Getting To The Whitsundays & Airlie Beach
The Whitsundays in Tropical North Queensland, Australia, is very easy to get to by either plane, bus, or driving. There are two airports and several bus stations, making it easy for travellers to get to the Whitsundays from abroad or around Australia. Airlie Beach is the main travel hub on the mainland, so many visitors start their Whitsundays adventures here!
What is the best way to get to Whitsundays?
The best way to get to the Whitsundays is by plane, though buses, trains, and road trips are also convenient from travellers coming from elsewhere in Queensland. The Whitsundays and Airlie Beach are located in Queensland's Tropical North, which is a slightly remote area. The closest cities are Cairns and Townsville, and both of those are pretty small as far as Australian cities go!
So for the majority of travellers, the easiest and cheapest way to get to the Whitsundays will be flying. Let's take a closer look at all the methods of travel for getting to the Whitsundays!
Flying to the Whitsundays
Air travel into Airlie Beach is becoming an increasingly popular and often quite economical way for travellers to visit this tropical paradise. With two airports in close proximity, Hamilton Island Airport and the Whitsunday Coast Airport, you have multiple flight itineraries to choose from.
1. Whitsunday Coast Airport (Proserpine)
The Whitsunday Coast Airport (PPP) is located in Proserpine, approximately a 25-minute shuttle bus ride or taxi drive to Airlie Beach. The airport is serviced by Jetstar, Virgin, Qantas and Skytrans with direct flights running to and from Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney and Cairns.
Buses and taxis meet every flight to transfer guests to Airlie Beach or to ferries to the island resorts. These types of services are always readily available meaning you do not need to book in advance.
- Airport Transfer (From $25 pp one way)
2. Hamilton Island Airport
Hamilton Island Airport (HTI) services direct flights daily to and from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Cairns, major air hubs for international and domestic flight connections. Scheduled flights are operated by Jetstar, Virgin and Qantas.
When budgeting for air travel, bear in mind that you will need to pay and arrange for a ferry transfer into Airlie Beach. Or you can just book a resort on Hamilton Island and plan your Whitsunday adventures from there! There are lots of day trips, overnight trips, private charters, and resorts available for you to book on Hamilton Island.
How to get cheap flights to the Whitsundays?
You can score cheap flights to the Whitsundays by being flexible with your dates and travel plans! Browse the various airlines that travel to Proserpine Airport or Hamilton Island Airport. You can often find affordable flights year-round, however avoiding the school holidays and peak travel seasons can also help you find cheap flights to the Whitsundays.
Enjoy these tours once you arrive in the Whitsundays!
Bus travel to the Whitsundays
It still remains that the cheapest way of arriving at Airlie Beach (especially among the backpacker community) is via buses/coaches. Greyhound and Premier offer comfortable and affordable services throughout Australia and offer passengers a great way to see a bit more of Australia's breathtaking landscape.
These modern, spacious coaches service all the major cities and towns including Airlie Beach and run regular, reliable service on a daily basis. Unlike other methods of travel, these buses will bring you right into the heart of Airlie Beach - no need to arrange for long transfers!
Driving to the Whitsundays
Driving the Whitsundays region is, without doubt, one of the best ways of seeing this magnificent part of Queensland. With crystal blue water and secluded bays scattered amongst the tropical rainforests, you couldn't ask for a more picturesque scene.
The Whitsundays region is best accessed by the Bruce Highway, which is the major road that covers the east coast of Queensland from Brisbane to Cairns. If you're travelling along this road to Airlie Beach then you'll need to turn off 1km north of Proserpine and then expect to travel another 20km to Airlie Beach.
Purchasing a detailed map of Airlie and the Whitsundays is definitely recommended if you want to do some exploring of this beautiful region. You might also want to acquire a travel tips brochure. This will give you the information you need regarding accommodation with parking in the area.
Trains to the Whitsundays
If you prefer to take a scenic route when travelling up or down the east coast of Australia, Queensland Rail has a service that runs between Brisbane and Cairns. These trains stop at most of the main towns along the coast and even offer sleeper cars!
The closest train station to Airlie Beach is in Proserpine with services that arrive and depart at very reasonable times of the day. To add to the convenience of this service, Whitsundays Transit buses meet each train that arrives and will even drop you at the door of your accommodation in Airlie Beach.
