Airlie Beach

Airlie Beach is a town in Queensland, Australia and is the closest port from which to access the Whitsunday islands on the Great Barrier Reef. With around 25,000 residents it is developed to cater for almost every kind of tourist and backpacker, and is the major hub for trips out to the Whitsunday islands.

Abel point marina is the location for taking boats out to islands, and is a brisk fifteen minute walk from Shute Harbour Road, Airlie's High Street, around a recently renovated sea side board walk.

Airlie beach used to be a backpacker haven but has now been discovered by Australians and has consequently become more commercialised in recent years. Still plenty of good cheap accommodation and an excellent stop off on the East Coast of Australia.

A number of buses serve the airport terminal, and drive to Airlie beach or other locations but all but one must be prebooked. The tickets cost a flat $15 per person one way and can be purchased in a queue at a clearly marked booth just inside the arrival gate. The bus driver mans the booth, and when everyone has got a ticket (about 30-40 minutes wait from arrival) the bus gets going. Another option is to take a taxi, for which there is also a booth inside the arrivals gate. However taxi rides seem to match the bus price, and cost $15 per person. Also, there may not be any taxis waiting. The ride to Airlie beach is smooth and takes about 40 minutes. The driver will ask where you are staying and take you to the door of the hostel or hotel in Airlie Beach.

Airlie has many varied restaurants, both budget and more expensive, and a range of takeaway places with specials catering to the backpacker market.
For those foodies out there, Deja Vu at Water's Edge Resort is beautiful and Capers at the Airlie Beach Hotel is always reliable. Armarda's, further along the main street is a city style cocktail bar and restaurant, offering a stylish alternative for a night out. For those on a budget, Morroco's, Beaches or Magnums offer good pub style meals, with some of the sailing trips offering meals there included as part of the trip cost.