TRAVELLING TO AREA

Airlie Beach is the mainland gateway to the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park & Whitsunday Islands.

With your travel arrangements, please allow sufficient time to check in at our office in Airlie Beach. For a morning departure, please check in by 7pm the day before, for a 2pm departure, check in by 11.30am on day of departure. 

FLYING - Airlie Beach is accessible by plane to:
Whitsunday Coast Airport (40 km's from Airlie Beach) - Serviced by VIRGIN BLUE & JET STAR
Hamilton Island (40 minute Ferry Ride to Mainland) - Serviced by QANTASlink, JET STAR & VIRGIN BLUE 
Mackay Airport (170 km's South of Airlie Beach) - Serviced by QANTAS, JET STAR and VIRGIN BLUE

WHITSUNDAY COAST AIRPORT (formerly Proserpine Airport)

WHITSUNDAY SHUTTLE SERVICE - provide transfers to Airlie Beach that take around 30-35 minutes. The costs are $19.50 & the shuttle will drop guests to their accommodation, the Marina or our check-in Office. A family of four, is $55.00
Transfers must be Pre-Booked, please let us know when you book that you would like a transfer arranged.

Coach or taxi transfers to Airlie Beach take around 35 minutes. Coach company is Whitsunday Transit.
Phone +61 (0) 7 4946 1800.


HAMILTON ISLAND AIRPORT - Fly to Hamilton Island & transfer on a ferry to the mainland. Depending on the route the ferry takes, the island transfers will take from 30 to 60 minutes.  

FERRY TRANSFERS to the mainland are available with:
Resort Connections Ph: + 61 (0) 7 4946 7322 transfer to Abel Point Marina Airlie Beach.
Fantasea Blue Ferries Ph: +61 (0) 7 4946 5111 transfer to Shute Harbour (11km's from Airlie Beach).
The price is $49 per person from Hamilton Island to the mainland.

From Shute Harbour Whitsunday Transit coach services operate to Airlie Beach for $5.00.

An alternative to the Ferry, is a LIGHT PLANE TRANSFER from Hamilton Island to Airlie Beach, available with Island Air Taxis. Phone: +61 (0) 7 4946 9933. Price $120.00 for two people. Airlie Beach airport is located 4km's from town. Taxi's operate from the airport into town.

MACKAY AIRPORT - You can hire a car for the 2 hour drive to Airlie Beach.

HIRE CARS - Many guests hire cars or motor homes. Apollo Campers, Travellers Auto-Barn. Car rental companies with offices in Airlie include, Hertz, Thrifty, Avis, Europcar.


DRIVING - The Bruce Highway is the major road that links 'Cairns' in the north to 'Brisbane' in the south.

FROM BRISBANE TO AIRLIE BEACH - TOTAL DRIVING TIME IS 12.5 HOURS
Brisbane to Rockhampton 670km's takes 7 hours.
Rockhampton makes a good overnight stop, there is plenty of accommodation, from budget to 4 star available.  Rockhampton to Airlie Beach 510km's takes 5.5 hours.

FROM CAIRNS TO AIRLIE BEACH - DRIVING TIME IS 7.5 HOURS.
Cairns to Townsville 350km's takes 4.5 hours.
Townsville to Airlie Beach 280km's takes 3 hours.

BUS/COACH SERVICES - Regular coach/bus services operate from Brisbane or Cairns to Airlie Beach. Contacts: Express Coach Companies are : Greyhound or Premier. Note: Coaches stop at a number of locations & you need to allow for this in travel times.

TRAIN SERVICES TO PROSERPINE TRAIN STATION - Tilt Train Services leave Brisbane and provide a 13 hour overnight service. From Cairns the service is in daylight hours and takes 10 hours. Phone: +61 (0) 7 3235 2222.
A Coach meets the trains, transfers from the Train Station to Airlie Beach takes about 25 minutes and costs $7.80 per person.

All prices listed above are in Australian Dollars and supplied to assist with itinerary planning. Check with the operators direct for their latest pricing and departure information.