1. Port Overview

  1. Airlie Beach, Qld, Australia

  3. Airlie Beach (or Airlie) is a town in Queensland, Australia and is the closest port from which to access the Whitsunday islands on the Great Barrier Reef. It is a popular tourist destination, especially with backpackers. Nearby Shute Harbour is the departure point for the island ferries and Abel Point Marina is home to many of the cruising yachts.

    The beach at Airlie is small and the sea is inhabited by marine stingers, the box jellyfish (Chironex fleckeri) from November to May. However the Airlie Beach Lagoon provides a manmade swimming area surrounded by sand and grassy knolls.

    Things to see and do

    * Scuba diving & Snorkelling
    * Whitsunday Islands
    * Great Barier Reef
    * Airlie beach Saturday market
    * Airlie Beach lagoon

    Cruise Season – Jan - Dec
    Currency – Australian Dollar (AUD)
    Language – English
    Population – 25,000 approx
    Time – GMT plus eight hours
    Electricity - 2 angled pins and 1 flat pin centered below Australian style
    International Country Telephone Code – 61

    Port Location – Abel point marina is the location for taking boats out to islands, and is a brisk fifteen minute walk from Shute Harbour Road, Airlie's High Street, around a recently renovated sea side board walk.

    Travel Links – Flying to Proserpine Airport, also known as Whitsunday Coast Airport, in Proserpine is the easiest way to reach Airlie. There is also a train station in Proserpine for those travelling up the East coast. The two main airlines flying to here are Virgin Blue and Jetstar. After arriving at the airport, luggage is driven around the side of the building be collected from a trailer.
    Greyhound and Premier coaches both stop at Airlie on their trip between Brisbane and Cairns.