Where To Park In The Whitsundays
For those who are driving to the Whitsundays and have booked a day or overnight trip, parking in Airlie Beach is something which needs to be considered, whether you are travelling in a car, 4 wheel drive or RV van.
Some accommodation places provide parking, however, many travellers do not organise a room for the period of time that they are on their trip, so are often left without somewhere to park. This is also the case for those who are staying in a campervan instead of traditional accommodation.
There is free parking in the region which is often patrolled, as well as a handful of paid parking areas, conveniently located near the Airlie Beach Main Street and in the Airlie Beach area. Other areas may be located at the shopping centres and accommodation houses.
If you leave your vehicle unattended in a no parking zone, or limited time parking, you risk getting a ticket, with fines starting at $113. Parking on the Airlie Beach main street is free but limited to 1 hour only. Other areas of town, including the two marinas issue paid parking by the hour or by the day, depending on what is needed. If you are going on a day trip or overnight trip, the most convenient place to park your vehicle is Coral Sea Marina car park or Port of Airlie car park, which is where tours depart from.
Here is a breakdown of parking areas and pricing in Airlie Beach:
1. Airlie Beach Woolworths car park
- Covered car park in the middle of town
- Parking for a daily maximum of 12 hours
- 200+ car parks
- Up to 3 hours free
2. Airlie Beach Hotel car park
- Uncovered in the centre of town
- 100+ car parks
- Pricing is as follows: $4 per hour; $12 per 24 hours
3. Airlie Beach Foreshore car park on Coconut Grove
- 2-hour free parking
- Uncovered close to the centre of town
- Parking for the playground, Boat Haven Beach and Saturday Markets
- 70+ car parks
4. Whitsundays Sailing Club council car park
- Uncovered close to the centre of town
- 100+ car parks
- Pricing is as follows: $2 for 0-1 hour; $4 for 1-2 hours; $6 for 2-4 hours; $8 for 4-12 hours; $10 for 12-24 hours; each additional day thereafter parking $8
5. Airlie Beach Lagoon council car park
- Uncovered in the centre of town
- Near the Lagoon, playground and picnic tables
- 80+ car parks
- Pricing is as follows: $2 for 0-1 hour; $4 for 1-2 hours; $6 for 2-4 hours; $8 for 4-12 hours; $10 for 12-24 hours; each additional day thereafter parking $8
6. Airlie Beach Foreshore council car park on Broadwater Avenue
- Uncovered in the centre of town
- Near the Lagoon, playground and picnic tables
- 90+ car parks
- Pricing is as follows: $2 for 0-1 hour; $4 for 1-2 hours; $6 for 2-4 hours; $8 for 4-12 hours; $10 for 12-24 hours; each additional day thereafter parking $8
7. Coral Sea Marina North car park
- Uncovered parking at the North Marina
- No camping allowed/ 8 hour maximum
- 60 car parks
- Pricing is as follows: $3 for 0-2 hours; $5 for 2-4 hours; $10 for 4-6 hours; $12 for 6-8 hours
8. Coral Sea Marina South car park
- Uncovered parking on the south side of the Marina
- Long term parking is available
- Ability to park boats and trailers
- 200+ car parks
- Pricing is as follows: $3 for 0-2 hours; $5 for 2-4 hours; $8 for 4-12 hours; $10 for 12-24 hours / $10 per day; $10 per day for 1-7 days; $70 for 1 week, $100 for 2 weeks; $125 for 3 weeks; $150 for 30 days
(Parking without paying registration, parking in a non-designated parking area, and parking in a disabled bay without a permit results in a $55 fine)
9. Cruise Whitsundays Maritime Terminal council car park
- 7 minutes walk to centre of town
- Uncovered
- 200+ car parks
- Close to Bus Terminal
- Pricing is as follows: $2 for 0-1 hour; $4 for 1-2 hours; $6 for 2-4 hours; $8 for 4-12 hours; $10 for 12-24 hours; each additional day thereafter parking $8.
10. Port of Airlie car park
- 7 minutes walk to centre of town
- Uncovered and covered spaces
- 60+ car parks
- Pricing is as follows: Casual Parking (Monday-Friday) - Free for first 2 hours; $7 for 2-4 hours; $11 for 4-12 hours; $16 for 12-24 hours (max daily).
Weekend Parking - Free for first 30 minutes; $4 for 30 minutes - 2 hours; $6 for 2-4 hours; $10 for 4-12 hours; $15 for 12-24 hours (max daily).
11. Whitsunday Art and Culture Centre (WACC) car park
- 2-hour free parking
- Uncovered parking off of the main street
- 60+ car parks
12. Shute Harbour Road - Side of road parking spaces
- No restrictions on parking time
- Uncovered parking spots are on the shoulder of the road
- 50+ car parks
- Parking is free
13. Waterson Way overflow car park
- Day use only between 5am - 6pm (no overnight parking)
- Uncovered and unpaved gravel parking, only permitted in dry weather
- 100+ car parks
- Parking is free
SECURE PARKING
Whitsunday Parking Valet Service
- Whitsunday Parking offers a valet pick up service from 4 locations:
- Port of Airlie
- Coral Sea Marina
- Whitsunday Airport
- Shute Harbour
- Offers secured and undercover parking for all vehicles regardless of size. Including boats, trailers, campers etc.
- Travel to the islands knowing that your vehicle is in safe hands.
- Upon returning to the mainland, you will be picked up at your port of choice
- Minimum Fee: $80 for a car for 1 night and 2 days
- Single vehicle one week: $160
- Single vehicle plus a trailer one week: $230
Proserpine Main Street Free 48 hour RV park & Lake Proserpine
The Whitsunday Regional Council announced the opening of a brand new FREE 48 hour powered campsite right in the main street of Proserpine! Adjacent to St. Catherine's Church, the site will be trialled until further notice. The RV Park boasts 18 RV spots and comes hot on the heels of 72-hour free camping also being launched at Lake Proserpine last month. The RV Park caters for self-contained vehicles, however, there has been a dump point and tap installed on site. Council requests visitors to obey the site rules as indicated on signs upon entering the park and please allow room for others to access and exit as a courtesy.
