How to get to Airlie Beach | Intrepid Travel NZ

Airlie Beach is the gateway to the stunning Whitsunday Islands and the Great Barrier Reef, and there's so much to see and do whether you’re spending your entire holiday here or simply passing through to begin a sailing tour. Located on the Whitsunday Coast in Queensland, it's easy to get to Airlie Beach with a number of travel options depending on where you're coming from.

Getting to Airlie Beach by air

If you’re travelling from afar, the most convenient way to get to Airlie Beach is by flying to Whitsunday Coast Airport (PPP) in Prosperine. There are daily flights between Australia's major cities including Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and Cairns. The airport is 20km from Airlie Beach and it takes around 30 mins to drive to the town centre. If you aren’t renting a car at the airport, you can transfer to Airlie Beach via taxi (approx. cost is $100), airport shuttle bus (an adult fee is $22 one way or $36 return), or private transfer with your hotel or tour operator. Below are the average flight times from popular destinations:

Sydney - 2.5 hours
Melbourne - 3 hours
Brisbane - 1.5 hours
Cairns - 1 hour

You can also fly into the Great Barrier Reef Airport on Hamilton Island. From here, you can take a ferry or high-speed catamaran to Airlie Beach. However, this option is probably better if you plan on using Hamilton Island as your base to explore the Whitsundays first before heading across to Airlie Beach on the mainland.

Getting to Airlie Beach by rail

There are no direct trains to Airlie Beach, but you can take the Spirit of Queensland which runs from Brisbane to Cairns via Prosperine, and then transfer on the RailBus Coach to Airlie Beach. The train runs five times per week and stops at all major towns and cities along the coast. The journey to Prosperine takes about 15 hours from Brisbane and 9.5 hours from Cairns. It’s a semi-luxury train with sitting and sleeping berths, showers, entertainment options and onboard dining facilities.

Getting to Airlie Beach by road

You can drive to Airlie Beach via the Bruce Highway which connects the coastal towns and cities between Brisbane and Cairns in far north Queensland. Once you arrive in Bowen or Prosperine, follow the signs to Airlie Beach via Shute Harbour Road. Below are the approximate driving times from popular cities and towns (not including stops):

Sydney - 22 hours
Byron Bay - 15 hours
Brisbane - 13 hours
Sunshine Coast - 12 hours
Townsville - 3.5 hours
Cairns - 8 hours

Getting to Airlie Beach by bus

There is no public bus to Airlie Beach, but you can buy a ticket with a private coach company such as Greyhound or Premier. They run southbound services from Cairns and northbound services from Brisbane with direct, return and hop-on/off tickets options. It's a good option if you don't have a car and aren't on a tight schedule, or if you'll be visiting multiple places along the East Coast.

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