Airlie Beach Whitsundays Things To Do Places To See

Airlie Beach Attractions

Airlie Beach lagoon swimming area, showing the great view of the Coral Sea. Don't let people who say that Airlie Beach is just a tourist town, put you off visiting this wonderful area. The natural beauty of Airlie Beach is more than enough to keep visitors spellbound for many days, and the numerous fun activities, cruises and watersports that are available in Airlie, will make your time in this tropical paradise very memorable.

While it is true that Airlie Beach is the gateway to the beautiful Whitsunday Islands, Airlie has a charm of it's own that you can fully enjoy right on the mainland. There are wonderful restaurants and bars with delicious food and refreshing drinks, accommodation to suit every budget from backpackers to luxury 5 star resorts, large shopping centres at nearby Cannonvale, and we haven't even started talking about the beautiful tropical weather and gorgeous sea views.

Airlie Beach is probably the best base from which to take day trips and cruises to the Whitsunday Islands such as Hamilton Island and Whitehaven Beach. You can go snorkeling or scuba diving, hire a jet ski or perhaps simply enjoy a sailing cruise under the sunny blue skies. Most cruise bookings come with free pick up and drop off. You will be picked at at your accommodation door by a free shuttle bus and everything is arrange for you. You can also travel to either Shute Harbour or Abel Point Marina yourself and organize your own cruise direct to save a few precious dollars.

But if cruises are not your thing, then why not just enjoy the natural beauty of Airlie Beach itself. Here we will show you some of the things to do in and around Airlie, good accommodation and nice places to eat.

Image of entrance to Beachwalk Airlie Beach. Just behind the hustle and bustle of the main shopping street lies a quieter, yet stunningly beautiful park area where you can take a swim at the lagoon, use free BBQ's to enjoy a family picnic or just sit and savor the beautiful sea views. If someone tells you there is no beach at Airlie, they are wrong. There is a small beach directly behind the Airlie Beach Hotel that is really beautiful and a great place for a swim.

You can enjoy a scenic walk along the specially constructed Centenary Boardwalk, which takes you some 3.5 kms around the foreshore from Airlie Beach Lagoon, past Abel Point Marina and on to Shingley Beach and Cannonvale Beach.. Keep your eyes peeled for turtles and other aquatic creatures as you pass Whisper Bay, just on the Shingley Beach side of Abel Point Marina.

If you are looking for nightlife, Airlie Beach has it all. Clubs, bars and discos are to be found along the main street, with most popular spots within walking distance of your accommodation. Food, well you can't go past an affordable steak burger and chips at Mangrove Jacks Cafe and Bar, which is part of the Airlie Beach Hotel, plus there is Maccas in the main street for the budget conscious and a variety of cafes serving fish and chips, pizzas or a good Aussie pie.

Airlie Beach Shopping

There are many speciality shops and food outlets along the main street, plus a supermarket, chemists, pubs and clubs.

A special attraction is the Airlie Beach Saturday Markets, located on the beach walk foreshore. A variety of stalls display their wares from 7.00am and include fresh local produce, hand crafted goods, delicious home cooked food with free entertainment and various buskers, all creating an atmosphere of a cosmopolitan city.

There is one very special shop along the main street where you can listen to some digeridoo music and view authentic Aboriginal Art. If you call into Whitsunday Opals, ask Tim if he would give you a sample of the music that a digeridoo makes, he will be only too pleased to play the digeridoo for you. Tim also gives digeridoo lessons, and if you puchase a digeridoo, free lessons come with the purchase. Remember the name, Whitsunday Opals. It is family operated and gives great discounts on genuine Australian merchandise. Visit their website at www.aboriginalopalart.com

Good places to stay and things to see.

Image of steak sanwich and chips from Mangrove Jacks, Airlie Beach. Good Airlie Beach backpacker accommodation can be found along the main street. Airlie Beach Hotel is in a great position, serving delicious food and ice cold drinks. Just look at the steak burger and chips image to the right. Does't that make your mouth water?

Our personal Airlie Beach accommodation preference is the Coral Sea Resort on Paradise Point.

The Two Island Cruise by Fantasea Cruises is great value for money, visiting Hamilton Island and Whitehaven Beach, with a fabulous lunch that will satisfy the hungriest guest.

Cedar Creek Falls is a must see attraction, plus you really should take a swim in the Airlie Lagoon and enjoy those fabulous views.

There is something for everyone who visits Airlie Beach, no matter how young or old, and it really is a fabulous tropical paradise, equal to anywhere in the world.

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Airlie Beach Whitsundays Things To Do Places To Stay

Airlie Beach Attractions