Outdoor & Sport Activities in Airlie Beach

You will have the choice of multiple outdoor and sports activities in Airlie Beach to ensure your visit is a memorable one. This coastal area has great weather, magnificent beaches, and the Whitsunday Islands and Great Barrier Reef right on the doorstep.

This small but vibrant holiday town on the central Queensland coast is an ideal place to base yourself from when exploring the region.

Australia is well-known for its laidback outdoor lifestyle, but also for its high-adrenaline sports and activities, with Airlie Beach as an outdoor enthusiast’s paradise.

Boat Tours

Boat tours from Airlie Beach depart on a daily basis, carrying visitors to the nearby Whitsunday Islands or heading out towards the Great Barrier Reef. On a day trip or multi-day tour you are able to explore the turquoise waters of the Coral Sea and marvel at the unspoiled archipelago.

Attractions you can expect to see as you sail from Airlie Beach include Hamilton Island, Whitehaven beach and Whitsunday Island. While boat tours often head towards one of the Whitsunday Islands for some time ashore, many tours focus on water based activities like snorkeling and scuba diving.

If you would like to be active on the water rather than below it, then book a boat tour that includes kayaking or stand-up paddleboarding (SUP) for onboard guests.

On multi-day boat tours, your sailboat or catamaran will travel further afield. You will have the opportunity to spend time beneath the calm waters of the Great Barrier Reef where you will see exotic fish and a diverse marine environment. You may even spot dolphins, whales and turtles in the area.

High speed inflatable rafting tours also offer action packed days with tours from Airlie Beach to the northern and southern Whitsundays and the nearby Reef.

Snorkeling

It’s not surprising that snorkeling is one of the region’s most popular water activities. From Airlie Beach you can book a day-trip to snorkel and swim in some of the top spots around the Whitsunday Islands.

The Whitsunday Islands are fringed by coral gardens and the shallow waters provide beach access to many prime snorkeling locations.

Boat tours, scenic flights and island visits regularly include snorkeling as an additional activity. On longer tours, you might venture beyond the Whitsundays to snorkel at Bait Reef or Hardy reef – two of the closer of outer Great Barrier Reef locations.

Snorkeling equipment is provided by the tour operator, but you can bring your own gear along if you prefer.

Airplane Tours

Scenic flights are an excellent way to view the magnificence of the Whitsunday Island archipelago and Great Barrier Reef. Light aircraft depart from just outside of Airlie Beach and include sights such as Whitehaven Beach, Hill Inlet and the iconic Heart Reef.

Some airplane tours will land on Hamilton Island for some beach time. Other airplane tours take place by seaplane and in this case, you may land on the calm seas just off shore to enjoy one of the more remote beach locations.

Jet Ski

A guided high-powered jet ski tour departing from Airlie Beach is a great way to get closer to nature and have an exciting outdoor adventure. Your guide’s informative commentary will keep you entertained and there is the possibility of spotting dolphins, turtles and other marine life.

No prior jet ski experience is needed as you will have some instruction before departing Airlie Beach.

Several jet ski tours stop along the way for a poolside lunch at one of the island resort hotels.

Skydiving

Experience the ultimate adrenaline rush with a tandem skydiving experience in Airlie Beach. Leaving the aircraft from an altitude of 15,000 feet, you will freefall for up to 60 seconds before the parachute deploys and your pilot guides you safely to the ground.

From high above the area, you will have a memorable view of the stunning Whitsunday Islands.

While some tour operators land back on Airlie Beach, others touch down on the dazzling white sands of Whitehaven Beach.

Jet Boat

A 30 minute jet boat ride will give you a thrilling high speed experience around Arlie Beach’s scenic Pioneer Bay. Your boat will zip past the Coral Sea Marina and execute a few manoeuvres guaranteed to get your heart racing.

To add to the fun, you can extend your tour and add a banana boat trip. Hold tight as you are towed at high speeds behind the jet boat.

Helicopter Tours

For unparalleled views of the Whitsunday region, a scenic helicopter flight is the way to go. Departing from Airlie Beach, helicopter tours offer a bird’s eye view over the Whitsunday Islands, Airlie Beach and the Great Barrier Reef.

Several helicopter tours also land on a remote part of the spectacular Whitehaven Beach, giving you an opportunity to take a swim or simply marvel at the pristine stretch of sand.

Scuba Diving

For small groups looking to sail and scuba dive the Outer Great Barrier Reef and Whitsunday Islands, a 3 day tour is ideal. As you head out from Airlie Beach, you will have time to sightsee at some of the Whitsunday Island’s top attractions.

Several sites off Hook Island provide the perfect conditions for first time divers, and non-divers can also snorkel to appreciate the beautiful corals and diverse marine life. For more experienced divers, Bait Reef is situated 2-3 hours beyond the Whitsunday’s and the natural lagoon is ideal for mooring.

Whale Watching

Whale watching is a seasonal activity in and around Airlie Beach. Humpback Whales visit the warm Coral Sea waters every winter to calve and breed. During the migration season, Dwarf minke Whales are sometime also spotted passing through the region.

During whale season most outdoor activity operators will remind you to keep your eyes open for these gentle marine mammals.

Bike Tours

Tours of Airlie Beach by trike motorcycle can be customized to suit your interests. Up to two passengers can join the driver-guide for a cruise around Airlie Beach and the surrounding areas. Popular attractions include Shute Harbor, Conway National Park and Hydeaway Bay Beach.

The great think about a trike tour is that you can stop at all of the lookout points on the route and enjoy the incredible views of the bay and beyond.