Airlie Beach Airport: Does It Exist?

Airlie Beach is a popular tourist destination in Queensland, Australia, known as the Gateway to the Whitsundays. The closest airport to Airlie Beach is Hamilton Island Airport, which is 16.1 miles away. However, there are two airports that service the Whitsundays region: Whitsunday Coast Airport (Proserpine) and Great Barrier Reef Airport (Hamilton Island). Whitsunday Coast Airport is just a 30-minute drive from Airlie Beach, while Great Barrier Reef Airport offers a scenic ferry ride through the islands to reach the town.

Nearest airports to Airlie Beach

Airlie Beach is a popular tourist destination in the Whitsundays, Australia. The closest airport to Airlie Beach is Hamilton Island Airport (HTI), which is 16.1 miles away. However, as this airport is located on an island, you will need to take a ferry to reach the mainland. Therefore, the best airport to fly into if you want to visit Airlie Beach is Proserpine Airport (PPP), located just 26 kilometres southwest of Airlie Beach.

Proserpine Airport has direct flights from major cities such as Brisbane, Sydney, and Melbourne. Airlines that fly into Proserpine Airport include Jetstar, Virgin, Qantas, and Bonza. The journey from the airport to Airlie Beach will take around 40 minutes, and shuttle services can be pre-booked to take you directly to your accommodation.

Other nearby airports include Mackay Airport (MKY), which is 69.8 miles from Airlie Beach. Mackay Airport services most Australian cities and is located 150km south of Airlie Beach.

Travel time from airports to Airlie Beach

Airlie Beach does not have its own airport, but there are two nearby airports that you can fly into. The closest airport to Airlie Beach is Hamilton Island Airport (HTI), which is 16.1 miles or 26 kilometres away. The other airport is Proserpine Airport (PPP), also known as Whitsunday Coastal Airport, which is located 18.7 miles or 26-27 kilometres southwest of Airlie Beach.

Travel time from Hamilton Island Airport to Airlie Beach

It takes about an hour to get from Airlie Beach to Hamilton Island Airport. The fastest way to get there is by taking a ferry to Shute Harbour's line 860 bus, which costs about $62-$64 AUD.

Travel time from Proserpine Airport to Airlie Beach

The travel time from Proserpine Airport to Airlie Beach is around 30-40 minutes. Shuttle services, limousines, and taxis are available to transport passengers from the airport to their accommodation in Airlie Beach. These services need to be pre-booked.

Airlie Beach transport options

Airlie Beach is a popular destination for travellers to the Whitsunday Islands, and there are many transport options for getting there and getting around.

Airlie Beach Airports

The closest airport to Airlie Beach is Hamilton Island Airport, which is 16.1 miles away. However, there is no public bus from Hamilton Island Airport to Airlie Beach. Instead, you can take a ferry and bus from the airport to reach Airlie Beach in around an hour.

The Whitsunday Coast Airport, or Proserpine Airport (PPP), is the closest airport to Airlie Beach that you can reach by road. It is located just 26 kilometres southwest of Airlie Beach and offers direct flights from major cities such as Brisbane, Sydney, and Melbourne. It is a 30-40 minute drive from the airport to Airlie Beach, and shuttle services are available.

Getting Around Airlie Beach

Once you're in Airlie Beach, there are several transport options to choose from:

• Rental cars are available from companies like Hertz, Avis, and Eurocar. Airlie Beach is a 30-minute drive from Whitsunday Coast Airport, and car rental counters are located opposite baggage collection.
• Taxis are readily available in Airlie Beach, with two taxi ranks along Main Street. You can also book taxis using the 13cabs app or by calling 13 22 27.
• Buses are a convenient and affordable option for getting around Airlie Beach. The Whitsunday Transit bus service connects Airlie Beach Central with Proserpine, Cannonvale, and Shute Harbour. Buses are air-conditioned and comfortable, but tickets can only be purchased on the bus with cash.
• Bicycles can be rented from pick-up points near the main beach and in the heart of Airlie Beach.
• E-scooters are available for rent along Main Street and near the Airlie Beach Lagoon.
• Walking is also an option, as Airlie Beach is a walkable town with a boardwalk and Bicentennial Walkway connecting Coral Sea Marina to Airlie Beach Lagoon. However, if you are staying in nearby suburbs like Cannonvale, it is a 30-minute walk to Airlie Beach.

Transport to Nearby Attractions

In addition to local transport, there are several options for getting to nearby attractions:

• Shute Harbour Ferries connect Airlie Beach to the Whitsunday Islands.
• Airlie Beach Private Charter Boats depart from the Airlie Beach Marina and are ideal for groups exploring the Whitsunday Islands and the Great Barrier Reef.
• Airlie Beach Transfers and Tours offer shuttle services to and from the Whitsunday Coast Airport and Hamilton Island Airport.
• Tours to nearby attractions like Whitehaven Beach often include transfers to and from your accommodation in Airlie Beach.

With so many transport options available, getting to and around Airlie Beach is easy and convenient.

Whitsunday Airport

Airlie Beach is served by Whitsunday Airport, also known as Whitsunday Regional Council Airport, Whitsunday Coast Airport, or Proserpine Airport (PPP). The airport is located in Gunyarra, Queensland, Australia, 14 kilometres (8.7 miles) south of Proserpine and 26 kilometres southwest of Airlie Beach. It is the closest airport to Airlie Beach and the main gateway to the Whitsunday Islands.

The airport features a 1,410-metre asphalt runway with a dual taxiway and full services of Avgas and Jet A1. It also has ample parking for visiting aircraft. Whitsunday Airport is privately owned by the Armstrong family, who are well-known in the aviation community and own two helicopters.

In addition to Whitsunday Airport, travellers to Airlie Beach can also use nearby airports such as Hamilton Island (HTI) Airport, which is 16.1 miles away, or Mackay (MKY) Airport, located 150 kilometres south and serving most Australian cities.

Whitsunday Coast Airport

Airlie Beach, known as the Gateway to the Whitsundays, is a popular tourist destination. The closest airport to Airlie Beach is Hamilton Island (HTI) Airport, which is 16.1 miles away. However, those visiting Airlie Beach often choose to fly into Whitsunday Coast Airport (Proserpine), which is just a 30-40 minute drive away.

If you are travelling by road, the Whitsundays are easily accessible by the Bruce Highway, which is the major road linking Queensland's coastal cities and towns from Brisbane to Cairns. Airlie Beach is located approximately 20 minutes off the Bruce Highway from Proserpine along Shute Harbour Road. Several hire car companies operate in the area, including Eurocar, Hertz, and Avis.

For those travelling by rail, Queensland Rail services to the Proserpine Station on the Whitsunday Coast include the Tilt Train and The Sunlander. Coach transfers between Proserpine and Airlie Beach are included in rail travel passes.

Frequently asked questions