Where Do You Fly Into For Airlie Beach?
Fly into Proserpine Airport (PPP) for your trip to Airlie Beach and the Whitsundays! Whether it’s your first time visiting Airlie Beach or you’re returning to savour the lively nightlife, white sands, warm sun and colourful underwater world once again, figuring out how to get to your dream destination is all part of the thrill!
In order to plan your trip, we share a quick guide below to help you get to Airlie Beach - so when you arrive, all you have to do is relax, swim, dine and enjoy!
Which airport to fly to for Whitsundays?
For the Whitsundays, you can fly into either Proserpine Airport or Hamilton Island Airport. If you're going to be staying in Airlie Beach, it's more convenient to fly into Proserpine Airport. But if you're staying on Hamilton Island, of course you may prefer to fly direct to the island!
1. Proserpine Airport (PPP)
If you’re coming from Proserpine, also known as Whitsunday Coastal airport, it’s only 26 km from Airlie Beach. Getting there takes about an hour and it’s a popular route for visitors booking their dream holiday destination! There are several airport transfer options that can seamlessly get you from Proserpine Airport to your accommodation in Airlie Beach. Private transfers and return transfers are available to make your life easier!
Upon arriving in Airlie Beach, you have lots of resources, amenities, and tours awaiting you downtown. There are so many tours heading to the Whitsundays from Airlie Beach every day, so it's a popular place to spend your trip.
2. Hamilton Island (HTI)
Hamilton Island Airport is an hour away and 30 km from Airlie Beach. Travellers who are planning their stay on Hamilton Island will love the convenience of just flying straight to the island. Plus, the island is very small so it should be easy to get to your hotel from Hamilton Island Airport.
You can also get to Hamilton Island from Airlie Beach by ferry if you choose to fly into Proserpine. Cheap flights to the Whitsundays are not hard to come by, but sometimes it can be cheaper to fly to Proserpine than Hamilton Island. When you land, the fastest way to get from Airlie to Hamilton Island is to take the ferry that heads straight to Shute Harbor’s line 860 bus.
How to find cheap flights to the Whitsundays
You can easily find cheap flights to the Whitsundays with Virgin, Qantas, and Jetstar. There are all-year-round and seasonal direct flights available from major cities in Australia like Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane to get to the Whitsundays. Do some browsing and try to be flexible with your dates so you can select the cheapest days to fly.
You can choose which airport is most convenient depending on where you’re coming from. Both Hamilton Island Airport and Proserpine Airport offer cheap flights to the Whitsundays. Of course, the rates and travel time may vary during the time of day, so make sure you plan ahead and get your information right by checking your maps!
How Long Does it Take to Fly into Airlie Beach?
If you’re coming from Brisbane airport, the flight to Airlie Beach should take you 1 hour and 30 minutes, depending on which airline you book with. Some flights can take almost 2 hours to your destination, so be sure to double-check the flights you book!
If you’re flying in from Sydney, the flight to Airlie Beach via Proserpine and Hamilton Island airport usually takes 2 hours and 20 minutes, give or take. However, if you’re coming from Melbourne, the flight will take you about 3 hours.
So, in this case, your fastest route to arrive at Airlie Beach is to fly into Brisbane airport, then head to Proserpine or Hamilton Island airport using the ferry or your personalised transport of choice. At this point, you’re an hour away from the ultimate Whitsunday tropical paradise!
How to get from Airlie Beach to the Airport?
Now that you’ve made your dream destination come to life by immersing yourself in the Great Barrier Reef from Airlie Beach, snorkelling, scuba diving and getting really close to one of the 7 wonders of the world, you’re ready (or maybe hesitant) to go home! One thing is for sure. You’ll miss the picture-perfect scenery and rare, indulgent experience.
On your way back, you can choose either Hamilton Island or Proserpine airport on your flight home. We recommend that if you picked Hamilton Island airport on your way to Airlie Beach, choose the Proserpine route on your return flight to maximise your getaway experience and explore all that the Whitsundays has to offer!
And now that you know the routes to and from Airlie Beach, coming back to plan and experience your next holiday getaway at Whitsundays should be easy peasy. We can't wait to welcome you into our slice of tropical paradise!
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