Searching For Paradise? Look No Further! 3 Days in Airlie Beach & The Whitsundays are IT ♥
I‘m sure you’ve seen photos of the gorgeous, picture-perfect Whitsundays. It is the 3rd most photographed location in all of Australia, and honestly, it is one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen. And I feel like I’ve seen a lot of beautiful places.
Airlie Beach is THE place to go if you want to check out the Whitsundays for yourself. I spent 3 days in Airlie Beach, and while it was not nearly enough time to see and do everything, it was plenty! It is a beautiful little haven, tucked into a quiet bay filled with sailboats, that’s known for being a party hotspot. While I can definitely see its potential for being that during high season, that wasn’t my experience when there.
Unfortunately, that was due to COVID. Damn COVID, ruining every freakin thing this year – am I right?! You had to be seated at all times, meaning venues could only allow as many people as they had seats. This resulted in long lines to get in places, and I just couldn’t be bothered to wait. What are the chances of someone giving up their seat, anyway?
Pay attention all you late-night eaters!
If you’re used to eating late, partying all night, and having access to shops most hours of the day like I am when going on vacation (hellooo USA – home of the 24/7), you won’t have that here. I found a lot of restaurants close between 8 and 9 pm. One even closes at 7:30 pm! Who the hell eats dinner that early? My apologies if you do. And guys, this was even Mcdonalds! But I have a suspicion that might have been due to COVID as well.
So if you’re looking for a good meal, plan to eat earlier. Otherwise, your “late” night options after 9 will be either the kebab shops or Dominoes. I also found that a few of the places are closed on Mondays AND Tuesdays and the only place to buy alcohol for take-away is from liquor stores, aka bottle shops, and they close at 9 pm.
Just want to make sure you are prepared for all of this in advance, so you aren’t wandering around hungry for dinner at 9 like I was. And that you have plenty of alcohol stocked in your hotel room. So I have put together everything I did and learned in this guide for spending 3 days in Airlie Beach. Now, let’s dive into all things Airlie Beach, shall we?
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Your Guide to Airlie Beach
Itinerary for 3 Days in Airlie Beach
Day 1: Explore Airlie Beach
Day 2: Whitsundays Tour
Day 3: Explore Nearby Beaches
Optional: checkout nearby waterfall either on the way or leaving Airlie Beach, or add it to one of the other days. It’s only a short 30-minute drive away.
Optional: If you have extra time, opt to go to Cape Hillsborough, famous for kangaroos on the beach at sunrise. It is a 2-hour drive though, so make sure to leave early enough to make it on time!
Day 1: Explore Airlie Beach
Spend your first day exploring the town. Check out the different beaches, shops, and restaurants. There are a few different ones to choose from. There’s one right across from the main street of restaurants. You can overlook it while you are dining at one of the many restaurants that line the sidewalk there.
You’ll also find a nice grassy area filled with some trees if you want to just chill out in the shade. There is also another beach by the Port of Airlie, and then another one if you go around the peninsular area by the Coral Sea Marina.
Beware! Dangerous Animals
An important thing to note is that there are some deadly things in the water here in this area of Australia. The main ones are the box jellyfish, the Irukandji stingers, stingrays, and the saltwater crocodile. These can be very deadly, so it might just be safer to relax on the beach shores and take a swim at the Lagoon. The lagoon is a man-made area for you to swim at, overlooking the water.
All of this was right on the waterfront, allowing gorgeous views of the ocean, and a spectacular sunset. I don’t know if they have this going on all the time, but it is definitely worth checking out!
Day 2: Whitsundays Cruise
The Whitsundays are a collection of 74 islands off the coast of Australia by the Great Barrier Reef. Most of them are uninhabited, full of forests, and pristine white sandy beaches. Some of the islands you can visit, and even stay on. The main islands are Hamilton Island, Hayman Island, Hook Island, Daydream Island, and Whitsunday Island. You can learn more about these islands here.
I did a little research (not much honestly) and it seemed that this option was slightly more expensive than some of the other tour groups, but the fact you got to spend all day sailing on a catamaran instead of cooped up inside a covered boat, was worth that extra cost! This tour costs $151USD/$209AUD.
Synopsis Of Sailing Aboard The Camira
Camira is a nice, purple catamaran that has friendly staff. They pick you up in the morning from the Port of Airlie, take you through the beautiful Whitsunday Islands, then to the famous Whitehaven Beach. There we had an hour to bask in the sun on the pristine white beach. The sand is so fine and powdery as it’s made out of almost pure silica.
If you’re lucky, you may have a whale sighting along the way! There were a few we passed, but they were so far in the distance we didn’t get a great look.
For food, we grabbed McDonald’s (as it was the only thing we could find open that early) for breakfast, but the tour ended up having a light breakfast available of muffins, yogurt, and coffee. Not long after they had warm ham and cheese croissants. After Whitehaven Beach is when you get served lunch and free alcohol (beer, wine, and cider).
You leave port at 8:30 AM and return at 5:30 PM. So it’s an all-day event! After spending all day in the sun, head back to your place to freshen up and make sure you grab dinner before it gets too late! Then get ready to check out some bars for a fun night out. If you’re too exhausted from drinking in the sun all day, don’t feel bad if you gotta catch some zzz’s back at your room. After spending 3 days in Airlie Beach, I’m sure you’re bound to find plenty of time to get your drink on!
Day 3: Explore Nearby Beaches – Hydeaway & Dingo Beach
The beaches in Airlie are nice, but they are tucked in the bay. If you want to check out some other beaches, about 40 minutes north through a beautiful drive of fields and mountains, are Hydeaway and Dingo Beach. The two are right next to each other. If you go left, you’ll arrive at Hydeaway Beach, and at the very end of the road is a viewpoint at the top. It has an amazing view of the coastline there.
Afterward, I’d recommend heading back to Airlie and catching the sunset at Sorrento’s. They have a happy hour on drinks and the most stunning view for a sunset overlooking the marina. If not this night, just make sure you catch it one of your 3 days in Airlie Beach. You won’t be disappointed!
Here Are Some Of The Basics:
Where To Stay
If your budget is a little bigger, I’d suggest staying at the Airlie Beach Hotel or the Coral Sea Resort as those are both directly overlooking the ocean and in prime locations. Or if your budget is a bit smaller, I’d recommend staying at Airlie Beach Backpackers by the Bay or Airlie Beach Magnums. There are a few hostel options – just check out the reviews on Hostelworld!
Where To Eat
- The Deck
This place is right across from the main beach and has really yummy food. I went here twice! The first time I had a southern fried chicken burger with garlic aioli for lunch and then for breakfast a different day I had their bacon eggs benedict. I never ate their pizza but I did read a review online that they have really good pizza. This is the place that closes at 7:30pm though, so if you want to check it out, make sure you get there early! They also had a happy hour deal during 3-5pm I believe, with free beer or wine with the purchase of a pizza, as well as 10$ cocktails.
- Fish D’Vine
This place has really great seafood and cocktails from their Rum Bar. We had some of their yummy garlic bread, I had the mornay oysters, and a coral trouth over corn and zucchini fritters. Everything was delicious. They are known for their big crab dishes, but they are a two-person meal, and since my partner doesn’t eat seafood, I didn’t get to try it! So if you are a seafood lover, try it for me and let me know how it is!!
- Fish D’Vine
This place has really great seafood and cocktails from their Rum Bar. We had some of their yummy garlic bread, I had the mornay oysters, and a coral trouth over corn and zucchini fritters. Everything was delicious. They are known for their big crab dishes, but they are a two-person meal, and since my partner doesn’t eat seafood, I didn’t get to try it! So if you are a seafood lover, try it for me and let me know how it is!!
- Sorrentos
This place not only has an incredible view of the ocean, marina, and sunset, but it also has reallllyy good food! We had a pizza and pasta that was to die for. Get there between 3-4 and you can get their 2-4-1 pizzas. Happy hour is 3-5 pm with 4$ draft beers, 5$ spirits. If you call ahead, you can have them reserve you a table on the terrace. Otherwise, try to get there a little early to snag a spot for sunset.
- Spicy Thai
This is a great spot for takeaway that’s right next to the Blue Horizons Resort and Airlie Beach Backpackers By The Bay if you’re too lazy to go out and grab something.
- Sidewalk Cafe
We had their breakfast burrito, which was insanely delicious, and some great coffee! This was a perfect option for takeaway on our way to the waterfall.
Two other places I really wanted to eat at but didn’t have the time:
- La Marina – an Italian restaurant in the Port of Airlie
- Paradiso – right along the main beach. It has a second story rooftop area and super cute decor. They are closed on Sundays and Mondays though! A perfect spot for a meal and cocktails.
Where To Drink
- The Pub
This place was really nice and when we arrived it was on and poppin’ with live music on a Saturday Night. However, I believe the live music ended around 11 pm or midnight, and it fizzled out real quick. This may be due to COVID though.
- KCs
This place had good vibes with live music as well. It was open late but we were not able to get in since COVID restrictions made it to where you can only have as many people as you have seats, and it was full.
- Magnums
A late night drinking bar, it was always packed with people when we walked by. Again, there was a long line to get in so we didn’t bother waiting. Idk who would give up their seat anyway!
- Boom Nightclub
Again, a line to get into this place. And since you had to be seated, I’m not sure how fun a nightclub would be sitting at a table! I want to dance at nightclubs, not sit in a chair. Hopefully I’ll be back in Airlie Beach once COVID is over and get to experience the party hotspot in all its glory!
For Day Drinking, Check Out:
- Coral Sea Resort
This place has a badass view, a nice pool, and a bar and kitchen. Amazing spot to spend the day drinking cocktails. When I was there, they had a DJ, but I’m not sure if it’s common. Definitely make sure to try their passionfruit & guava mojito! And don’t forget to stay for the incredible sunset.
Things To Do
There are a variety of things to do! While you may not be able to cover them all, you can definitely still do plenty with your 3 days in Airlie Beach. Make sure you come back another time to do the rest, I know I will!
- Go to the Beach
There are a few beaches where you can go to. Just be careful swimming – there are so many deadly things here in Australia’s northeastern waters. Two deadly types of jellyfish, crocodiles, and stingrays. I didn’t see any, but it doesn’t mean they aren’t there! Beware.
- Shopping
There are a few shops here. I didn’t see anything too worthwhile, mainly things were touristy. But I also didn’t look too closely, and besides, we may have different tastes!
- Whitsundays Tour
This is by far the main attraction. I don’t see a point in coming to Airlie Beach if you’re not going to go to the Whitsundays! There are a few different tour companies you can go with, and also do either a single day or a multi-day tour. We opted for the day cruise with Cruise Whitsundays – Camira, as recommended by a friend.
- Great Barrier Reef
You can do a tour of the Great Barrier Reef to do snorkeling and diving. We chose not to do it here because I heard there are better locations to see the Great Barrier Reef. So I will be checking that off my list at a later time. But if you have the funds and the time to do it, why not! Cruise Whitsundays also offers this tour option.
- Kayaking
You can do kayaking here as well. This company, Salty Dog Sea Kayaking, offers half-day, full-day, and 6-day expedition guided tours. You can also rent it out on your own if you prefer not to do a guided tour.
- Checkout Nearby Beaches
Hydeaway Beach and Dingo Beach are right next to each other, about 40 minutes north of Airlie by car. On the way, you will drive through lots of gorgeous fields and mountains stretching out as far as you can see. The road to the beaches looks a little sketch and far out, but trust me, the beaches at the end are gorgeous! Hydeaway offers a beautiful viewpoint if you drive to the end. When we went, it was low tide so we were able to play around in the water there. It was very quiet and we saw hardly anyone there!
Just south of Hydeaway Beach is Dingo Beach. It has a nice park area with a kid’s playground, a pavilion, and picnic tables. The cool part is, there’s a fenced-in enclosure so that you are able to really swim in the water without any of the deadly creatures creepin in on ya! Definitely worth checking out.
- Cape Hillsborough
This area is well known for kangaroos on the beach at sunrise. I really wanted to check this out for some awesome pictures, but it’s a 2-hour drive so sadly I didn’t have time for it on this trip. I will make a point to see it someday though once I start my road trip through Australia.
- Cedar Creek Falls
This waterfall is only a short 30-minute drive south of Airlie Beach. Depending on how you are getting to Airlie, you can easily do a short trip during the day or hitting it on your way in or out of Airlie. I was under the impression you had to hike to the fall, but you literally drive right up to it. Once you park, you get out and walk to it within 1 minute. It’s not rainy season, so the waterfall wasn’t that powerful or impressive, but it was still a gorgeous, relaxing spot. Normally it is packed with people swimming in the cool, clearwater during the warmer busier months. It was quite cold for me so I didn’t get in. I’m still not used to it being winter in July here.
And There You Have It!
My short and sweet guide to spending 3 days in Airlie Beach. It really is a lovely, beautiful marina town. It is a shame I had to experience it during the off-season and during a worldwide pandemic. I am sure it is way more lively and fun under normal circumstances. But as I was here to celebrate my birthday, it was as good as it could get given the conditions! I had a great time regardless and I will definitely be back once things are back to normal.
Save or bookmark this for your getaway trip to the beautiful Airlie Beach and Whitsunday Islands!♥
xx, christine
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