Whitsunday Islands Hotels - Map & Location (click to enlarge)
Getting to and from Whitsunday Islands and around once there: Below is a comprehensive guide to transport to from and around Whitsunday Islands covering the Buses, Taxis, Flights, Trains, Cycling, by Car and much more.
Don’t forget to check out our other sections for details on Whitsunday Islands Hotels, Things to Do & Attractions in Whitsunday Islands, plus candid traveler photos and reviews.
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Transport – Whitsunday Islands:
The Whitsundays is located in central Queensland , approximately 1120km north of Brisbane and 630km south of Cairns.
AIR:
The Whitsundays is serviced by two airports:
Great Barrier Reef Airport , Hamilton Island (HTI)
Whitsunday Coast Airport, Proserpine (PPP)
Great Barrier Reef Airport, Hamilton Island:
Located on Hamilton Island, the airport (HTI) is serviced by Virgin Blue, Jetstar and Qantas Link with daily direct flights from Cairns, Brisbane, Syndey, Melbourne and connection points beyond.
Cruise Whitsundays and Fantasea Adventure Cruising operate ferries from Hamilton Island to the mainland and island resorts.
Whitsunday Coast Airport, Proserpine (PPP):
Whitsunday Coast Airport is located in Proserpine, approximately 25 minutes by car to Airlie Beach. The airport (PPP) is serviced by Virgin Blue and Jetstar offering daily direct flights from Brisbane and connecting flights from most other capital cities.
Transfers into Airlie Beach can be organised through Whitsunday Transit or Whitsunday Taxis. Car and limousine hire is also available.
Don’t forget to check with your accommodation to see if transfers are included in your package.
Approximate Direct Flight Times
Cairns to Hamilton Island
1 hour 25 mins
Brisbane to Whitsunday Coast
1 hour 35 mins
Sydney to Hamilton Island
2 hours
Melbourne to Hamilton Island
3 hours
ROAD:
The Bruce Highway is the main route connecting the towns of Queensland between Brisbane and Cairns. It runs through the heart of the Whitsundays region and is part of Australia’s national road network. Just north of Proserpine lies the turnoff east to the communities of Airlie Beach and Shute Harbour, while further north the Bruce Highway reaches the town of Bowen.
For Queensland distances to the Whitsundays see below:
Distances (measured in km)Airlie Bch
1,118 Brisbane
89 1,160 Bowen
632 1,703 549 Cairns
25 1,094 68 611 Proserpine
10 1,128 100 643 35 Shute Hbr
Coach companies that service the Whitsundays are Greyhound Australia, Premier and Oz Experience, with over 10 services daily into the coastal community of Airlie Beach.
The Whitsunday Information Centre is able to make all your coach bookings. Please contact a local specialist on 1300 717 407 or info@tourismwhitsundays.com.au.
RAIL:
Queensland Rail Traveltrain services include the Sunlander and Tilt Train, linking Proserpine to all the major destinations from Brisbane to Cairns. Connecting coaches operate from Proserpine to Airlie Beach and Shute Harbour.
Getting around once at the Whitsunday Islands:
Once you get to the Whitsundays, a variety of travel and transfer options are available to help you get around the Whitsunday region.
ISLAND CONNECTIONS – BY FERRY:
Fantasea Adventure Cruising operates ferry services to and from Hamilton Island (HTIM) and Club Med Lindeman Island (LDC) from Shute Harbour and Abel Point Marina.
Cruise Whitsundays operates ferry transfers from both Hamilton Island and Whitsunday Coast Airports servicing Daydream Island (DDI), Long Island (LIR), Koala Adventure Island (KAI), Abel Point Marina, Airlie Beach and Shute Harbour. Pre-booked coach transfers take you to/from Whitsunday Coast Airport to the connecting ferry and at Hamilton Island Airport the ferry is waiting just 100m from check-in.
Guest of Hayman (HIS) will be met by pre-booked luxury transfers departing from Hamilton Island Airport and Shute Harbour.
Access to Brampton Island is via Mackay Marina by boat transfer, or a 20 minute Australasian Jet flight from Mackay Airport daily. Daily flights are also available from Hamilton Island Airport (HTI) to Brampton Island.
AIR TRANSFERS TO OTHER ISLANDS:
Convenient connecting services are available by aeroplane, helicopter and seaplane from the Whitsunday Coast Airport (PPP), Great Barrier Reef Airport (HTI), Mackay Airport (MKY) and the smaller non-commerical Whitsunday Airport (located between Airlie Beach and Shute Harbour) to all Whitsunday Islands and coastal resorts.
WHITSUNDAY COAST TRANSPORT:
Whitsunday Transit provides the region with scheduled coach services that connect Proserpine, Cannonvale, Airlie Beach and Shute Harbour from designated bus stops every 15 to 30 minutes, 365 days a year. They also provide a safe night service between Cannonvale and Jubilee Pocket 7 days a week until 10:30pm and have wheelchair accessible facilities.
Whitsunday Taxis will also get you around town and are available 24 hours a day.
Car Hire – Avis, Hertz, Europcar and Thrifty Car Rentals have car hire outlets in Airlie Beach. Local rental companies are Fun Rentals and We Do Scooters.
Tours – Most tours provide courtesy pick up and drop offs, please enquire at the time of booking.
Boardwalks – Getting around Airlie Beach on foot is quite easy due to the flat boardwalk that curves around the foreshore of Airlie Beach to Abel Point Marina and through to Cannonvale Beach.
CONTACTS:
Please contact us if you need assistance with your travel needs.
TOUR & TRANSFER CONTACTS
Name: Aviation Adventures
Contact: Mr Peter Ryan
Address: 297 Shute Harbour Road, JUBILEE POCKET, QLD, 4802
Phone: 07 4946 9988
Fax: 07 4946 9787
Name: Aviation Tourism Australia
Contact: Mr Brad Graves
Address: Hamilton Island Airport, HAMILTON ISLAND, QLD, 4803
Phone: 07 4946 8249
Fax: 07 4946 8280
Name: Avis
Contact: Mr Glenn Cavanagh
Address: Block B, Shop 5A, 366 Shute Harbour Road, AIRLIE BEACH, QLD, 4802
Phone: 07 4946 6318
Fax: 07 4946 6574
Name: Cruise Whitsundays
Contact: Mr Peter Duncan
Address: Shingley Drive Abel Point marina, AIRLIE BEACH, QLD, 4802
Phone: 07 4946 4662
Fax: 07 4946 4382
Name: Fantasea Adventure Cruising
Contact: Mr Steve Neale
Address: Shute Harbour Road, JUBILEE POCKET, QLD, 4802
Phone: 07 4946 5811
Fax: 07 4946 5520
Want to learn more about Whitsunday Islands?
- Things to do and attractions in Whitsunday Islands
- Getting to and from Whitsunday Islands and transport once there
- Need to book a hotel in Whitsunday Islands? Use the search form at the top of the page.
- Contact Us for advice on Whitsunday Islands and to book a hotel
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