Written by Callum Taylor, Camille Laurent, Marika Maslanka
25/08/2025
Ahmed Photography, Pexels
Airlie Beach is primarily served by the Whitsunday Coast Airport (Proserpine) and Hamilton Island Airport. On the mainland, the Proserpine Train Station and a central bus station in Airlie Beach facilitate regional travel, while ferry terminals at Port of Airlie and Shute Harbour offer access to the Whitsunday Islands.
By Air (Whitsunday Coast Airport - Proserpine, PPP):
Direct flights are available from major Australian cities like Brisbane, Sydney, and Melbourne. For example, one-way flights from Brisbane start from approximately AUD 57, and return flights from Sydney can be found from around AUD 217.
From Proserpine Airport, shuttle bus services to Airlie Beach take about 40 minutes and cost approximately AUD 20-25 for a one-way ticket or AUD 40-42 for a return.
Taxis cost upwards of AUD 100, and Uber services are available from around AUD 90 for a 4-person vehicle for the approximately 35-minute journey.
Car rental options are available at the airport from companies like Avis, Budget, and Hertz, with daily rates starting from approximately AUD 70-105.
By Air (Hamilton Island Airport - HTI):
Direct flights operate from cities such as Sydney (one-way from AUD 97, returns from AUD 223), Brisbane (one-way from AUD 125), and Melbourne (one-way from AUD 156).
From Hamilton Island Airport, direct ferry services to Port of Airlie take approximately 1 hour 10 minutes to 1 hour 25 minutes.
Ferry costs typically range from AUD 62 to AUD 327 for a one-way adult ticket.
By Train:
The Spirit of Queensland train service operates from Brisbane's Roma Street Station to Proserpine, with a journey duration of about 15 hours 21 minutes to 15 hours 40 minutes.
One-way economy tickets generally start from AUD 190, with Railbed options available for approximately AUD 330.
Upon arrival at Proserpine, a Railbus Coach connects to various stops in Airlie Beach.
By Bus:
Interstate bus companies like Greyhound Australia and Premier Motor Service offer direct routes from Brisbane to Airlie Beach.
The journey typically takes between 19 hours 10 minutes and 21 hours 50 minutes.
One-way tickets generally range from AUD 150 to AUD 200, with prices varying from AUD 80 to AUD 400 depending on booking time.
By Ferry (Local):
Ferries regularly connect Airlie Beach (Port of Airlie) to Hamilton Island and Daydream Island, with travel times to Hamilton Island ranging from 1 hour 10 minutes to 1 hour 25 minutes and starting from AUD 67.50 for a one-way adult ticket.
From Shute Harbour, ferry services are available to nearby islands like Daydream Island (30 minutes) and Long Island (20 minutes).
By Car:
Driving from Brisbane to Airlie Beach via the Bruce Highway is approximately 1,100 kilometres and takes about 13 hours.
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