Airlie Beach Lagoon
A free, giant man-made seaside pool in the centre of Airlie Beach. It is safe for swimming during stinger season and is the social hub of this backpacker town.
Airlie Beach is the mainland gateway to the Whitsundays, a lively seaside town. Along its main street, Shute Harbour Road, you'll find backpacker hostels, bars, restaurants and ticket offices for boat tours. Because crocodiles and seasonal stingers live in the nearby waters, the town built a free man-made lagoon pool by the sea, covering about 4,300 square metres and holding about 4.5 million litres of water (Airlie Beach Lagoon). The water is filtered and disinfected, and the area is surrounded by lawns, palm trees, barbecue areas and a children's playground. It is open year-round with lifeguards on duty, and it's where locals and visitors swim, sunbathe and picnic. Every Saturday morning, the Airlie Beach Markets are held in the seaside park beside the lagoon, selling handicrafts and local produce. In the evening, you can stroll along the Bicentennial Walkway to the marina to watch the sunset. The Port of Airlie in town is the main departure point for Whitsundays boat tours such as Cruise Whitsundays. Getting there: a bus from Proserpine Airport takes about 35 minutes. Note: the town's nightlife is lively, so travellers who want quiet should choose accommodation a little farther away.
Opening hours
All day (pool area approx. 06:00–21:00; lifeguard hours per site)
Nearby sights
- Conway National Park
- Shute Harbour
- Daydream Island
- Cedar Creek Falls
- Cid Harbour
- Langford Island
- Hamilton Island
- Whitsunday Cairn