Should I spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Airlie Beach?
Should you spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Airlie Beach?
Most visitors spend four to seven days in Airlie Beach when visiting. The laid back town offers so many things to see and explore, so you'll want to take full advantage of the limited time you have. Highlights include scuba diving and snorkeling, the beaches, the hiking, and the beautiful scenery.
For many, Airlie Beach is the gateway to the Whitsunday Islands. It is a resort town that has a mix of luxury resorts, family-friendly hotels, and backpacker hostels. There are ferries and excursions that leave from the town and visit the islands, but many visitors also choose to spend some time exploring the mainland area as well.
Do you have one or two days to visit Airlie Beach? Here's our comprehensive breakdown of how much time you might need for your trip along with some suggestions for things to do.
Is one day enough time in Airlie Beach?
One day is generally not enough time to experience the beach and other activities of Airlie Beach. A shorter schedule may leave you with a sense of urgency to enjoy the most popular activities such as scuba diving and snorkeling, the beaches, the hiking, and the beautiful scenery. To genuinely appreciate the laid back town, a longer visit is recommended so that you can have more time to relax at the beach. Many tourists opt for at least 4 or as many as 7 days here, after all. After all, Airlie Beach is a small town that is quite popular with tourists. However, if you're working with limited time, we have some great ideas for making the most of your stay below.
How to spend a day in Airlie Beach
Scuba diving and snorkeling around Airlie Beach is world-class, and is one of the main reasons why so many visitors come here. Spend a day exploring the beauty of the surrounding underwater world. You can't snorkel right off the shore because the water is murky and mucky, but there are excursions that will take you to the Great Barrier Reef. There are many day cruises that will take you out on the reef to several sights where you may see beautiful coral, sea turtles, or even reef sharks.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Whitsundays Whitehaven Beach Tour: Beaches, Lookouts and Snorkel ($154)
- Ocean Rafting: Whitehaven Beach, Snorkelling & Hill Inlet Lookout ($134)
- Whitehaven Beach and Hill Inlet Lookout Snorkeling Cruise ($148)
Airlie Beach is known to be such a beautiful destination, so just exploring and taking it all in should be one of the top things to do on your list. Serving as a gateway to the Whitsunday Islands, this town is surrounded by some of the world's most idyllic landscapes.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Whitsundays Segway Sunset and Boardwalk Tour with Dinner ($84)
- Airlie Beach Jet Boat Thrill Ride ($60)
- Lady Enid Sunset Sail Airlie Beach - Adults Only ($67)
Airlie Beach is a walkable city and easy to explore on foot. With only a day in the town, you'll have no trouble seeing the local sights. The town itself is walkable, but the surrounding area is hilly and requires a car.
Is a weekend (two to three days) enough time in Airlie Beach?
Airlie Beach, renowned for its numerous sights and attractions, is a major draw for tourists. Given only a weekend, you will likely be rushed to explore the underwater world, lounge on the beach, take a hike, and admire the wonderful scenery. To truly savor all that the town offers along with the beach, a more generous amount of time is usually needed. Many travelers opt for four to seven days to relax and explore here. However, if your schedule is tight, we have a handful of recommendations for making the most of your visit.
Airlie Beach
How to spend 2 days in Airlie Beach
If you have more than a weekend (two to three days) in Airlie Beach, you'll appreciate the added time for everything the town has to offer.
The beautiful beaches await you in Airlie Beach, so spend the day (or several, if you can) relaxing on the sand or swimming in the water. Near town there are world class beaches that range from secluded and idyllic to those lined with luxury resorts. For an escape, head to Hideaway Bay or Dingo Beach. If you don't want to leave town, there's also Airlie Beach, which is right off the Main Street. You likely won't want to swim here, but you can enjoy a picnic. Whatever beach you chose, do confirm that there's a stinger net.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Airlie Beach Trike Tours ($50)
- Private Airlie Beach Tuk-Tuk Tours ($20)
- The Big Island Day Tour: Full day tour to Whitehaven Beach ($171)
You can't miss out on tasting the fantastic cuisine at one of the best restaurants in town, so make sure you find somewhere special for lunch or dinner. There's a good selection of restaurants in town that offer everything from freshly caught local seafood to fine dining or casual. Try to pick a place with a view.
The public transit in Airlie Beach is fast and efficient. Over the course of a few days, you should be able to explore the town quite easily and affordably. There's a public bus that runs from Proserpine to Shute Harbour. The main bus station is near the city center and the main beach.
More Info
If you're looking for more information about Airlie Beach, we have even more advice to help you plan your journey.
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