Backpacking Airlie Beach – the Complete 4 Day Itinerary

A place that feels like paradise! Let me guide you through Airlie Beach with this 4 day itinerary.

Airlie Beach is a popular destination for backpackers, located on Australia’s east coast. As a vibrant gateway to the Great Barrier Reef and the Whitsunday Islands, it offers a wide range of activities, delicious food, and excellent hostels. Since there is so much to do, I created the perfect itinerary, to get the most out of your visit and turn Airlie Beach into a place you won’t forget!

Hostel Choices:

There’s no better type of accommodation than hostels in Airlie. It’s a town full of backpackers, which makes it super easy to make friends. It felt like everyone was in a good mood, open to meeting new people and discovering new adventures with strangers. Maybe that’s the Airlie Beach influence. I can highly recommend the hostel we stayed in, which you’ll find it on Hostelworld using the link below.

Nomads Airlie Beach – hostelworld.com

Day 1: Explore Airlie Beach, Go on a Scenic Flight and Enjoy the Nightlife

For the first day, use the late morning and stroll through town. Airlie Beach is quite small, which is why you’ll get a good overview by walking along the streets. Check out the little shops, the bookstore and walk along the coastline.

Afterwards I’d really recommend taking a scenic flight. The meeting point is directly in the town and from there you’ll have a shuttle to the plane. Everyone has a window seat and with a headset you’ll hear informations from the pilot. The scenic flight will be over the Great Barrier Reef, the famous heart shaped reef and the Whitsundays. It was absolutely stunning, and I’d definitely do it again, whenever I’m in Airlie.

You can find all the tours I recommend on Viator or Get Your Guide! Check out our travel apps post to discover more helpful apps for finding activities! 15+ Travel Apps every Backpacker has to have!

The perfect way to end the day is in the middle of the town.

• Either enjoy a more chill evening, get yourself some ice cream, find a spot to sit and watch people.
• Chat and drink at one of the night bars.
• Or if you have a lot of energy left, go partying in one of the clubs.
  
  

Day 2: Book a Guided Tour – Whitsunday Sail & Snorkel Adventure or Cedar Creek Falls Tour

For the second day of the Airlie Beach itinerary, choose between two amazing options:
One gives you ocean and island vibes with sailing and snorkelling around the Whitsundays. The other takes you into the forest, with waterfall views and a more relaxed, nature based experience.

The Whitsundays Sail and Snorkel Tour

There are a lot of different tours for sailing and snorkelling in the same area. All of them offer different options, timelines, stops, and prices. Check them out and see what fits your requirements best.
All in all, you’ll meet at the harbour. From there, you’ll start your adventure, probably listen to some music and just chill on the deck. There are a few stops included, which will likely involve snorkelling and visiting one or two small islands. It’s a great way to experience the surrounding islands and spend a day out on the ocean.

Cedar Creek Tour

Another option, which is quite the opposite of a day on the ocean, is a trip to Cedar Creek Falls. There are shuttle services that take you to the falls, where you’ll have plenty of time to enjoy the nature and take a swim by the waterfall.

Day 3: Sea Turtle Boardwalk, Relax and Swim at the Lagoon, Visit the Market and Eat Out for Dinner

Start your day with the Sea Turtle Boardwalk. There’s no better time than early in the morning or evening, as turtles are more likely to be spotted during these hours. Walk up the promenade and follow the trails along the coastline. From there, you’ll reach the harbour. You can go as far as you like, I’m not sure if there’s a specific end, so just walk as long as you feel like it. While walking, always check the water to see if you can spot a turtle. It took me a little while, but I found one and was the happiest after my spot:)

Afterwards, go back to town and visit the Lagoon, a free swimming pool by the ocean. There are plenty of grassy areas where you can lie down and sunbathe. If you want to swim, just jump right into the pool.
This is especially practical because, from October to May, it’s not recommended to swim in the ocean without a stinger suit due to stinger season (harmful jellyfish).

Whenever you’re ready, walk to Airlie Beach and visit the Lions Airlie Beach Community Markets. I absolutely love markets, and this one was great. I especially enjoyed buying jewellery, cause there were amazing options.
Important: the market is only open on Saturdays!

For dinner, there are a few great restaurants you can visit. Actually, I can’t name a specific one because we didn’t eat out much (except for the cheap McFlurry). But we did go once to a restaurant for a drink, and they had crocodile, kangaroo, and emu on the menu. So, if you’re interested in trying new meats, that’s the place to go. I believe it was called KC’s Chargrill & Bar.

Day 4: Two days Whitsunday Islands adventure

There are guided tours that offer a two day experience on the Whitsunday Islands. They are really loved by backpackers and are a great way to get the full experience of the Whitsundays! From snorkelling and sailing, to seeing different parts of the islands and the famous Whitehaven Beach, you’ll eat good food and have fun with strangers.

If you don’t want to attend a two day trip, you can enjoy one more day in Airlie. Either look out for a day tour to the Whitsundays (because there are so many different options, with different stops) or go on a hike in Conway National Park, to get a full view of the town – I’d say four days in Airlie Beach are definitely enough, as long as you don’t plan to attend the two day tour.

With this Airlie Beach itinerary you can easily enjoy your time, without missing any highlights!