Airlie Beach is small, but its tours leave from half a dozen places: three marinas, an airfield and a bus stop. Coral Sea Marina alone has five meeting points. Here is where each one is, who meets there, and how to find your Whitsundays tours from Airlie Beach on the morning.
The town faces Pioneer Bay on the Whitsunday coast, with Conway National Park on the hills behind it and the islands to the east. Shute Harbour Road runs through the centre, past the lagoon, and carries on east to Shute Harbour. Whitsunday Airport is on the same road, at Flametree.
Coral Sea Marina and the Port of Airlie are both in town, within reach on foot or by the operators' buses. Shute Harbour is 10 km further on, so allow for the drive or take the operator's bus.
Coral Sea Marina, on Shingley Drive, carries most of the departures, and each operator uses its own meeting point. Go to the wrong one and you can miss the boat, so check your confirmation the night before.
| Meeting point | Where exactly | Who meets there |
|---|---|---|
| Meeting Point B | The north end, by the roundabout | Red Cat, Big Fury, Tongarra (the red desk) and Wings III (check in 8:50am) |
| Northern Village | Next to Sorrento's Restaurant, 1-3 Shingley Drive | Ocean Rafting's raft day |
| Meeting Point D | The Northern Village | ZigZag, 8:20am |
| Meeting Point C | The southern end, under the white umbrellas | Prosail (1:30pm) and OzSail's two-night boats (10:30am or 11am) |
| South Village | Airlie Adventure Central, 38 Shingley Drive; berth N00 | The jet ski; the jet boat at Airlie Boat Hire |
Coral Sea Marina used to be called Abell Point Marina, and the jet boat and Segway listings still use that name, so an older map may too.
The Port of Airlie is the town's other marina. Camira leaves from the Cruise Whitsundays Maritime Terminal at 24 The Cove Road, where you check in 30 minutes before. The sunset sail meets at La Marina Italian Restaurant & Bar, 1/33 Port Drive, and the skipper walks you down to the yacht Domino.
Public ferries to Hamilton Island and Daydream Island also leave from here.
Shute Harbour is 10 km past the town, at 296 Whitsunday Drive. Tourism Whitsundays lists the terminal as open 7am to 5pm, with a car park, public toilets and nine tourism operators. Red Cat's full-day cruise to Whitehaven Beach meets at the SeaLink counter inside, or picks you up by bus in town.
The ferries to Daydream Island, Hamilton Island and the Long Island resorts leave from here too, and some cruise ships land their passengers here.
Whitsunday Airport, at 12 Air Whitsunday Road, is where every flight tour takes off. Fly Australia asks you there 30 minutes before, Ocean Rafting's scenic flight 45 minutes before, and the helicopter 15 minutes before, at the main terminal. Parking at the airfield is free, and the flight operators run courtesy buses from town.
It is not the airline airport. That is Whitsunday Coast Airport at Proserpine, about 40 minutes away; see how to get there.
The Cedar Creek bus leaves from the Blue Bus stops behind the Deck cafe, at 275 Shute Harbour Road, beside the Airlie Beach Lagoon. The jet ski, the Segway tour, the hinterland bus and the Dingo Beach day collect you from your room instead.
| Departure point | Address | Who leaves from there |
|---|---|---|
| Port of Airlie | Cruise Whitsundays terminal, 24 The Cove Road; La Marina, 1/33 Port Drive | Camira; the sunset sail |
| Shute Harbour | Marine terminal, 296 Whitsunday Drive | Red Cat's full day, from the SeaLink counter; island ferries |
| Whitsunday Airport | 12 Air Whitsunday Road, Flametree | Both scenic flights, the helicopter and the fly-raft package |
| Airlie Beach Lagoon | The bus stops behind the Deck cafe, 275 Shute Harbour Road | The Cedar Creek bus |
| Hamilton Island Marina | G Arm | Both private charters; also Daydream Island and Long Island |
Both private charters can also board off the mainland: at Hamilton Island Marina, on Daydream Island, or at Palm Bay Resort on Long Island, and one adds Elysian Retreat.
The road tours head into the hills and along the coast. Cedar Creek Falls is about 30 minutes from town, on Cedar Creek Falls Road at Palm Grove, 20 km from Proserpine. The hinterland bus adds a coffee plantation and 15 minutes at Conway Beach.
The Dingo Beach day gives you an hour at Dingo Beach, 30 minutes at Hydeaway Bay and 3 hours at Cape Gloucester.
Airlie Beach, Queensland
The
town, its marinas, Shute Harbour and Whitsunday Airport
The map loads from Google only when you press the button. The town sits on Pioneer Bay, with Shute Harbour to the east along the coast road and the islands offshore.
The distances, the terminal and the road are Tourism Whitsundays' and Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service's own, checked 21 September 2026. Every meeting point, address and check-in time is from the operator's own description of its tour.
Seven hours by road to two beaches and a cape, with three hours at the cape and a 9am pickup in town. Snacks and water refills are in the fare; lunch at a beachfront resort is at your own cost, and the group stays at ten or fewer.
From $112 per person
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A private boat and skipper for up to eight, for six or eight hours on a route you choose, starting from the mainland or an island resort. Snorkel gear and water are aboard; catering is extra, and the fare is non-refundable.
From $2,793 per group (up to 8)
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Ten hours under sail on a big catamaran, with lunch and drinks in the fare, about three hours at the northern end of the beach and a reef snorkel. The lookout walk depends on the tide; cancel three days out.
From $187 per person
Check AvailabilityNext: plan the trip in on how to get there, see what the day is like on what to expect, or compare every tour on Airlie Beach Tours.