Things To Do
Check out here our selection of activities available in Airlie Beach.
If you enjoy great foods, fine wines, shopping, a variety of walks and a vibrant night life you must look into the Whitsunday Coast.
See what some of our past guests have to say and start your exploration of Airlie Beach and the Whitsunday Islands.
Do you have a favourite Airlie Court Holiday Units memory? Please send it to us so we can share it with others!
Attractions
See some of Australia’s most beautiful natural attributes such as the World Heritage Listed Great Barrier Reef, the Whitsunday Islands or the glamorous Whitehaven Beach.
You can choose between a cruise, sail, tour, scenic flight, bush walk to a lookout, boardwalk or a water sport from a great range on offer + so much more! And only possible from Airlie Beach.
Shopping
Airlie has fashion shops and souvenir shops to wander upon in the main street. From City Beach Surfwear – on the premises, Cotton On, Go Girl, Jay Jays, Supre, Rip Curl and local favourites Reef Goddess and Beachworx you’ll find these all close to Airlie Court Holiday Units.
If you want more we have 2 shopping centres out of town – Whitsunday Shopping Centre (3km) with the local Post Office and Coles as well as Whitsunday Plaza (6km) with Woolworths and Big W, both with other retailers. There is also a Woolworths immediately behind our units – we are the closest self contained units to it!
Cedar Creek Falls
Cedar Creek Falls is one of the Whitsunday Coasts most popular natural attractions and has been a big hit with locals. Although it doesn’t always run it is quite powerful during the wet season which in time has allowed it to create a deep swimming hole.
It is at it’s best on a hot summers day just after rainfall where it becomes the coolest place in town to cool down. About a 25minute drive from Airlie Beach it is accessible by car and a local rainforest tour. Worth the drive with plenty of parking and an easy short walk to the falls once there.
Weddings
If you are attending a wedding in the Whitsundays then we have a fabulous location to stay at Airlie Court Units.
With our location neither “out of town” or “up a hill” you will have easy access to many venues, beauty salons, and close to taxi and bus ranks and then a gentle central walk home from all the late night venues – it can be so easy.
Don’t take the fun out of your stay by being removed from all Airlie has to offer – stay in the heart of Airlie Beach at Airlie Court Units.
Airlie Beach Markets
Airlie Beach Lions Community Markets every Saturday from 7am to 1pm on the Airlie Foreshore, where locals and visitors meet and local arts and culture can be experienced. Also present on days when the big Cruise Ships stop in for the day.
Proserpine Museum
Proserpine Museum is located about 25km from Airlie Beach and contains much of the local early settlers, farming, mining and history of the Whitsundays. Open Monday to Friday and worth a visit.
Dining & Night Life
Check out our guide on the best places to wine and dine including on the premises KC’s Bar & Grill for Steaks,Seafood and Salads – or as they say “Beef, Reef and Leaf”.
Even with the famous KC’s Bar & Grill on the premises the Whitsunday Coast has a large variety and range of cafe’s, ice cream parlours, takeaways, restaurants and bars to choose from – see below.
KC’s Bar & Grill – Steak & Seafood Specialists! A most unique Restaurant in Airlie Beach – on the premises – opening daily for lunch, dinner and entertainment – either alfresco or indoors. KC’s is Airlie’s original Steak House with a sumptuous chargrill and serving up Seafood Platters and Salads to compliment this.
Airlie Beach Main Street precinct food & drink outlets
Boaty's Airlie Beach, Hogs Breath Cafe, Wisdom Health Lab, Airlie’s Fancy Fish & Chips, Magnums, Mama’s Boys Pizza, New Zealand Ice Cream, Village Cafe Restaurant & Bar, BWS – Beer Wine Spirits, McDonalds, Boost Juice, KC’s Chargrill & Bar, Cafe, Beagles Pizza, Sidewalk Cafe, Whitsunday Seafood Bar, Whitsunday Sailing Club, Fish D’vine & Rum Bar, Domino’s Pizza, The Pub Airlie Beach, Airlie Beach Hotel Drive In Bottle Shop, Subway, Kebabs, Cold Rock Ice Cream, Anchor Bar, Airlie Beach Tree House, The Deck, Paradiso Rooftop Bar & Restaurant, La Tabella Trattoria, La Marina, D'viet House.
Night Clubs include Magnums, Paddy Shennanigans, Boom Nightclub & Mama Africa’s Night Club.
Local walking tracks
Honeyeater Lookout
It’s fairly all uphill getting there which makes coming down, with more views, all the more pleasurable. About 2.5km each way (Allow 1 hour up and 40mins down). The hardest grade is the first section (and getting to the first section) so you might sort a lift. Scenic views, rainforest with tall trees emerging above the surrounding canopy as well as sections of differing plants like Gum trees and the Cycad species. The view is refreshing upon arrival overlooking predominantly the Cannonvale side of town.
Please remain on the designated track. Supervise children carefully. This is a branch-off track but just 100 metres after the turnoff that continues along the Great Walk is a strangler fig tree that is as wide as the length of a car and something to see (you’ll want to climb it).
This sits on the saddle of the hill at the back of Airlie Beach which forms Airlie Creek ultimately running throught the centre of town. The fig tree that looks like and has roots the size of concrete road culvets are most impressive.
Access to the start of this walk via Airlie Main Street, Waterson Way, up Begley Street, Lamond Street and at the top of Kara Crescent – not great parking.
Airlie Court Units is a great base to start from if you would like to explore our natural hinterland.
Photo credit Amelia May
Coral Beach
Coral Beach walk is located at the top of the township of Shutehaven with about a 3km return trip ( Allow 1 hour) Moderate grade to what is known as The Beak. It will take you through creeks and forested areas on to Coral Beach, which is by name and by nature – large clumps of broken coral, smaller and smaller until sandy at one end of the beach. From the end of the beach the walk continues up to a lookout that takes in the spectacular Whitsunday Islands.
A favourite walk amongst locals and one worth doing whilst here. Easy parking, predominantly easy walk – no excuses…. A local bus can take you to Shute Harbour whereby from there you will need to trek 20minutes along the road up to the township where the walk belongs.
Conway Circuit
Conway Circuit skirts through the Conway National Park mostly within the Conway State Forest. An old logging area along Brandy Creed Road is the official start to this 27km walk that was designed as a three day hike with two campsites along the way.
However sections of this walk can be done from Airlie Beach or Brandy Creek and it has been easily walked in less than 8 hours. Annually a race, Run the Great Walk, takes place and the winner comes in less than 2hours! See website for more details – http://www.whitsundayrun.com/index.php
As the Great Walk begins along the Impulse and Repulse Creek Rainforest areas which has trees thats been said to be up to 2000 yrs old the walk continues up to the top of Mount Hayward with spectacular views over the Whitsundays then on to Jubilee Pocket lookout and eventually down into Airlie Beach. Whitsunday Great Walk is a fantastic often missed venture in the Whitsundays.
There is public transport that will stop at the Brandy Creek Road turnoff, about 11km out of Airlie, but from the highway to the start of the walk is a winding road through rural dwellings probably the best part of 5km – perhaps a lift or taxi to the start would be best. Ample parking is available.
Bicentennial Walk
"The Boardwalk" Bicentennial Walk begins at Cannonvale Beach and takes you all the through to the heart of Airlie Beach. The walk stretches about 3.5kms each way. Adjacent to the water the entire way you can soak up the crystal clear waters and views of the Whitsunday Islands.
It is spectacular as it winds and weaves itself around the coast starring you into the face of many natural and man made features of our area.
It is most popular with locals and should also be on your “to do list” when visiting Airlie Beach.
Mt Rooper & Swamp Bay Walks
Mount Rooper (5.4km circuit) walk is about a 50minute walk uphill overlooking Shute Harbour, the Beak and the Whitsunday Islands. From here a lookout tower provides magnificent views of the Whitsunday Islands. The walk is a gradual incline and for those who wish to conquer and savour the spoils.
You can also continue on to Swamp Bay – which is by name and by nature a swamp – so if this is what you’re expecting you won’t be disappointed. A reasonably flat walk to Swamp Bay of 4.2km return if you avoid the hill to Mt. Rooper.