at Boathaven Bay Holiday Apartments
8.3 out of 10 from 985 reviewsAirlie Beach
Full kitchen · 50–250 m² · Sleeps 8
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Aparthotels & serviced apartments in Airlie Beach
21 stays · 9 aparthotels and 12 serviced apartments · from €194/night
Aparthotels and serviced apartments in Airlie Beach work well for groups, families and anyone planning several days of island trips, because a kitchen and living space make a base easier between boat days. Airlie Beach is a resort town in Queensland's Whitsunday Region and, according to Wikivoyage, the closest port from which to reach the Whitsunday Islands on the Great Barrier Reef.
21 stays
Where to stay in Airlie Beach
Airlie Beach town centre and Lagoon
- first-time visitors
- families
- walkers
The main commercial strip of Airlie Beach sits beside the Airlie Beach Lagoon, a man-made swimming area that Wikivoyage describes as around 200 m long and 50 m wide with lifeguard supervision. Cafés and restaurants are within walking distance, and tour operators run from the marina nearby. It is the natural base for a first visit.
Stays in or near Airlie Beach town centre and Lagoon
- Airlie Apartments · about 400 m away
- Whitsunday Terraces Resort · about 400 m away
- at Waterfront Whitsunday Retreat - Adults Only · about 800 m away
- at Boathaven Bay Holiday Apartments · about 1 km away
Cannonvale
- long stays
- families
- everyday shopping
Cannonvale lies south-west of Airlie Beach (Wikipedia gives about 3.9 km) and borders it. Wikipedia lists the Whitsunday Plaza shopping centre with its public library, the Abell Point Marina boat ramp and a TAFE campus there. It suits longer stays where shops and services matter.
Stays in or near Cannonvale
- Whitsunday Waterfront Apartments · about 1 km away
Jubilee Pocket
- quieter stays
- bus access
Jubilee Pocket is a locality south-east of the town centre, and Whitsunday Transit lists it among the places its services connect, alongside Airlie Beach, Cannonvale and Shute Harbour. It is a fit for those who are content to take the bus into the centre.
Shute Harbour
- island access
- boat trips
Shute Harbour is a port locality with facilities for people heading to the Whitsunday Islands. Wikipedia lists bareboats, charter yachts, day tours, scheduled ferries, water taxis and seaplanes among its operators. It is about 14.9 km east of Cannonvale, and buses link it with Airlie Beach and Proserpine.
Getting around Airlie Beach
Most visitors fly to Whitsunday Coast Airport, near Proserpine. The airport's own website lists Jetstar, Virgin Australia and Skytrans Australia as the airlines, and Wikipedia places it about 14 km south of Proserpine. Wikipedia puts Airlie Beach about 26 km north-west of Proserpine. Ground options listed by the airport include taxis and rideshare, car hire and bus and transfer services. Whitsunday Transit says it meets every arriving and departing flight there and runs services connecting Airlie Beach, Cannonvale, Jubilee Pocket, Shute Harbour and Proserpine.
Whitsunday Transit also stops at the Cruise Whitsundays Maritime Terminal at Port of Airlie, which is the departure point for many Great Barrier Reef and Whitehaven Beach cruises. Coaches between Brisbane and Cairns also stop in Airlie Beach, according to Wikivoyage. The centre of town is easy to walk, but Cannonvale and Shute Harbour are separate stretches of coast, so check the bus times before choosing a base outside the centre.
Living in Airlie Beach for longer
For a longer stay, Cannonvale has the Whitsunday Plaza shopping centre and a public library, and its facilities include a police station, ambulance station and community health centre. Airlie Beach itself is better for evenings out and for being within reach of the lagoon and the marina.
Many visitors use the town as a base for several separate island trips rather than one, which is where an apartment with a kitchen helps: you can pack lunches and keep gear organised between outings. The guide to aparthotels explains what to expect from the format.
When to visit Airlie Beach
The nearest climate data in Wikipedia is for Proserpine, which has a monsoon-influenced humid subtropical climate: hot, very rainy summers with January and February the wettest months, and dry winters with July and August the driest. Mean daily maximums run from about 31.6 degrees Celsius in January to 24.5 degrees in July.
Wikivoyage advises that a stinger suit is needed for ocean swimming from around October to around May, which makes the Airlie Beach Lagoon especially useful in those months. Check current local advice with tour operators before you swim in the sea.
The town is small. Wikipedia records a population of 1,312 at the 2021 census for the locality, and the neighbouring suburb of Cannonvale is larger, so the sensible choice of base is as much about which stretch of coast you want as which street. Below are the main areas, the airport and bus links, and the seasons. If you are weighing formats, see aparthotel versus hotel, or look at other stays across Australia.
Long-stay tips for Airlie Beach
Of the 21 properties here, 15 offer an in-apartment washing machine, 3 list a laptop-friendly workspace, 10 include some form of housekeeping and 1 have a 24-hour front desk. If you are staying more than a few nights, compare the facts box on each property page first.
19 properties list a full kitchen and 2 only a kitchenette, so check the room type if you plan to cook more than simple meals.
Where room sizes are published, the median apartment here is 97 m².
Moving for work? Our guide to serviced apartments for relocation explains what to look for.
Aparthotel prices in Airlie Beach
We checked prices for 3 properties on 7 October 2026 (2 adults, 2 nights, about two weeks ahead). The lowest "from" price was €194 per night, the median €212 and the highest €331. The cheapest at that time was Airlie Beach Apartments. Prices change daily, so use the search box for your own dates.
Other cities in Australia
Planning a longer trip? See aparthotels in Gold Coast, Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney, Cairns, Port Douglas, Mooloolaba and Perth.
| Price per night (from) | Properties |
|---|---|
| €180–€209 | 1 |
| €210–€239 | 1 |
| €330–€359 | 1 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the best area to stay in Airlie Beach?
The town centre beside the lagoon suits most first visits, as cafés, restaurants and the marina are close. Cannonvale is better for longer stays, with a shopping centre and services.
How do I get from Whitsunday Coast Airport to Airlie Beach?
Whitsunday Transit says it meets every arriving and departing flight at the airport near Proserpine. Taxis, rideshare and car hire are also listed by the airport.
Is Airlie Beach on the Great Barrier Reef?
It is a departure point rather than on the reef itself. Wikivoyage calls it the closest port from which to reach the Whitsunday Islands on the Great Barrier Reef, with tours leaving from the marina area and Shute Harbour.
Can you swim in the sea at Airlie Beach all year?
Wikivoyage says a stinger suit is needed for ocean swimming from around October to around May. The lagoon, which has lifeguard supervision, is an alternative in that period.
How many aparthotels are there in Airlie Beach?
We currently list 21 aparthotel and serviced apartment properties in Airlie Beach.
How much does an aparthotel in Airlie Beach cost?
On 7 October 2026, "from" prices ranged from €194 to €331 per night, with a median of €212.
Do aparthotels in Airlie Beach have kitchens?
21 of the 21 properties we list have a kitchen or kitchenette in at least one apartment type.
Which aparthotels in Airlie Beach have a washing machine?
15 properties list an in-apartment washing machine. Use the facts box on each property page to check.
Sources
Last updated