Airlie Beach Foreshore Grand Opening

Updated 15/06/19

Airlie Beach’s CBD has had some pretty flash upgrades in the last 5 years, and now we are finally getting the upgrade we have all been waiting for: The Airlie Beach foreshore. Ending the Bicentennial Walkway which winds along the coast from Cannonvale Beach all the way through the lagoon to the Whitsunday Sailing Club, the newly revitalised foreshore is looking mint, fo sho.

Complete with a brand new playground, sound stage and beach step stadium, the grand reveal is set to go off on Saturday, June 29, 2019, with the Whitsunday Regional Council hosting a fiesta to end the siesta of the foreshore, which has been closed for almost a year. You’ll notice the aesthetic changes straight away, but a lot of the infrastructure upgrades are hidden below your feet, as the council have upgraded the sewerage systems and underground power lines to support a larger influx of people in the future.

The large outdoor playground is the first thing you will see from a distance, as the 10m high design beckons the young and young at heart alike. Situated high in the sky, the structure is almost an abstract work of art, with silver slides slithering throughout, and geometrical spider webs creating an optical illusion for the senses, and a challenging obstacle course for the body. While netted bridges swing high mimicking a pirate ship for the older kids, there is also a smaller pirate ship themed structure lower to the ground for the little ones. Council assures us the silver slides are heat protected, so you can even slide in the summer heat without worry.

The outdoor sound stage will surely be a sought after site for buskers and musos, and the newly planted wide lawns will be a welcome sight for the newly rebranded Great Barrier Reef Festival this year.

Mayor Andrew Willcox is certainly excited about the grand opening. He announced “Our Foreshore Fiesta will create a buzz of activity including live music and buskers, Latin dancers, beach games, water activities and Tuk Tuk tours along the new pathways. Hay bales, beach umbrellas, flags and bean bags will be set up on grassed areas to create the fiesta theme, and the Airlie Beach Markets will stay open longer that day in their current temporary location across from the Foreshore as the grass in the new area is given time to become established,” Mayor Willcox said. Be sure to grab the family and head on down on Saturday, June 29 from 2pm to join in the festivities, and enjoy the best that Airlie Beach has to offer!

With the foreshore reopening, and school holidays hot on our heels, now is the perfect time to start planning your family holiday to the beautiful Whitsundays. You'll want to book as far in advance as possible, as not all charter boats cater for families, and they tend to book out during this busy period. Whales are also here from June to September, and can usually be spotted on most overnight charters-You won't want to miss out on this magical time of year.