Getting to Airlie Beach
Getting to Airlie Beach
There are two commercial airports in the Whitsundays that are open to domestic flights. They are potentially going to start international flights in the future, but currently have incoming flights from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Cairns.
These airports are known as the Whitsunday Coast or Proserpine Airport (PPP) and Hamilton Island Airport (HTI), and both offer daily flights into the Whitsundays.
The best airport of choice is the Whitsunday Coast Airport due to its close proximity to Airlie Beach, requiring a short shuttle bus or taxi transfer into town (we can assist booking your airport transfer, just ask!). Services operating from this airport include Tiger Air, Jetstar, Qantas, and Virgin Australia with flights from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.
Meanwhile, Hamilton Island Airport is located on Hamilton Island itself and therefore, requires a ferry transfer to get to the Airlie Beach mainland. Currently, Cruise Whitsundays is the only ferry operator in the region and transfers must be booked direct. Airlines servicing Hamilton Island airport are QantasLink, Virgin Australia and Jetstar from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Cairns.
Visitors are also able to drive to Airlie Beach from where ever they are or catch a train or bus with the region. Airlie Beach is located approximately 1000 kilometres north of Brisbane and some 600 kilometres south of Cairns.
Getting around Airlie Beach
Airlie Beach has one main road into town and just one main street, making it very accessible and extremely easy to get around. Depending on where you are staying, almost everything is within walking distance. Cannonvale is the next town over, which also offers accommodation and is still only 3km away.
Almost all the necessary shops, most accommodation places and restaurants and marinas are within walking distance to the main street, or there is public transport and taxi services if you don't feel like walking. There are buses that run daily as well as one taxi service, Whitsundays Taxi.
Alternatively, there are several car rental places along the main street of Airlie Beach if you plan on driving anywhere outside of town to do some exploring. It's also bike friendly with flat roads for those who choose two wheels!
