Airlie Beach Tours & Vacations

Trips from 1 January 2023 onwards

From 1 January 2023, Intrepid will no longer require travellers to provide proof of vaccination against COVID-19 (excluding all Polar trips and select adventure cruises).

However, we continue to strongly recommend that all Intrepid travellers and leaders get vaccinated to protect themselves and others.

Specific proof of testing or vaccination may still be required by your destination or airline. Please ensure you check travel and entry requirements carefully.

If you don't have far to go it's easy to walk around Airlie Beach as the town is compact and almost completely flat. If you'd like to travel further afield, local bus services are provided by Whitsunday Transit and run until around 10pm most days. You can also catch a taxi, or rent a hire car or bicycle.

Airlie Beach has a tropical climate, so any time of year is a good time to visit. That being said, August to October is considered to be a particularly good period as the weather is dry. June to October also offers whale watching opportunities, when humpbacks migrate to the warm Whitsunday waters to birth their young.

If you're visiting Airlie Beach between October and May, it's advisable to wear a stinger suit when swimming in the ocean to protect yourself from possible jellyfish stings.

Airlie Beach is a laid-back destination so you can leave your fancy clothes at home. Sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat are a must, even in winter, as the sun reflects off the sparkling Coral Sea. There's a supermarket in the heart of town which is handy in case you forget to pack any essentials.

There's no need to get dressed up, even if you're staying at one of the resorts at Airlie Beach. Casual clothes or active wear are fine during the day. Smart casual is the usual dress code at restaurants.

Airlie Beach is on the mainland so there's good mobile data and wi-fi coverage in town and the surrounding areas.

Airlie Beach is on the mainland so there's good mobile coverage. Just note that you may be cut off or have patchy reception if you head out on a sailing trip on the open water.

Our East Coast adventures start in Sydney or Brisbane. Whitsunday Coast Airport in Proserpine is the closest airport to Airlie Beach. If you fly into Whitsunday Coast Airport, you'll need to drive or take a transfer to Airlie Beach. This is easy to arrange as buses meet all incoming flights. The drive from Whitsunday Coast Airport to Airlie Beach takes around 25 minutes.

You can swim in certain areas of Airlie Beach and the Whitsundays — but only if you follow local advice and observe warning signs for jellyfish. One of the most popular swimming spots is the Airlie Beach Lagoon on the oceanfront as it's filled with chlorinated saltwater and is patrolled by lifeguards.

You can also swim at Boathaven Beach near the Port of Airlie Marina and Canonvale Beach, which is 3km west of the town. Currently, lifeguards don't patrol these beaches, but there are stinger nets to protect you from jellyfish. It’s recommended to swim only in the designated areas to stay safe.

Stinger season is from November to May when large populations of the box and Irukandji jellyfish arrive in warmer weather. Being stung by one of these guys can be extremely painful or even deadly. The local council created the Airlie Beach Lagoon for this reason—it's free from stingers and is the safest place to swim.

If you're swimming in unprotected areas, it’s recommended to wear a stinger suit to protect your body, arms and legs. Your hands, feet and head will still be exposed, so take extra caution when in the water.

We are committed to making travel widely accessible, regardless of ability or disability. We do our best to help you see the world, regardless of physical or mental limitations. 

We are always happy to talk to travellers with disabilities and see if we can help guide them toward the most suitable itinerary for their needs and, where possible, make reasonable adjustments to our itineraries.