an aerial view of an island in the ocean

Airlie Beach

Boats from the marina reach the Whitsunday Islands, Whitehaven Beach and the reef, all within reach of one small town.

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Airlie Beach is a small town on the Queensland coast of northeast Australia, in the Whitsunday region. Across the water lie the Whitsunday Islands, a group of more than 70 islands. Boats leave from the town's marinas for day sails, overnight cruises and reef snorkeling. The best-known stop is Whitehaven Beach on Whitsunday Island, which has fine white sand. The Hill Inlet lookout on the same island gives views over the sand and water.

The town suits people who want most days on or near the water, and it works as a base for a few nights or a longer stay. The main strip has restaurants, bars and tour booking offices, and the waterfront lagoon is a calm place to swim. The best months are the cooler, drier ones, from about May to October. From about October to May, box jellyfish (stingers) are a risk in the warmer water, so swim in netted areas or the lagoon. Plan at least three nights, and more if you want a full island day plus a longer sail.

Airlie Beach in five

Decide what the islands day is forChoose a tour by the places it visits, not by the boat's name: the Hill Inlet lookout, Whitehaven Beach, or snorkeling at Hook Island's Butterfly Bay. The Whitsundays guide covers where to base.The Whitsundays
Swim the lagoon when stingers are aboutMarine stingers are a risk in tropical Queensland waters; the Queensland guide has the state's dates and swim rules. At Airlie Beach, the town lagoon and netted beaches are the places to swim.Queensland swim safety
Book camping or sailing legs earlyThe national park offers camping areas such as Whitehaven Beach and Cairn Beach, and the Ngaro Track is listed as open for bookings in 2026. Sailing berths fill first in the dry months.
Pair the islands with the reef guideThe Whitsundays sit in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. Compare the outer reef from Cairns with an islands trip from Airlie before you commit your days.Great Barrier Reef guide
Driving north? Break the Bruce Highway at RockhamptonTourism Queensland puts Brisbane to Airlie Beach at about 1,000 km and 12 hours by road, so most visitors fly. If you drive, Rockhampton is the natural night on the way.Rockhampton

Things to do in Airlie Beach

See all attractions in Airlie Beach

Hike · Airlie BeachConway National Park Trail Head

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Need to know

Airport: Whitsunday Coast (PPP) at Proserpine, about 30 minutes away
Getting there: Fly to a Whitsunday airport or drive from Mackay or Townsville
Getting around: Walk the town; boats, seaplanes and tours cover the islands
Best base: Airlie Beach town, close to the marinas and the lagoon
Time needed: 3 nights; 5 with sailing or camping

Weather by month

Rainy days

Best
Good
Mixed
Poor

JanuaryRain17 rainy daysHigh28°Low26°Wet, stingers
FebruaryRain17 rainy daysHigh28°Low26°Wet, stingers
MarchRain18 rainy daysHigh28°Low26°Wet, humid
AprilRain18 rainy daysHigh26°Low24°Wet ends
MayRain14 rainy daysHigh24°Low22°Dry, mild
JunePartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh22°Low20°Dry, cooler
JulyPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh21°Low19°Dry, cooler
AugustClear5 rainy daysHigh22°Low20°Dry, clear
SeptemberClear5 rainy daysHigh23°Low21°Dry, warm
OctoberClear5 rainy daysHigh25°Low23°Dry, warm
NovemberPartly cloudy7 rainy daysHigh26°Low25°Stingers return
DecemberRain13 rainy daysHigh27°Low26°Hot, wet begins

Average daily high and low in Airlie Beach, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Right now in Airlie Beach

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

Feels like: 26°
Humidity: 79%
Wind: 12 km/h
Chance of rain: 6%

Airlie Beach

06:38 AM

Tuesday, November 3

GMT+10

Today26°22°6%Tuesday: Drizzle. High 26°, Low 22°. Chance of rain 6%.
Wed27°21°1%Wednesday: Partly cloudy. High 27°, Low 21°. Chance of rain 1%.
Thu28°22°25%Thursday: Drizzle. High 28°, Low 22°. Chance of rain 25%.
Fri28°20°43%Friday: Fog. High 28°, Low 20°. Chance of rain 43%.
Sat27°21°8%Saturday: Clear. High 27°, Low 21°. Chance of rain 8%.
Sun27°21°6%Sunday: Partly cloudy. High 27°, Low 21°. Chance of rain 6%.
Mon26°21°31%Monday: Drizzle. High 26°, Low 21°. Chance of rain 31%.

Updated 03:36 AM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 USD = 1.423 AUD

Amount

Converted to

AUD · Australian Dollar

Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

Day trips by train

Whitehaven Beach and Hill Inleta day boat from the marinaThe most popular island day; the Whitsundays guide covers the beach, the lookout and where to base.Read the guide
Hook Island and Butterfly Baya day tour or sailing legSnorkeling and diving from a boat on the northern side of Hook Island.
Outer Great Barrier Reefa longer full-day boatCairns has more reef options, so compare before you choose.Read the guide

Before you go to Airlie Beach

Whitsunday island day toursWhitehaven, Hill Inlet and snorkelingCompare tours

Stays at Airlie BeachMarina and lagoon-side basesCheck availability

eSIM for the WhitsundaysWeather and tide apps on the waterRead the guide

Insurance for boat tripsCancellations and diving coverRead the guide

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Rules for Airlie Beach, checked

Many nationalities need an Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) or a visitor visa for Australia. Check your eligibility on the Home Affairs site before you book flights.Source
Declare all food, plants and animal products on your incoming passenger card. Undeclared items can be fined on arrival.Source
On reef trips, do not touch or stand on coral, and follow the crew's briefing. Check the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park rules before you snorkel.Source
Dial 000 for police, fire or an ambulance anywhere in Australia. 112 also connects from a mobile phone.
Swim at patrolled beaches between the flags, or in the stinger-protected lagoon, and check stinger advice before you enter the water.

Plan around Airlie Beach

The Whitsundays

Hamilton, Daydream, mainland or a boat

Read the guide Great Barrier Reef

Bases, outer reef and the wet season compared

Read the guide Cairns

The northern gateway for reef boats and Kuranda

Read the guide Rockhampton

The usual stop on the Bruce Highway

Read the guide Queensland

How the islands fit a Queensland trip

Read the guide All of Australia

ETA, regions, flights and money basics

Read the guide Travel insurance

Cancellations and diving cover

Read the guide

Airlie Beach FAQ

How many days do you need in Airlie Beach?

Three nights give one full island day, a spare weather day and time in town. Add nights for a multi-day sailing trip or camping in the national park.

What is the best time to visit the Whitsundays?

Roughly May to October is the drier, cooler stretch with clearer skies. Stinger season runs November to May, and heavy rain is more likely in the early months of the year.

Do you need a stinger suit at Airlie Beach?

Yes in stinger season, when a full-body lycra suit is advised; the Queensland guide has the dates. Stingers are present all year in the tropics, so follow local signs and swim at the lagoon or netted beaches.

Which Whitsunday tour should you book from Airlie Beach?

Choose by the stops and the time on the sand, not by the boat. Check whether the trip includes Hill Inlet, how long it stays at Whitehaven, and what you pay beyond the fare. Reef trips add the marine park charge.

How do you get from the airport to Airlie Beach?

Fly to Whitsunday Coast Airport at Proserpine, about 30 minutes from town, then use a transfer, shuttle or hire car. Hamilton Island has its own airport for the resort; see the Whitsundays guide for which base suits you.