Kid-friendly things to do in Airlie Beach: The ultimate 5-day itinerary

First-time visitors to The Whitsundays often make the mistake of thinking it starts and ends with island holidays, but Airlie Beach is its often-overlooked heart.

A short 35-minute drive from Whitsunday Coast Airport in Proserpine – with direct flights from Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Cairns – Airlie Beach not only makes a convenient base for island-hopping, adventure activities, national parks and a wider range of accommodation but its ever-growing food scene provides plenty of gourmet bang for your holiday buck.

Families who don’t want to be confined to one island will discover Airlie Beach is the perfect short getaway destination, marrying family-friendly accommodation with tours and day trip options.

This five-day itinerary is packed with the best kid-friendly things to do in Airlie Beach and beyond. Round up the little ones and get exploring.

Day 1: PM

Welcome to your tropical dreamscape – the screensaver-esque view beyond your balcony at Mirage Whitsundays is the real deal so you can switch off your devices and immerse yourself IRL.

While parents may dream of spending the afternoon making good use of that balcony with a cheese plate, the kids will have other plans, so get some of that overactive energy out with an easy hike along the four km Bicentennial Walkway into town.

Grab some fresh seafood – and perhaps a bottle of bubbles – throw out a picnic rug and settle into the vibe of the free Airlie Beach lagoon, right in the centre of the town. This is one of the best kid-friendly things to do in Airlie Beach. Swims, sunset, and freshly-shucked oysters set the scene for four more days of bliss ahead.

Day 2: AM

There’s no shortage of island day trips on offer in Airlie Beach and almost all of them will get you to Whitehaven Beach but where they differ is in the speed, group size, and how long you actually get to spend in that dreamy water.

If you’ve got budding marine biologists in tow, head to two of The Whitsundays best snorkelling spots with Ocean Rafting on their Northern Exposure tour. In between, you’ll also be one of a lucky few to enjoy the beach at Hill Inlet and a guided National Park walk to the lookout above the silica sand of Whitehaven Beach. Zipping across the turquoise waters at speeds of up to 30 knots, this day trip packs plenty of thrills along with mesmerising vistas for a maximum of 32 guests.

They’re also serious about sustainability, even making the Ecotourism Australia Hall of Fame for being continuously eco-certified for more than 20 years.

PM

Wind down back at your apartment at Mirage Whitsundays and stay in for dinner tonight – either making use of your fully equipped kitchen or toddling downstairs to the onsite Whisper Restaurant and Gin Bar.

Day 3: AM

Kids 12 years or older? Make your way to Coral Sea Marina to dial up the adrenaline in the World Heritage-listed Whitsunday Island Marine Park with Whitsunday Jetski Tours. If you’re keen to see more of the islands, saddle up for the Two Island Safari, which will get you to the waterways of South Molle and Daydream Island or stick closer to town and enjoy some turtle spotting on the Airlie Beach jet ski tour.

PM

Refuel with a round of acai bowls or fish tacos from Bohemian Raw, a five-minute walk from where you’ll step off your jetskis then head back to your apartment to rinse off the salt ready for a road trip in search of secret beaches. Around 45-minutes north of Airlie Beach, you’ll discover the bays and golden sands of Cape Gloucester where locals love to escape to for a dip and a laid-back afternoon drink at Monte’s or the Dingo Beach Hotel.

No-one will feel like cooking after this epic day so book ahead for a table at the kid-friendly Sorrento Restaurant & Bar to feast on pizza and pasta on your return.

Day 4: AM

Change tack this morning and head inland to explore the rainforest of Conway National Park on a segway. Tune into the sights, smells and sounds of the rainforest as you cruise along the Whitsundays Great Walk track before enjoying morning tea on the banks of Impulse Creek. This is a side of The Whitsundays those who go straight to the islands never see. The eco-certified Whitsundays Segway Tours cater to kids 12 years and over.

Afterwards, stick around and meander your way to Cedar Creek Falls – if there’s been recent rain, this waterfall is a spectacular swimming spot but regardless of the season, expect to be surrounded by birdsong, wild orchids and colourful butterflies. This is one of the best kid-friendly things to do in Airlie Beach and best of all, it’s absolutely free.

PM

The pull of the ocean is strong here, especially after a morning away from the coast, so toast your last evening in Airlie Beach with a sunset sail that’ll have the kids feeling like they’re in Pirates of the Caribbean. Step aboard the gaff-rigged schooner Providence V with Whitsunday Sailing for a two-hour sail complete with nibbles (and a glass of bubbles for deserving parents).

Day 5: AM

Stroll 15 minutes to your ‘local’, Cannonvale Beach, stopping for breakfast on the way at Fat Frog Beach Café. It’s time to bid adieu but after you check out, take an alternative route to the airport to discover the wetlands of the Whitsundays.

A boat and tractor-led Whitsunday Crocodile Safari is one of the most unexpected kid-friendly things to do in Airlie Beach and provides plenty of wildlife-spotting vibes in the Proserpine River and nationally listed wetlands of Goorganga Plains. After immersing and learning all about the mangrove ecosystem and its feathery, scaly and snappy inhabitants, you’ll enjoy a barbeque lunch and freshly baked damper on this Advanced Ecotourism certified tour ensuring you’ll be filled with Whitsundays produce and memories for your flight home.

If you want to stay a little longer…

And who could blame you? Swap the croc tour for the 6:30am Cruise Whitsundays ferry to Hamilton Island to enjoy a taste of island life before you depart. (This is a great option if you’re flying in/out of Great Barrier Reef Airport.)

‘Hammo’ as the locals call it, is a microcosm of all the Whitsundays has to offer packaged up in a sprawling island resort – palm trees, topaz waters, wildlife and the three magic words: ‘Kids Eat Free’.

Check into your accommodation at Reef View Hotel and spend the day cruising in a golf buggy between the pool, mini golf, bowling alley, and go-kart track. You can hire a dinghy or catamaran to explore on water or grab snorkelling gear to discover what lies beneath. Just be sure to leave some time to soak up the view – and say hello to the friendly cockatoos – on your balcony before dark.

Tonight, take your pick from the participating restaurants for the kids to eat for free, or push the boat out and make a booking for Romano’s to enjoy Italian fare with views over the marina.

The next morning, there’s just one thing left to do before you say farewell to The Whitsundays, and that’s the hike to Passage Peak (if you’re littlies’ legs are prepared for the Grade three two-hour return trek).

Set off from the Scenic Trail Entrance for a challenging hike up to the island’s highest point for life-affirming views over the watery playground you’ve come to love on this family holiday. Then, return to Airlie Beach for your flight home or depart from Great Barrier Reef Airport.

Find more ways to extend your family holiday with this Whitsundays guide.