Known as the gateway to the Whitsundays, Airlie Beach has something for everyone: take a day trip with the kids to Australia’s most beautiful beach, snorkel the Great Barrier Reef and dine at family-friendly restaurants with pools and playgrounds.
As one of Queensland’s best holiday destinations, a trip to The Whitsundays guarantees plenty of fun in the sun. If you’re planning a trip to this stunning region, you don’t need to book a pricey island resort — Airlie Beach is our pick for the perfect North Queensland family getaway.
In this destination guide, we’ve rounded up the very best Airlie Beach has to offer. From the best family accommodation to ten must-do activities for kids (and the best ways to experience the Great Barrier Reef), here’s everything you need to know for a flawless trip.
14 best things to do in Airlie Beach with kids
If you’re planning a family escape to Airlie Beach, there’s no shortage of amazing things to see and do! Here are some of the best activities to add to your itinerary:
1. Take a day trip to Australia's most beautiful beach
Be sure to take a day trip to Whitehaven Beach, which regularly ranks on lists of the world’s best beaches, on Whitsunday Island — the largest of the 74 islands in the group. The easiest way to get there is by booking a day or half-day tour which includes boat transfers.
If you’ve got older kids, embark on the 1.3-kilometre return hike to Hill Inlet Lookout to take in the views of the swirling sands at the northern end of the beach. The track starts at Tongue Point on Whitsunday Island and there’s interpretive signage about the area’s Indigenous history along the way.
2. Swim in the stinger-free Airlie Beach Lagoon
Back on the mainland, the man-made Airlie Beach Lagoon provides a stinger-free place to swim year-round. Spanning over 4,000 square metres, there are three lagoon pools in total, including a shady wading pool for tots and a kids’ pool. Surrounded by grass with an adjoining playground, it has a sandy beach ideal for younger kids and barbecue facilities.
Airlie Beach Lagoon is not only 100% free to swim at, but is also patrolled by lifeguards between 5:30 am and 7 pm in winter (and until 9 pm during the summer). The water isn’t heated, but never fear — the warm North Queensland sun keeps the water temperature balmy, even in winter.
3. Explore the Whitsunday Islands by sea kayak
Half day, full day or six-day expeditions with Salty Dog Sea Kayaking are a great way to explore the Whitsunday Islands. The emphasis is on combining fun with paddle power, plus the chance to trek some of the lesser-known islands. You can also You can also hire kayaks and stand-up paddleboards for the whole family and forge your own path through North Queensland’s balmy waters.
4. Take a teen-friendly Segway tour through the rainforest
Families with children 12 years and older can also do a segway tour along the Whitsunday Bicentennial Boardwalk, passing attractions such as Coral Sea Marina en route to Cannonvale Beach. Alternatively, ride through the rainforest at Conway National Park.
5. Follow the Ngaro Sea Trail with an Indigenous guide
To discover the Indigenous heart of the Whitsundays, explore the Ngaro Sea Trail with a direct descendent of the Ngaro people. Whitsunday Paradise Explorer’s Indigenous Cultural Tours visit significant sites at South Molle, Whitsunday and Hook Islands and walks the trail of the Ngaro People who lived on the land for more 9,000 years.
6. Take a dip in the swimming hole at Cedar Creek Falls
The natural beauty of The Whitsundays doesn’t stop at the reef and islands. Around a 30-minute drive away, the spectacular Cedar Creek Falls is a refreshing place to take a dip. The cascading falls and beautiful swimming hole can be found in the lush Conway National Park, and it’s the perfect place for families to stop for a swim (away from sharks and stingers!). It’s a quick and easy drive from Airlie Beach for a day trip, or you can book a waterfall tour for easy transfers to and from Cedar Creek Falls.
7. Tackle the Conway National Park's best bushwalks
Families who love to hike will want to take on the Conway Circuit Walk (previously known as the Whitsundays Great Walk). The full 27km walk through the magnificent tropical rainforest of the Conway Ranges takes three days and two overnight camps.
Not keen on an extended tramp through the tropics? Get a smaller dose of rainforest air on the 1.2km Coastal Fringe Circuit, which starts from the Conway National Park day-use area.
8. Go croc-spotting on a Proserpine River safari
This is not your average cruise – it’s a chance to see North Queensland’s crocs in the wild along with other native animals in their natural habitat on Proserpine River. Jump on board an open wagon train and then cruise the estuaries and wetlands looking for “Boofhead” and his pre-historic estuarine mates on a Whitsunday Crocodile Safari. The full-day tour includes a barbecue lunch washed down by Billy Tea and fresh cooked damper.
9. Enjoy the Saturday Airlie Beach markets and foreshore
Start your Saturday in the Whitsundays with a leisurely wander through the Airlie Beach Markets for face-painting, food and great bargains. They’re held every week and there are extra weekday markets whenever a cruise ship docks (so check the schedule here). Kids can burn off energy on the nearby adventure playground and explore the picturesque Airlie Beach foreshore.
10. Spend a fun-filled day in tropical Bowen
Soak up the laid-back lifestyle of beautiful Bowen, a charming coastal town just a 45-minute drive from Airlie Beach. In addition to palm-lined beaches that are safe for swimming, it’s home to a free water park where the kids can run loose and a Big Mango that’s just asking for a family selfie. Mullers Lagoon is another great spot to take the kids and explore hectares of parkland, gardens and wetlands habitat.
11. Experience a heart-racing Coral Sea jet ski safari
Operating from Coral Sea Marina and Airlie Beach, Whitsunday Jet Ski Tours offers thrilling jet-ski safaris for drivers over 16 and passengers over eight. You may just bump into dugongs, dolphins, turtles and whales as you ride the latest Sea-Doo jet ski through some of the most beautiful waterways and beaches in the area.
12. Go snorkelling on the Great Barrier Reef
Of course, there’s one final must-do on any Whitsundays holiday: snorkelling the Great Barrier Reef. Reefworld is a permanently moored pontoon on one of its most beautiful stretches, Hardy Reef, and an ideal spot for fun and safe family snorkelling excursions.
Head out with Cruise Whitsundays for a family guided snorkelling safari, complete with flotation devices and kid-sized equipment. It’s just right for first-timers, as well as families who want a fun dose of marine education on the side.
13. Head out to Hamilton Island for a day trip
You’ve undoubtedly heard the name, and now you can experience the Whitsundays’ largest island resort. A Hamilton Island day trip is a fun (and cost-effective) way to experience the magic while basing yourself on the mainland at Airlie Beach.
After a scenic cruise through the islands, you can cuddle a koala at the Wildlife Park, ride one of the famous buggies and test your skills at nine-pin bowling before feasting on fish and chips overlooking the marina.
14. Reel in a barramundi at Lake Proserpine
Barramundi might be on the menu after a day of fishing at Lake Proserpine, officially known as the Peter Faust Dam. Located 20km inland from Proserpine, it’s a popular spot for anglers and water sports. The lake is especially notorious for giant barra – some have reportedly been over 120cm in length! Better yet, there’s no designated season here, so anyone with a SIPS permit can cast a line year-round.
Where to stay in Airlie Beach with kids
BIG4 Adventure Whitsunday Resort is about as family-friendly as it gets, with an epic water park, a large lagoon-style pool, and its own animal park.
Just five minutes’ drive out of town, it also offers an adventure playground, mini-golf course, pedal karts, a tennis court, an outdoor cinema and a kids’ club with activities such as arts and crafts and scavenger hunts. There’s also a poolside massage pavilion, as well as a spa and beauty centre just next door offering a range of treatments.
One of the park’s standout features is the Reilly Room – an autism sensory room for kids on the spectrum that comes complete with a large, free-standing hammock, weighted blankets and cushions, a sensory toy box and kinetic sand.
Accommodation options include powered campsites for tents and caravans (with or without ensuites), cabins, one and two-bedroom villas, cottages, and modern three-bedroom condos that sleep up to eight people.
The best kid-friendly restaurants in Airlie Beach
After a day of fun in the sun, Airlie Beach provides plenty of places to fill hungry bellies. Discover four of the best Airlie Beach restaurants for families below — two of them have an indoor playground!
Fat Frog Beach Café
Known for: Beachside eats with a kids’ dress-up corner
The funky Fat Frog Beach Café is a locals’ favourite, with views over Cannonvale Beach, great coffee and a menu featuring burgers, fish tacos and fish and chips. There are toys and dress-ups to keep kids entertained and some great school holiday specials too.
The “Beachside Takeaway” menu on Friday nights is a huge hit with locals and tourists alike, including kids’ meals for just $12. Fat Frog Cafe is a five-minute drive from Airlie Beach or a half-hour stroll in the sunshine.
44 Coral Esplanade, Cannonvale
Anchor Bar
Known for: Waterfront restaurant with a swimming pool
Overlooking the water, Anchor Bar has a pool where kids can splash around while they wait for their food to arrive. It offers everything from small plates ideal for sharing to a “Can’t Decide Platter” with pork ribs, hot wings, calamari, arancini and steamed mussels. There’s also a separate “Little People” menu including burgers, calamari and chicken strips.
5 Golden Orchid Dr, Airlie Beach
Jubilee Tavern
Known for: Delicious pub grub and a shaded playground
As any parent with small children will tell you, a playground can make a huge difference to your dining experience, so Jubilee Tavern is sure to be a winner. As well as pub classics like chicken schnitzel and bangers and mash, it serves mango chicken skewers, nasi goreng and a vegan-friendly korma curry. Check the family-friendly event schedule for extra weekend and school holiday fun.
Shute Harbour Rd & Loop Rd, Airlie Beach
Whitsunday Gold Coffee
Known for: A huge indoor kids’ play space and animal menagerie
Whitsunday Gold Coffee near Proserpine has a large indoor play area with teacup rides, a padded flying fox and three slides. It costs $9.95 per child — just bring your socks (though they’re also available for purchase if you forget). While you’re there, wander the menagerie full of colourful birds and check out one of Australia’s largest coffee plantations. The cafe and kids’ playground are open from 8 am to 3 pm, seven days a week.
2505 Bruce Hwy, Hamilton Plains
George's Diner
Known for: Retro decor and a classic American diner menu
Around 35 minutes from Airlie Beach on the Whitsunday Coast, Conway Beach sits at the mouth of the Proserpine River. This two-kilometre stretch of sand is popular for wind-surfing, fishing and crabbing – in fact, scuttling crabs can easily be spotted as you step onto the sand! The retro-style George’s Diner in the beachfront tourist park is a delight for kids. It’s worth the drive in itself for an old-fashioned banana split or fizzy lime spider.
10 Daniels St, Conway
Travelling with tots? Check out our toddler-friendly guide to the Whitsundays by Sue White, who travelled with her son Ollie.
In partnership with BIG4 Adventure Whitsunday Resort
Content contributors: Angela Saurine, Elisa Elwin, Deborah Dickson-Smith, Aleney de Winter
Opening image: An aerial view of Airlie Beach Lagoon on the Whitsundays mainland © Tourism and Events Queensland
