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Airlie Beach used to be a backpacker haven but has now been discovered by Australians and has consequently become more commercialised with many large resorts style accommodation operations in recent years. Plenty of good cheap accommodation can still be found with many resorts offering "standby specials". Airlie Beach has a permanent "holiday feel" with tropical warm weather all year round and is an excellent relaxing stop off on the far North Queensland coast. With two large commercial marinas within 1km of the centre of town (Abel Point 450 berths & Port of Airlie 350 berths) Airlie Beach is a major hub for water activities, sailing and cruising.
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By plane
Flying to Proserpine Airport, also known as Whitsunday Coast Airport, in [wiki=62938217fc3f72e1856ff811f8e9e24c]Proserpine[/wiki] is the easiest way to reach Airlie. Airlines flying to here are Virgin Australia [url=http://www.virginaustralia.com],]Tigerair [url=https://tigerair.com.au[/url]]and Jetstar [url=http://www.jetstar.com.au[/url].]This airport has recently undergone a $9m upgrade to the terminal and carparking facilities. Bus, hire car and taxi connections are available to Airlie Beach and/or the Whitsunday Islands.
There is also [[Hamilton Island[/url]] airport which is one hours travel by ferry from Airlie Beach. Ferries also leave Hamilton Island and travel to Daydream Island, Hayman Island and Long Island. One way tickets are approximately AUD$50 per person one way to either Abel Point marina or Shute Harbour ferry terminal. Cruise Whitsundays (the ferry operator) will move its operations to a new terminal at the Port of Airlie Marina in September 2014.
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By train
There is a train station in Proserpine (26kms west of Airlie beach)for those travelling north or south upon the East coast of Queensland.
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By bus
Greyhound and Premier coaches both stop at Airlie on their trip between [wiki=759302fb84c5f72078746e7358ba44a0]Brisbane[/wiki] and [wiki=c0f6d8f516f49d2e7a21306270f8c21a]Cairns[/wiki].
There are also a number of tours that travel up the East Coast of Australia and visit Airlie Beach.
HitchHiking is rare but if by yourself or in pairs it can be efficient.
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A number of buses serve the airport terminal, and drive to Airlie beach or other locations but all but one must be prebooked. The tickets cost a flat $15 per person one way and can be purchased in a queue at a clearly marked booth just inside the arrival gate. The bus driver mans the booth, and when everyone has got a ticket (about 30-40 minutes wait from arrival) the bus gets going. Another option is to take a taxi, for which there is also a booth inside the arrivals gate. However taxi rides seem to match the bus price, and cost $15 per person. Also, there may not be any taxis waiting. The ride to Airlie beach is smooth and takes about 40 minutes. The driver will ask where you are staying and take you to the door of the hostel or hotel in Airlie Beach.
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Beautiful views of the harbour and the bay as you walk up Shute Harbour Road from the town centre. The best website to visit for activity and lodging listings is from the local Tourism Authority [http://www.tourismwhitsundays.com.au]
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Despite its name, Airlie Beach is not the best place for the beach itself. The few near Shute Harbour Rd are small and pretty, but the presence of jellyfish (there are signs up detailing different species near the beaches) means people do not swim in the water from around October to around May. A swim in the water requires a stinger suit - made from rash top type material. However more than making up for this, Airlie has a fantastic man made lagoon. This is around two hundred metres long and fifty wide, landscaped with a bridge and grass to lie on surrounding. It is watched by life guards during the day and security at night, and because it is open to swim in at all times the lagoon makes relaxing in Airlie pure delight. On Saturday morning there is a charming market along the waterfront, with a range of locally produced foods and souvenirs.
Transfers to cruises and daytrips to the [wiki=cf11995e3755399019a1225d4bf126bb]Whitsunday Islands[/wiki] and Outer [wiki=9b36d354ed6d3178ed1d6b392849ed0c]Great Barrier Reef[/wiki] are popular in Airlie. See the [wiki=cf11995e3755399019a1225d4bf126bb]Whitsunday Islands[/wiki] for information.
Note: If you book trip tickets through hostels, its a bit cheaper (some hostels provide one night FREE accommodation, example Magnum's Hostel). Even better deals can be found on online deal of the day websites, like www.bookme.com.au.
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Airlie has many varied restaurants, both budget and more expensive, and a range of takeaway places with specials catering to the backpacker market.
For those foodies out there, Deja Vu at Water's Edge Resort is beautiful and Capers at the Airlie Beach Hotel is always reliable. For those on a budget, Beaches, Down Under Bar & Grill or Magnums offer good pub style meals, with some of the sailing trips offering meals there included as part of the trip cost.
For those who are their own chefs, food can be purchased at the large supermarket chain that starts with W just behind the main Airlie Beach Street or at the large supermarket chains found in the neigbouring suburb of Cannonvale. A regular Whitsunday Transit bus [http://www.whitsundaytransit.com.au/] can be taken from Airlie Beach to the Whitsunday and Centro shopping centres both in Cannonvale.
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Airlie has a great (or chaotic, depending on your view) nightlife with bars concentrated on the main road.
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Nomads Mad Card Holders receive a discount.
* right in the centre of town has many dorm beds and is connected to one of the liveliest bar in town. A normal dorm sleeps eight, has its own shower and toilet, fridge and tv. These are fairly clean, depending on your co-habitees. The cost is $24 per night, with a $10 deposit for the doorkey (don't lose it!). The bar (open to everyone) has live music every Friday and Saturday singing teeny songs to cater for the large young British and Irish contingent of visitors. Nomads Mad Card Holders receive a discount.
* Magnum's Hostel [url=http://www.magnums.com.au/]]is also on the main road and is connected to a food court, bar, club and unfortunately seedy looking joints for the pokies (slot machines for gambling). In the bar the crowd looks older the live music more alternative and rock style.
* Backpackers by the bay [url=http://www.backpackersbythebay.com/[/url]]is an excellent choice for something smaller, and is the 2004 Whitsunday Tourism award winner. There is a very good kitchen for cooking, a small pool, bar, tables and sofas on a relaxed terrace looking into the harbour (unfortunately undergoing construction at the moment for a new marina!). The staff are friendly and offer helpful advice, the dorms sleep four, are kept clean and artistically decorated. The dorms cost is $26 a night (although there may be reductions for YHA card holders). Alternatively, you can sleep in your car or van on the hostel's private parking space and pay $10 to use all the facilities. The location is not on the High street, but a five minute walk along the main road and up some steps (although the actual address is 12 Hermitage Drive). There is a bus stop just outside for the motionally challenged, or for trips back to the Proserpine airport.
* Flametree Tourist Village [url=http://www.flametreevillage.com.au/[/url]]Nestles in 7 acres of shady tropical foliage next to the Conway National Park. Just minutes in one direction to Shute Harbour, gateway to the 74 islands of the spectacular Whitsundays, and in the other to the tourist centre of Airlie Beach, with it's many shops and fine restaurants.
* Airlie Beach YHA [url=http://www.yha.com.au/hostels/details.cfm?hostelid=1[/url]]394 Shute Harbour Road +61 (0) 7 4946 63 12 Its $27.50 for a dorm room with a private bathroom and $77.50 for a double/twin room. YHA members get a 10% discount. This hostel is centrally located near the Airlie Lagoon plus lots of restaurants and cafes. Every second night they have a $10 dinner such as roast chicken, as well as movie nights, quiz nights and pool volleyball.
* Base Airlie Beach Resort [url=http://stayatbase.com/hostels/australia-hostels/base-airlie-beach-resort[/url]]336 Shute Harbour Road +61 (0) 7 4948 2000 Hostel and camping. $5 for campervan sites.
* Bushvillage Backpackers Resort [http://www.bushvillage.vom.au[/url] 2 St. Martins Road, Cannonvale, Airlie Beach +61 7 4946 6177. Cabin accommodation in tropical surroundings, some rented to families and couples, some as dorms to backpackers. Huge breakfast and tourdesk. About 2km from town centre.
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Most Hostels provide internet access (about $4 per hour). You can also check 'The Whitsunday Central Reservation Centre' at the end of main Street Airlie Beach (1$ for 30 mins; 30 mins free if you're using AI's Laundry opposite the road).
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For those with access to a car and don't mind a bit of a hike, a trip to Cedar Creek Falls is well worth it. Dingo Beach and Hideaway Bay are also within 30 minutes drive, and the quaint restaurants are a quiet break away from the younger crowd. Quad biking and horse riding are also other options for something to do in Airlie.
Airlie Beach and Shute Harbour are access points to the [wiki=cf11995e3755399019a1225d4bf126bb]Whitsunday Islands[/wiki] and cruises around them. There are many different trips for all kinds of budgets available, from day trips that only visit a few spots to longer sailing cruises.
[[Wikipedia:Airlie Beach, Queensland]]
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