tall ship tour. Day trips will take you out to the breathtaking Great Barrier Reef where you can snorkel and dive among the colourful marine life, or observe the underwater world from a glass viewing chamber or semi-submersible submarine.
Another popular day tour option is island-hopping around the Whitsundays. You can spend the day sailing around the many beautiful islands, stop off and the wander around Daydream Island, make use of the facilities at Hamilton, and discover the remote bays and world-famous Whitehaven Beach at Whitsunday Island.
A change of pace
If cruising is not to your taste, you can explore the Whitsunday’s by taking a scenic helicopter or seaplane tour. Not only does this provide express travel to the reef, but you can also fly over the famous Heart Reef – a natural composition of coral in the shape of a heart.
As well as being a haven for snorkelers, many Airlie Beach based dive tour providers will allow you to explore deeper parts of the reef with a guide. Adrenalin junkies can take a guided Jet Ski tour to one of the islands, or even go skydiving from 14,000 ft above Airlie Beach.