There's a good reason why Airlie Beach is referred to as the "Heart of the Reef." The Great Barrier Reef, which is recognized as a World Heritage Site, and the picturesque Whitsunday Islands are accessible from this laid-back vacation town on Queensland's tropical Whitsunday Coast.

Ocean activities are among the most popular things to do in Airlie Beach, which is not unexpected. You can go on an island-hopping tour, dive or snorkel among the coral reefs, take a dip at gorgeous Whitehaven Beach, or go fishing in the crystal-clear waters. Even sleeping is permitted at the Great Barrier Reef. The Whitsunday Islands also provide some of the Southern Hemisphere's best sailing.

Whether you're camping with your friends or your family, you'll find enough to do on land in this area. Take a stroll along the Bicentennial Walkway, swim in the lagoon at Airlie Beach, chow down on fresh seafood at outdoor eateries, or trek the Conway Circuit. With this list of the greatest things to do in Airlie Beach, pick your activities.

1. Swim in the lagoon at Airlie Beach

Airlie Beach Lagoon's primary attractions are palm palms, shimmering aqua water, and sandy shoreline, which might not sound like the perfect beach day. This waterfront pool is the ideal place to cool off when the temperature rises.

Kids can play on the sand beach and splash about in the kiddie pool. Adults can stretch out among the beautiful gardens on the grassy knolls, wrap up with a nice book in hand, and take in the azure Coral Sea. It's also among the top locations in Airlie Beach for a picnic with the family. The best part is that this well-liked tourist destination is free.

After a refreshing swim, you can enjoy a leisurely stroll along this area's waterfront's Bicentennial Walkway. The beach is just a few steps away if you'd prefer to swim in the ocean.

Location: Queensland's Airlie Beach, Shute Harbor Road

2. Take a stroll along the 200th Anniversary Walkway

Start your Airlie Beach sightseeing trip with a leisurely stroll along the Bicentennial Walkway. Over five kilometers long, this picturesque route winds along Airlie Beach's beachfront all the way to Cannondale Beach.

Enjoy the picturesque Whitsunday Islands and the Coral Sea along the route. If you look offshore, you'll find these low-slung green beauties peering seductively from the blue sea, which is encircled by reefs that are teeming with fish.

Visit a famous eatery like The Deck Airlie Beach for a coffee or an outdoor seafood feast. Consider taking a rest in a protected cove or cooling off at Airlie Beach Lagoon.

with children? No issue. The trail is level, well-marked, and simple to follow. Additionally, it is handicap and stroller friendly.

This is the ideal location for a stroll at sunset if you're seeking for things to do in Airlie Beach with your significant other. Additionally, Pinnacles Resort, which is nearby and has hot tubs on ocean-view decks with stunning views of the water, is a great option for a romantic location to stay in Airlie Beach.

3. Travel the Whitsunday Islands via boat or cruise.

Among the most well-liked activities in the Whitsundays are sailing excursions from Airlie Beach. In fact, the Southern Hemisphere's best sailing waters may be found in the Whitsunday Islands. These verdant gems, which are protected by the Great Barrier Reef and are near to land, have reasonably calm waters that are simple to sail, even for inexperienced skippers.

One of the most well-liked methods of discovering the best Whitsunday Islands is through bareboat charters. To do this, you must hire a yacht, motor cruiser, or catamaran and captain it yourself. The best part is that sailing around the Whitsundays doesn't require any prior sailing expertise or even a boat license. A half-day in-depth lesson and all-day assistance are standard for bareboat charters.

The two starting sites for bareboating excursions are Airlie Beach and Shute Harbor, and numerous businesses provide a variety of boats. Popular choices include Whitsunday Rent A Yacht, Sun sail: Whitsundays, and Whitsunday Escape.

Skipper and boat: Do you still lack confidence? Not to worry. If you need more assistance, you can lease a boat with a skipper and even add a sailing instructor.

Tours: The Camia Whitsunday Islands Sailing Adventure is a good option if you only want a day excursion to experience a little bit of sailing around the islands. This 10-hour excursion takes you on an island-hopping cruise to Whitsunday Island's breathtaking Whitehaven Beach. Here, you can take a guided hike to the overlook at Hill Inlet and end the day with a snorkeling stop at the reef.

Feel like moving quickly? A Whitsundays Guided Jet Ski tour of the islands can be booked. All skill levels, from novice to expert, can participate in this 2.5-hour guided small-group tour.

4. Visit Whitehaven Beach on Whitsunday Island for the day.

One of the most popular cruises from Airlie Beach is to Whitsunday Island's Whitehaven Beach. Visitors from all over the world travel to witness this gorgeous swirl of sand and sea, and they photograph it from several viewing points atop Hill Inlet.

You'll understand why Whitehaven Beach routinely appears on lists of Australia's best beaches after you see it. This seven-kilometer arc of sand is made mostly of silky-soft silica. The turquoise lake, bright sky, and lush green headlands provide a striking contrast with the pure white and powdered soft sand that glitters along the shore.

This uninhabited island has no development, which is one of its appeals. The beach is protected by Whitsunday National Park, which helps to maintain it relatively pristine despite the large numbers of tourists from across the world who visit each day. Tongue Bay is where most day trips arrive.

Tours: There are a number of tour alternatives available when it comes to making a reservation. These include an Ocean Rafting tour, a sailing excursion, and a fast catamaran cruise with Red Cat Adventures. Although some businesses provide half-day tours, the majority of tours are full-day excursions.

The Whitehaven Beach and Hill Inlet Lookout Full-Day Snorkeling Cruise by High-Speed Catamaran is one of the most well-liked excursions. A trek to the lookouts overlooking Hill Inlet, a swim at Whitehaven Beach, and snorkeling stops along the reef on the way back are all included in this all-day tour to Whitsunday Island. A complete buffet lunch, professional guides, and snorkelling gear are also provided.

You can also visit Hamilton Island, which has some of the nicest resorts in the Whitsundays, after stopping at Whitehaven.

No time to go on a cruise? Take off in a seaplane and fly over the patterned ocean floor.

5. Go diving or snorkeling in the Great Barrier Reef

The greatest way to experience the astonishing variety of marine life on the UNESCO-listed Great Barrier Reef is to snorkel or dive over its vibrant coral gardens.

One of the richest ecosystems on the planet is this one. The reef supports a variety of diverse marine life, including sea snakes, turtles, whales, dolphins, sharks, rays, dugongs, and gigantic clams, in addition to more than 1,625 fish species and 1,400 varieties of coral.

You can arrange day trips from Airlie Beach that take you diving or snorkeling.

The Great Barrier Reef Day Cruise to Reefworld offered by Cruise Whitsundays is one of the best excursions. This all-day excursion takes you three hours offshore to a pontoon where you can spend the day diving along the walls, snorkeling the vibrant reefs, and watching some of the marine life from the underwater observatory.

My trip to the Whitsundays unfortunately got cancelled due to strong winds so I spent the day exploring Airlie Beach. It didn’t seem like there were many activities to do in town but I found some lovely views on a walk along the coastline 😍 pic.twitter.com/MGWOHJO4U0

— Alli • Onwards & Upwards (@ExpatAlli) June 9, 2019

All of your snorkeling and scuba diving equipment, morning and afternoon tea, a full buffet lunch, and presentations by coral experts are all included in your Great Barrier Reef tour. Dives and guided snorkelling are extra.

Divers who are experienced may choose to go on a liveaboard dive tour, which gives them the ability to explore less-traveled outlying reefs. The 3-Day Whitsundays Sailing and Diving Adventure, which includes meals, activities, and professional guides, is particularly well-liked.

Rather stay dry? You still have many of options, so don't panic. Aside from the underwater observatory, other ways to see the reef include dedicated glass-bottom boat cruises and picturesque flights.

6. Utilize Reflip to snooze at the Great Barrier Reef.

Imagine yourself lying in a comfortable bed beneath a blanket of zillions of stars, listening to the splash of fish on the coral reef below you. You are not a ship. Instead, you're afloat three hours offshore on a pontoon. This is one of the most unusual things to do at the Great Barrier Reef and is actually possible on a two-day Reflip adventure.

With Cruise Whitsundays, you can begin your vacation with a high-speed cat cruise out to the reef. Before checking into your double "luxury swags" on the pontoon overlooking the reef-dappled seas at Reefworld, you'll have some opportunity to snorkel or dive the reef.

Visit the underwater observatory to observe the fish swimming past, sign up for a dive, go on a guided snorkeling trip, ride in the semi-submersible, or search for turtles swimming in the crystal-clear water.

The best benefit? You get the entire reef to snorkel all day and the following morning after the day-trippers depart on the boat.

Choose the Reef Suite experience if you want a more secluded overnight stay at a reef. Enter this underwater room from the pontoon and drift off to sleep while gazing out the huge picture window at the swimming fish. It's an encounter you won't soon forget.

7.  Aerial view of Heart Reef

The Great Barrier Reef was created by Mother Nature in a most stunning way. And you'll love this natural marvel even more when you see Heart Reef from the air. One of the richest ecosystems on the planet is made clear by its sheer size as you soar over the glittering coral gardens. Heart Reef is indeed formed like a heart.

Whitehaven Beach, Hill Inlet, Daydream Island, and the stunning Heart Reef are all visible from the air on the 60-minute Reef and Island Scenic Flight from Airlie Beach. The pilot will provide amusing commentary during the flight, and a window seat is a given. From the pontoon, you may also arrange for a helicopter flight over the reef.

You intend to propose, right? One of the most romantic activities at Airlie Beach is this.

8. Travel around Conway by bicycle or on foot

The greatest way to appreciate the lush environment on land is to hike or bike the Conway Circuit. Rainforest excursions are the ideal complement to reef adventures.

This 28-kilometer one-way trek winds around the mountain ranges in Conway National Park and was formerly known as the Whitsunday Great Walk. You will traverse rocky cliffs and stroll through dense rainforest as you make your way to the Whitsunday Passage, which will compete for your attention with its stunning sights.

It takes three days to complete the Conway Circuit by walking and sleeping out. Those who are physically fit and experienced riders can also ride the trail on a mountain bike, which takes about four hours.

The 2.2-kilometer Kingfisher Walk is one of the park's shorter routes that you can use if you're pressed for time.

9. Falls of Cedar Creek

Visit Cedar Creek Falls if you want a waterfall experience along with your dose of nature. When the falls are flowing at their fullest during the wet season, it's a stunning location to explore.

Spend the day here with a picnic, a swimsuit, and some mosquito repellent. While you're here, you can swim in the pool in the rainforest. In this cold, dark forest, you can find wild orchids, white cedar trees, butterflies, lizards, fish, turtles, and many different kinds of birds.

On Saltwater Creek Road, Cedar Creek Falls is located about midway between Airlie Beach and Proserpine. It's a short walk from the parking lot, and if you want a more strenuous workout, you can go up around the falls.

10. Purchase goods at the Whitsunday Lions Markets on Airlie Beach

On a bright morning, strolling down the beachfront and perusing the market stalls is a great way to experience the spirit of Airlie Beach. Every Saturday from 7 am to 1 pm along the foreshore of Airlie Beach, you may do that at the Whitsunday Lions Airlie Beach Community Markets.

You can purchase colorful apparel, crystals, candles, jewelry, baked goods from home, and souvenirs here. Additionally, you can fill up on delectable goodies at the food stands. Try some mango sorbet.

Come here to satisfy your need for coffee, too. It is best to arrive early in order to secure a parking space.

11. On Boat haven Beach, unwind.

Boat haven Beach is the ideal place to spend a sunny day due to its soft sands and tranquil waves. This charming tiny stretch of sand is located on The Beacons peninsula, about a 10-minute walk from the town's center.

If you visit on a bright day, you might find families enjoying the sun and staring out across the blue water where boats bob just offshore, as well as travelers from all over the world picnicking on the shore and children making sandcastles.

The major activities around here are swimming and tanning, and if your stomach starts to growl, simply cross the street to the marina for some food.

12. Relax in Hideaway Bay

A secret gem is Hideaway Bay. It's the ideal location for a family weekend getaway, located around 50 kilometers from Airlie Beach.

Whatever you prefer to do, there is something for the whole family here. Swim in the clear shallow water, dig your toes into the flour-soft sand, relax beneath a palm tree, look for shells, or cast a fishing line. In the clear water, you could even be able to see a dugong, dolphin, whale, or turtle if you're lucky.

Bring a boat, please. At Dingo Beach, you can launch it, or if you don't have a boat of your own, you can also hire one. The ideal place to find calm is Hideaway Bay.

Take the Gregory-Cannon Valley Road to Dingo Beach Road, then turn left onto Hydeaway Bay Drive to reach this location. Five separate public entry sites are available.

13. Go fishing 

For die-hard fisherman, Airlie Beach is paradise. The waters here are home to numerous sought-after species and are dotted with coral reefs and mangroves.

You may cast from the beaches for queenfish, barramundi, bream, golden trevally, mangrove jack, and fingermark or fish the estuaries for queenfish, barramundi, grunter, and threadfin salmon.

It's also common to go boat fishing at great depths. Casting among the islands and coral reefs will allow you to catch anything from Spanish mackerel and tuna to coral trout, golden and gigantic trevally, and snapper.

The rockfalls of Airlie Beach are excellent fishing locations. For grunter, whiting, coral trout, and mangrove jack, go to the sailing club or Port of Airlie. Trevally, mack tuna, northern bluefin, mangrove jack, and barramundi can be caught off the jetty in Shute Harbour.

Additionally profitable is freshwater fishing in Airlie Beach, where you can catch large barramundi in Peter Faust Dam.

Insider's knowledge: Craving a meal of fresh fish? A lot of nearby resorts will prepare your catch.

14. Take in the Views as You Hike to Honeyeater Lookout

Where can I get breathtaking Airlie Beach views? to Honeyeater Lookout by hiking up. This 8.2-kilometer round-trip course is regarded as moderately difficult, and the steep uphill sections will give you quite a workout. But if you persevere, the stunning views of Airlie Beach and the Whitsunday Islands will be your reward at the end.

Start your trip from Airlie Beach's Kara Crescent track entry, then hike 2.3 kilometres along the Conway circle to the Honeyeater overlook turn-off. You will need roughly three hours to complete the hike. Plan on riding a mountain bike for roughly 1.5 hours.

It's always a good idea to begin your journey early in the morning in this tropical climate to avoid the heat. On this rocky trek, you should take plenty of water and wear sturdy shoes.

You must leave your dog at home because dogs are not permitted on the route.