Is this your first time to Airlie Beach and the Whitsundays? There is so much to see and do, we highly recommend you take 5 days and create the ultimate Whitsundays week. Explore, do some tours, relax and unwind, enjoy some lovely dinners, and really soak up the laid-back Airlie Beach lifestyle.
Sailing the Whitsunday Islands
Take a tour on the majestic yacht Lady Enid. A heritage sailing vessel built in the 1960s, she is one of the last Australian racing yachts built from timber before racing turned to aluminium and carbon fibre.
Now operating as an adults only tour, aimed at couples and small groups, Lady Enid visits Langford Island twice a week. An ideal destination to sail to, Langford Island lookout overlooks Hayman Island and Hook Island. There is also some excellent snorkelling nearby, and the area is known as a turtle habitat.
Visit Whitehaven Beach
Lady Enid can take you to Whitehaven Beach too! Our full day tour takes in the famous Hill Inlet lookout with the swirling sands, some quiet time on the beach itself, and snorkelling nearby. Enjoy premium service from our amazing crew, while getting to visit one of Australia’s most famous beaches.
See the Great Barrier Reef and Whitehaven Beach from a bird’s eye perspective
Nothing beats seeing the Great Barrier Reef and Whitehaven Beach from the air. There are several ways to do this, including helicopter tours, seaplanes, and fixed wing aircraft. Ocean Rafting operates a fleet of fixed wing aircraft running up to 6 daily scenic flight tours over the reef and islands. Packaged up with a Lady Enid day sail, this makes for an unforgettable Whitsunday pairing.
Enjoy the sunset and make new friends
Ocean Roads Whitsundays operates Airlie Beach’s longest running and most loved sunset cruise tour, on board the flat party boat Sundowner.
Suitable for all ages and most levels of mobility, the Sundowner is purpose built for sunset cruising. The flat deck makes moving around easy, they play all your favourite music, and the bar is open, selling a range of alcoholic beverages at reasonable prices.
Explore the Whitsunday hinterland and deserted beaches
The Whitsunday coast has some real gems in the hinterland and up the coast, that are not very frequently visited by newcomers to the region. There are very few tours that can take you there. Ocean Roads Whitsundays operates a great day tour of six hours taking in Cedar Creek Falls and freshwater swimming hole, the Whitsunday Gold coffee plantation, and Cape Gloucester in the north of the Whitsundays, with a special visit to a secluded beach nearby that only the locals know about. Cape Gloucester Resort offers a delicious menu for lunch, and a swimming pool, in a pristine beachfront location.
What to do in Airlie Beach?
Swim in the big free public lagoon, visit the markets on Saturdays and cruise ship days, find a new restaurant or café for every meal, browse the boutiques in the main street, and just enjoy unwinding at your hotel, where most places have stunning views of the Whitsunday Islands.
