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Airlie Beach Queensland
The Beach - Airlie Beach
Airlie Beach
Population:	2,751 [1]
Postcode:	4802
Coordinates:	20°16′03″S 148°43′01″E / 20.2675°S 148.71694°E / -20.2675; 148.71694Coordinates: 20°16′03″S 148°43′01″E / 20.2675°S 148.71694°E / -20.2675; 148.71694
Location:	1123 km (698 mi) from Brisbane 151 km (94 mi) from Mackay 25 km (16 mi) from Proserpine
LGA:	Whitsunday Region
State District:	Whitsunday
Federal Division:	Dawson

Airlie Beach is a town in the Whitsunday Region of Queensland, Australia. At the 2006 census, Airlie Beach had a population of 2,751.^[1]

Airlie Beach is one of many departure points for the Great Barrier Reef it usually takes about 2-3hours to get out to the reef from nearby Shute Harbour depending on ocean conditions. Near latitude 20 degrees south, Airlie Beach, Proserpine and the nearby Whitsunday Islands enjoy a tropical climate and lifestyle.

The Whitsunday Islands, named by James Cook in 1770 are a sailors' paradise. Cook named the islands as he believed he passed through the area on the Christian festival day of Whit Sunday. It is now widely accepted that he didn't actually pass through on this date, as he had failed to take into account the yet to be brought into existence International Date Line à la Phileas Fogg.

Each year the residents of Airlie Beach celebrate The Blessing of the Fleet on Whit Sunday or Pentecost Sunday. The Blessing was started by Father Keith Felgate.

Airlie Beach is a tourist destination, extremely popular with backpackers. Its beach is small and the sea is inhabited by marine stingers, the Irukandji jellyfish from November to May. In order to provide somewhere for the visitors tourists to swim, the local council, has built a small - medium sized swimming lagoon on the foreshore, similar to the lagoon found in Cairns. The Airlie Beach Lagoon is 4,300sqm and 4.5 million litres of fresh, self chlorinated water.

References

• Whitsunday cruises and accommodation
• Whitsunday Shire Council

From Wikitravel

Travellers and locals relax at Airlie Beach's lagoon

Airlie Beach (or Airlie) [1] 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 [2] 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.

Understand

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.

Geography

The main strip of Airlie where most of the backpacker resorts and pubs are located is usually known as Airlie Beach proper. Cannonvale is the section west of the strip to where the developments peter out. Beyond that is Cannonvalley and Strathdickie - more rural areas where the housing is more acreage style or farming land. Other suburbs in the area are Jubilee Pocket and Shute Harbour, where the ferries to the Whitsunday Islands depart from.

A plane just having landed at Whitsunday Coast airport

Flying to Proserpine Airport, also known as Whitsunday Coast Airport, in Proserpine is the easiest way to reach Airlie. There is also a train station in Proserpine for those travelling up the East coast. The two main airlines flying to here are Virgin Blue [3] and Jetstar [4]. After arriving at the airport, luggage is driven around the side of the building be collected from a trailer.

Greyhound and Premier coaches both stop at Airlie on their trip between Brisbane and [{Cairns]].

There are also a number of tours that travel up the East Coast of Australia and visit Airlie Beach.

Get around

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.

Do

Despite its name, Airlie Beach is not the best place for the beach itself. The few near Shute Harbour Rd are small and pretty, but the presence of jellyfish (there are signs up detailing different species near the beaches) means people do not swim in the water from around October to around May. A swim in the water requires a stinger suit - made from rash top type material. However more than making up for this, Airlie has a fantastic man made lagoon. This is around two hundred metres long and fifty wide, landscaped with a bridge and grass to lie on surrounding. It is watched by life guards during the day and security at night, and because it is open to swim in at all times the lagoon makes relaxing in Airlie pure delight. On Saturday morning there is a charming market along the waterfront, with a range of locally produced foods and souvenirs.

Transfers to cruises and daytrips to the Whitsunday Islands are popular in Airlie. See the Whitsunday Islands[5] article for information.

Eat

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.

Drink

Airlie has a great (or chaotic, depending on your view) nightlife with bars concentrated on the main road.

• Beaches Backpackers, [6]. right in the centre of town has many dorm beds and is connected to one of the liveliest bar in town. A normal dorm sleeps eight, has its own shower and toilet, fridge and tv. These are fairly clean, depending on your co-habitees. The cost is $24 per night, with a $10 deposit for the doorkey (don't lose it!). The bar (open to everyone) has live music every Friday and Saturday singing teeny songs to cater for the large young British and Irish contingent of visitors. Nomads Mad Card Holders receive a discount.  edit

• Magnum's hostel is also on the main road and is connected to a food court, bar, club and unfortunately seedy looking joints for the pokies (slot machines for gambling). In the bar the crowd looks older the live music more alternative and rock style.

• Backpackers by the bay [7] is an excellent choice for something smaller, and is the 2004 Whitsunday Tourism award winner. There is a very good kitchen for cooking, a small pool, bar, tables and sofas on a relaxed terrace looking into the harbour (unfortunately undergoing construction at the moment for a new marina!). The staff are friendly and offer helpful advice, the dorms sleep four, are kept clean and artistically decorated. The dorms cost is $26 a night (although there may be reductions for YHA card holders). The location is not on the High street, but a five minute walk along the main road and up some steps (although the actual address is 12 Hermitage Drive). There is a bus stop just outside for the motionally challenged, or for trips back to the Proserpine airport.

• Flametree Tourist Village [8] Nestles in 7 acres of shady tropical foliage next to the Conway National Park. Just minutes in one direction to Shute Harbour, gateway to the 74 islands of the spectacular Whitsundays, and in the other to the tourist centre of Airlie Beach, with it's many shops and fine restaurants.

• Airlie Beach YHA [9] 394 Shute Harbour Road +61 (0) 7 4946 63 12 Its $28 for a dorm room with a private bathroom and $73.50 for a double/twin room. YHA members get a 10% discount. This hostel is centrally located near the Airlie Lagoon plus lots of restaurants and cafes.

Get out

For those with access to a car and don't mind a bit of a hike, a trip to Cedar Creek Falls is well worth it. Quad biking and horse riding are also other options for something to do in Airlie.

Airlie Beach and Shute Harbour are access points to the Whitsunday Islands and cruises around them.