Popular in | April | High demand for flights, 17% potential price rise |
Cheapest in | October | Best time to find cheap flights, 4% potential price drop |
Average price | £1,286 | Average for round-trip flights in July 2022 |
Round-trip from | £2,507 | From London to Airlie Beach |
Information is based on travel restrictions from United Kingdom to Airlie Beach
Most visitors from United Kingdom need to provide a negative COVID-19 test result and/or quarantine to enter Airlie Beach.
COVID-19 testing requirements
Visitors from United Kingdom are not required to present a negative COVID-19 PCR test or antigen result upon entering Airlie Beach.
Quarantine requirements
Visitors from United Kingdom are not required to quarantine after entering Airlie Beach.
Documents
Travel Authorization Form - Travelers who are not in an exempt category may request an individual exemption to Australia's travel restrictions using this form.
Digital Passenger Declaration - You can start a DPD seven days before your flight to Australia, but you can only submit a DPD within 72 hours before your departure.
Returning to United Kingdom from Airlie Beach
COVID-19 testing requirements
Visitors from Airlie Beach are not required to present a negative COVID-19 PCR test or antigen result upon entering United Kingdom.
Quarantine requirements
Visitors from Airlie Beach are not required to quarantine after entering United Kingdom.
Airlie Beach is a small area that is packed full with bars, clubs, restaurants and tour offices, with accommodation options ranging from campsites to five star hotels.
A common concern when visiting Airlie Beach are the stingers, which can be a problem between October and April. Ocean swimming is restricted at that time, but the Airlie Beach Lagoon makes up for it. It’s stinger-free year-round, holds 4.5 million litres of salt water, is patrolled every day from 7am to 9pm and is surrounded by landscaped gardens, barbecue facilities and picnic tables.
6km (4 miles) east of Airlie Beach is Conway National Park, a beautiful coastal park looking across the Whitsunday Passage. It is home to Proserpine rock-wallabies, the Australian brush-turkey and orange-footed scrubfowl. From the lookout at Mount Rooper, there are views of Hamilton, Dent, Long and Henning islands.
The islands are the main attraction of course and visitors will have the happy problem of deciding which type of boat to charter to the Whitsundays. Shute Harbour, 10km (six miles) east of Airlie Beach, is the departure point for many of the vessels.
The climate is subtropical with warm temperatures year-round. The summer months (December to February) have temperatures of 25-35 C (75-95 F) with rain and high levels of humidity. During this time there is a possibility of hurricanes. The winter months (June to August) have temperatures of around 20 C (65 F), and there is little rainfall.
Peak Season:
The Queensland school holidays are peak season times in Airlie Beach. The Blessing of the Fleet is also a peak season time. It takes place 50 days after Easter each year (May or June depending on when Easter falls). Airlie Beach Food and Wine Festival is in August, along with the Airlie Beach Race Week and Whitsunday Fantasea Reef Festival, and the Airlie Beach Triathlon in September. These events are very popular, making it a peak season time to go to Airlie Beach.
Off Season:
In general, when the schools are in session, it’s considered low season in Airlie Beach. Pick and choose your times carefully to get low-season rates. In December, January and February, the weather is hot and humid and cyclones are a possibility.
Whitsunday Transit offers a shuttle service from the airport. There are also taxis and rental cars available as long as you have booked in advance.