Fly into two tiny-but-mighty hubs—Hamilton Island Airport (HTI) right in the archipelago, or Whitsunday Coast Airport (PPP) near Proserpine on the mainland—and you’re only a ferry ride from those famous swirling sands. Coach services link PPP to Airlie Beach in just 30 minutes, while rail travellers can step off the Spirit of Queensland in Proserpine and hop a shuttle to the coast. Self-drivers steer the Pacific Coast Way north from Brisbane for a classic 1,100-km road trip dotted with farm stalls and lookout pull-offs. However you arrive, Headout’s transport tickets bundle airport shuttles, ferries, and seaplane transfers so you can stitch the final miles together without juggling multiple bookings. Choose live inventory, secure your seat in seconds, and keep plans flexible—most passes allow free date change up to 24 hours out.
Pros & cons – Fastest access and breathtaking island runway approach, yet checked-bag allowances can be tight on smaller jets; factor in ferry or shuttle add-ons.
Average cost & booking window – Return fares sit between A$180–260 in low season; prices double for Christmas. Lock flights at least eight weeks out for peak-school-holiday savings.
Pros & cons – Total flexibility and photo-op freedom, but fuel, tolls, and multi-day parking at the marina add up. Plan for traffic snarls near Gympie on long weekends.
Average cost & booking window – Car-hire deals hover around A$60 a day; book three months ahead for automatic models or seven-seaters.
Pros & cons – Cheapest seat-in-coach option with Wi-Fi and reclining seats; overnight legs test comfort levels and arrival times can shift with highway conditions.
Average cost & booking window – Brisbane–Airlie sectors start at A$99 one way when purchased 14 days beforehand; look out for backpacker hop-on/hop-off passes for added flexibility.
PPP sits 36 km inland with 30-minute shuttles; HTI is on-island and needs a 1-hour ferry. Pick PPP for cheaper fares, HTI for direct resort access.
Yes—Qantas and Jetstar fly non-stop to HTI most days; Virgin adds seasonal PPP services. Block around 2 h 30 m gate-to-gate.
Shuttle + ferry bundles via Cruise Whitsundays cost A$90–100 one way, including luggage handling and guaranteed ferry connections.
Port of Airlie offers open-air and undercover lots from A$16 per day; CCTV and night patrols operate year-round. Pre-book during Easter and Christmas.
Each ticket includes one 23 kg suitcase and one carry-on. Extra bags or surfboards attract A$15–25 fees, and large e-scooters are refused.
Night coaches from Brisbane hit Airlie by sunrise for under A$100; pair with early-bird ferry tickets to reach the islands by late morning without paying flight premiums.
Information
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Ride a jet ski from Airlie Beach with expert guidance and stunning island views.
Inclusions
1.5-hour guided jet ski tour from Airlie Beach
Experienced tour guide
Live commentary
Marine wildlife sightings
All riding apparel (including life jackets, stinger suits, rash tops/thermal tops, wetsuit shorts, polarised sunglasses, riding hats, and sunscreen)
Round-trip bus transfers (within the Airlie Beach area)
Bottled water
Photos of your trip (uploaded to Facebook)
Enjoy an award-winning Whitsundays sailing adventure with snorkelling, banana boat rides, and a fresh lunch.
Inclusions
Full-day cruise from Airlie Beach
Snorkelling at Langford Reef (inner fringing reef)
Banana boat ride
Lunch and snacks (menu here)
Lycra suit, stinger suit (during summer months), & wetsuit (during winter months) for hire
Snorkelling equipment (mask & snorkel only)
You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.
Book now without paying anything. Cancel for free if your plans change.
You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.
Book now without paying anything. Cancel for free if your plans change.
Experience the only Whitsundays cruise with a floating beach club vibe and unlimited beach-to-boat transfers.
Inclusions
Full-day cruise from Airlie Beach
Unlimited on-demand transfers between the boat & the beach
High-speed A/C “SuperCat” catamaran with sun lounges, bathrooms, & onboard bar
South Whitehaven Lookout guided walk
Buffet lunch (menu here)
Stinger suit
Guided snorkel tour at Border Island Reef (inner fringing reef) (based on selected option)
Snorkelling equipment & flotation devices (based on selected option)
Exclusions
