Airlie Beach

Airlie Beach is the main gateway to the Whitsunday Islands and the Great Barrier Reef. Ships anchor offshore and passengers tender ashore to a compact town where palm trees line a busy esplanade and beachside cafés hum along the waterfront. The Airlie Beach Lagoon, a stinger-free swimming pool, is right in the town centre and free to use. Saturday markets sell local crafts and fresh produce. The Whitsunday Islands are the main draw, with Whitehaven Beach and Hill Inlet's swirling sand patterns a boat ride away. Snorkelling and diving trips to the Great Barrier Reef run daily. On land, the Bicentennial Walkway follows the coast through rainforest to Cannonvale. The town is small enough to walk everywhere, from boutique shops to waterfront restaurants. Warm weather year-round, though humidity is part of the deal.