Airlie Beach

Sand, Sea & Sailing.
Coming off the Bruce Highway 22k to go, winding through rain forest we entered the port of Airlie Beach. Wow what a cool place bars, cafes, restaurants, backpacking hostels this place seems to have it all!!!

Found the Hostel on the end of the main street after a 5 hour drive its situated next to Dominos Pizza. First impressions town of Airlie Beach is set up to cater for tourists, mainly backpackers focussing on Whitsunday and Great Barrier Reef trips either by super sonic jet boats or gentle sailing boats, old fashioned schooners and modern air conditioned catamaran.

YHA Front Entrance

After the quiet of Mission beach thank god there are more choices of place to eat and get a cold beer!!!!
There were streets full of people laughing and having a good time.

We walked the high street, checking out the prices of meals and choice of menus, we eventually decided on a place called "Down Under" bar which was having a good deal for a meal and beer/wine included in the one price of $13.00 each. Music and Videos playing everywhere around the bar, daily events happening, including a pole dancing nite!!! While having our meal I noticed (jeannette) that there was a GIANT jenga in the corner for anyone to play, and  pool tables were free.
The night club vibrated till 2am. As OUR room was next to the night, boy did they have an effect on us.

We found a local "Coffee Club" within a new marina complex, which looks like they are struggling to fill the shop units as the coffee place was the only one there. Impressions is no demand for the volume of building in the area.

Mark walked the legs off me again and we ended up at the Airlie Beach main Marina. sat looking at all the very expensive boats...if only..!!! Decided if we cant own one then we would certainly go sailing on one...time to decided which one!!!!!

Sailing Whitsundays


We chose the Camira catamaran, proper sailing, unfortunately so did 35 American students.
Are we in  for an interesting day, lucky for us all they wanted to do was strip off and sunbathe, one girl stating that she was not going to wear sunscreen as she wanted a tan!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Boy was she burnt,
After 30 minutes sailing we stopped at "Daydream Island" to pick up some more passengers who had the days sailing as part of their package.
This is an all days sailing trip that included snorkeling in one of the bays of another island sail to whitehaven beach, which is pure white silica(not sand).

Drunk students playing rugby on
 whitehaven  beach

To get to the island we all had to get into the dingy, then jump out of it and wade to the shore, knee deep in water, If you think getting out was bad try getting back in it, not at all dignified, more like landing a fish, tummy first leg over side and then thud!!! your back in, then having to watch everyone else as the dingy fills up with people.
Also we had a brilliant BBQ, steak, sausages, fish and lots of salad, rolls, beer and wine help yourself.
Which the American students did in vast quantities as if they had never seen beer and wine before.

Interesting day learnt a lot about the whitsundays, captain cook, Hamilton Island playground for the rich and famous, including it's own airport.
We recommend a days sailing if you did't want to do the 2/3night trips, if you book through the YHA you will get a good deal.








Airlie beach I would come back here again it has something for all.