Airlie Beach, the gateway to the Whitsundays
The Whitsunday Islands are located in central Queensland,
approximately 1,100km north of Brisbane and 700km south of Cairns.
By Air
The Whitsundays are serviced by two domestic airports, Great Barrier Reef Airport on Hamilton Island and Whitsunday Coast Airport on the mainland at Proserpine. Proserpine is situated about 20kms inland from Airlie Beach. Shuttles meet all flights and take you in to the beach town.
There are regular direct flights from all major Australian cities. International access to the Whitsundays is available via connecting flights from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane or Cairns international airports. Airlines servicing the region are Virgin Australia, Jetstar and Qantas (ex Cairns only).
Approximate flying times:
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By Rail
There are several trains that run up the coast from Brisbane, and down from Cairns stopping at Proserpine. Queensland Rail's 'Sunlander' and 'Tilt Train' links Proserpine to major Australian cities. Whitsundays Transit meets every arriving train, providing transport from Proserpine to Airlie Beach and Shute Harbour.
By Coach/Bus
There are several daily services that pass through Airlie Beach, such as Greyhound, running northbound from Brisbane and southbound from Cairns.
By Road
If you choose to drive to the Whitsundays the roads are in excellent condition with some beautiful scenery along the way. The Bruce Highway runs from Brisbane to Cairns. The turn off to Airlie Beach is 1km north of Proserpine (150km north of Mackay, 300km south of Townsville) and is then a 20km trip into the beach town.
Approximate travel times to Airlie Beach:
- From Brisbane - 13 hours
- From Cairns - 8 hours
- From Mackay - 90 minutes
- From Bowen - 50 minutes
- From Proserpine - 15 minutes
There are regular bus, taxi, shuttle and limousine services that all operate within the Airlie Beach area.
