# Travel >> Destinations >> South Pacific

Airlie Beach: Gateway to the Whitsundays in Tropical Queensland

Airlie Beach—a coastal town of 10,000 (swelling to 30,000 in peak season)—sits on Queensland's Coral Sea coast, the mainland gateway to the Whitsunday Islands and Great Barrier Reef.

Location & Access

Region: Whitsunday Region, Queensland, Australia
Coordinates: 20°16'S, 148°43'E
Distances: 111 km NE of Mackay; 1,535 km N of Brisbane; 650 km S of Cairns
Access: Proserpine Airport (PPP) — 25 km inland; Bruce Highway (A1); cruise ship anchorage

Natural Setting

Coastal: Fringing reef, mangroves, mudflats — no natural swimming beach (stingers/crocs)
Airlie Beach Lagoon: 4,300 m² artificial lagoon — stinger-free, lifeguarded, free, iconic
Hinterland: Conway National Park — rainforest, hiking (Whitsunday Great Walk), Conway Range

Whitsunday Gateway

74 continental islands (mostly national park), 35 km offshore. Whitehaven Beach (Hill Inlet silica sand), Hook Island reefs, Hamilton Island resort. Departures: Port of Airlie, Abell Point, Shute Harbour — ferries, catamarans, sailing charters, seaplanes, helicopters.

Tourism Economy

Backpacker hub: Hostels, bars, tour desks — "Maggie's," "The Pub," "Bamboo House"
Resorts: Peppers Airlie, Mantra, Coral Sea Marina hotels
Marine industry: 500+ charter boats; superyacht marina (Coral Sea Marina — 500 berths)
Events: Airlie Beach Race Week (Aug), Whitsunday Reef Festival (Oct), NYE fireworks

Climate & Hazards

Tropical: Wet (Nov-Apr): 25-31°C, cyclones, marine stingers (box jellyfish, Irukandji); Dry (May-Oct): 18-26°C, southeast trade winds, peak visitation
Stinger season: Nov-May — lycra suits mandatory for swimming outside lagoon
Cyclone risk: Category 4 Debbie (2017) devastated region; recovery shaped current infrastructure