When staying at Airlie Beach Hotel, our friendly reception staff can book and organise a tour for you. We have a large variety of tours on offer to suit everyone, ask our staff for their top recommendations.
If you require a transfer or shuttle service for the Whitsunday region, contact us so we can also arrange this for you (charges apply).
On the water
Great Barrier Reef and Heart Reef
Snorkeling or diving on the outer Great Barrier Reef amongst schools of fish and plentiful coral is the highlight for many visitors. Cruise Whitsundays specialises in Great Barrier Reef tours, departing daily from Airlie Beach. Marvel at the phenomenal Heart Reef by air. You can combine a day trip to a snorkelling pontoon with a flight over Heart Reef, or fly by helicopter or seaplane from Airlie Beach.
Whitehaven Beach and Hill Inlet
Consistently voted as one of the best beaches in the world, Whitehaven Beach on Whitsunday Island is a 7 kilometre stretch of pure silica white sand, with the spectacular Hill Inlet marking its northern end. There are a number of ways to enjoy the beach, including tour boat, helicopter or seaplane.
74 Whitsunday Islands
The islands offer a choice of a number of resort destinations as well as the chance to visit a number on day trips.
Sailing
The Whitsundays is synonymous with spectacular sailing opportunities around the islands, with many places to explore. The Airlie Beach and Hamilton Island race weeks held on consecutive weeks each August attract sailors from around the world. Visitors can also enjoy the Whitsunday sailing experience, whether on a day trip or overnight. There are many sailing boat tour operators offering a range of experiences.
Fishing
The waters around the Whitsunday Islands provide a great location for recreational fishing, with Coral Trout and Sweet Lip being usually plentiful. For the more adventurous go further to chase the big game fish.
Our tour desk at Reception can assist with all of your tour enquiries and make reservations.
In Airlie Beach
Airlie Beach Lagoon
200 walk from the hotel
Airlie Beach Markets
Every Saturday from 8am until around noon on the foreshore in front of the hotel
Walks
Bicentennial Walkway
3.7km walk along the foreshore in front of the hotel to Cannonvale Beach through Abell Point Marina and Shingley Beach, with magnificent views over the Coral Sea
Airlie Creek Walking Track
850m walk up a mostly gentle slope (return by same track), with the chance to view unique flora (Whitsunday Bottle Tree) and fauna (Proserpine Rock Wallaby)
Whitsunday Great Walk
(30kms over 3 days between Airlie Beach and Brandy Creek)
Further Afield
Shute Harbour
15 minutes by car or bus- ferry terminal for a number of islands, including Hayman, Hamilton and Daydream as well as the base for supply boats to many of the Whitsunday Islands
Proserpine
25 minutes by car- regional centre with sugar mill, coffee plantation and tours of Proserpine River for crocodile spotting or barramundi fishing on the Proserpine Dam
Bowen
60 minutes by car- wide streets and colonial buildings were the setting for movie ‘Australia’; Horseshoe Bay and Flagstaff Hill Lookout
Whitsundays
There are myriad attractions in the Whitsundays just waiting for you to experience them;
- The Great Barrier Reef, one of the natural wonders of the world. Experience it by snorkelling or marvel at it from the air.
- Whitehaven Beach, voted one of the world’s best beaches
- Uninhabited islands bursting with native flora and fauna
- Sailing charters taking you on overnight adventures in the Coral Sea
- Reef and game fishing trips
- Scenic flights over the reef and islands
- Diving, whether that’s from 10,000 feet or 10 feet under
- Sea kayaking
- Horse riding through bushland
- Reviving your senses in natural forest on the Whitsundays Great Walk or atop the island peaks