15 Best Things To Do In Airlie Beach With Kids (2026)

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Airlie Beach punches well above its weight for a small Queensland coastal town. It’s the gateway to the Whitsunday Islands and the Great Barrier Reef, it has a free lagoon pool that rivals most resort pools, and it has the kind of laid-back tropical energy that makes it very hard to leave. Our kids would agree — the last time we visited, we had to drag them away from the lagoon.

This guide was put together with the help of Emily and Shane Korosec, who live in Shute Harbour — a 10-minute drive from Airlie — and operate Whitsunday Rent A Yacht. There are few people better placed to tell you what’s actually worth doing in the Whitsundays, and what’s overrated.

We’ve added our own picks for day trips from Airlie Beach at the bottom, based on our own time in the region.

If you’re stopping in for a couple of days on the Brisbane to Cairns drive or basing yourself here for a proper Whitsundays holiday, here’s everything worth doing in Airlie Beach with kids.

Airlie Beach Quick Guide

• How many days do you need: 3-4 days minimum, longer if you want to do multiple island or reef day trips
• Best time to visit: May to November — dry season, lower humidity, no stinger risk
• Getting there: Fly into Whitsunday Coast Airport (Proserpine) or drive. Airlie Beach is roughly halfway between Brisbane and Cairns on the coastal highway
• Best free activity: Airlie Beach Lagoon with free swimming & playground
• Don’t miss: Whitehaven Beach, the silica sand and Hill Inlet lookout are genuinely unlike anywhere else in Australia

We have put together the best things to do in Airlie Beach as a family and some of the best tours we recommend to anyone visiting with kids. 

But first, we wanted to let you in on a couple of local travel tips.

Our favourite place to take the kids for a meal is Northerlies. Located just out of Airlie, but with a free shuttle bus running from town, Northerlies is all about great food, entertainment and music.

But perhaps the best things about Northerlies is the location. The hotel sits close to the coast, with stunning Whitsunday views as the backdrop.

They have a massive outdoor games area, and the classic Queensland-style open-air bar means you can sit back while the kids run amok on the lawn. 

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The Best Things to do in Airlie Beach with Kids

2. Go Fishing At Shute Harbour

Shute Harbour is a short drive from Airlie Beach through the Conway Ranges National Park. The Harbour is one of the largest in Queensland, and it’s home to dolphins, small boats, birdlife and tons of fish.

The jetty is a local fishing hot spot, which is great for travellers who don’t have boats. 

3. Spend A Day At The Airlie Beach Lagoon

The Airlie Beach Lagoon is a vast communal space complete with beaches, palm trees and pools to suit all swimming abilities.

There’s a great kids section down near the playground, and the shops are only a short walk away if you want to grab something for lunch.

Many people spend most of their holiday beside the lagoon because it’s like a resort, but free!

4. Take A Day Trip To The Great Barrier Reef From Airlie Beach

The best way to see the Great Barrier Reef with kids is by taking a day trip from Airlie Beach.

Cruise Whitsundays operate out of the Port of Airlie Marina. Geared towards kids, their boat trip out to Reef World will take you to a kid-friendly snorkelling site right on the reef’s edge.

For those who don’t want to get in the water, there is an underwater viewing conservatory. Everything is set up for comfort, education and entertainment – and most importantly, lunch is provided!

6. Hike Through A Tropical Rainforest 

Surrounding Airlie Beach is the Conway Rangers National Park, a tropical rainforest with loads of lovely walks and trails taking you to incredible views over the islands.

Kids are not always the best hiking companions, but if you have some resilient little people in your tribe, take the climb up to the Honey Eater Lookout behind the town.

For an easy walk, go to Cedar Creek Falls where you can park the car and walk a short path through the forest to a waterhole under a fall. Note that Cedar Creek only flows in the wet season.

7. Go On A Crocodile Safari 

Take a tractor ride through untouched wetland habitat to learn about the local wildlife and see wild saltwater crocodiles on a safari river cruise along the Proserpine River.

You’ll also get a chance to observe other wildlife in the mangroves, catching the famous Queensland mud crab to learn about these local characters.

Speaking of entertaining locals, the kids will love meeting Boofhead the crocodile! 

9. Have Fun At The Many Airlie Beach Playgrounds

I don’t think I’ve ever been to a town with as many playgrounds as Airlie Beach. There are three dotted along the town’s coast, with the best playground up near the sailing club.

The new Foreshore Playground has a skywalk play area with a climbing net, tunnel slides and sky cabins.

A fourth thrill-seeking playground is Logans Adventure Playground in Cannonvale which features a 30m Tandem Flying Fox and a giant spider web among other climbing, tunnel, swinging, spinning and balancing equipment. 

11. Enjoy The Local Beaches

Another great activity for kids during your family holiday in Airlie Beach is to explore the many different beaches the town has to offer. Kids can build sandcastles, paddle in the shallows, or even go snorkelling and swimming.

12. Browse The Markets

Airlie Beach is well known for its vibrant markets along the Airlie Beach Esplanade, which are held every Saturday. Kids will love browsing the stalls and picking out souvenirs to take home. You will find everything from handmade arts and crafts to fresh seafood and local produce.

13. Have A Picnic

Enjoy the beautiful weather and a spot under a shady tree by having a picnic during your Airlie Beach family holiday. There are many beautiful parks and gardens in town, so you can find the perfect spot to relax and enjoy the scenery. Kids will love running around and playing games in the park.

14. Stroll The Airlie Beach Bicentennial Walkway

The Airlie Beach Bicentennial Walkway is a great way to see the stunning coastline and get some exercise. The walkway winds its way from the Lagoon through to Cannonvale Beach, taking around 45 minutes to walk one way.

15. Charter a yacht around the Whitsunday Islands

It’s hard to imagine a more fantastic way to experience the Whitsunday Islands than from a private charter yacht.

When you sail the Whitsundays, you get to experience resorts, national parks, snorkelling, sunsets and starry nights from your own floating hotel.

The best bit is you can travel at your own pace to visit secluded islands and beaches, spending quality time as a family. 

Day Trips From Airlie Beach

Airlie Beach is perfectly positioned as a base for some of the best day trips in Queensland. Here are the ones worth planning your time around:

Whitehaven Beach & Hill Inlet

The undisputed highlight of any Whitsundays visit. The silica sand and swirling tidal patterns at Hill Inlet Lookout are genuinely unlike anything else in Australia. Most tours combine both in a full day.

Book the Whitsundays Ocean Rafting full day tour for Hill Inlet, snorkelling and beach time. For the ultimate splurge, add a scenic flight to see Heart Reef from the air.

Outer Great Barrier Reef

The Whitsundays section of the reef is less visited than Cairns but equally spectacular. A full-day pontoon experience includes snorkelling, a semi-submarine ride and a buffet lunch.

Book the Outer Reef ReefWorld Pontoon experience here.

Hamilton Island

A quick ferry from Airlie gets you to one of the Whitsundays’ most popular island resorts. Hire a golf buggy, swim at Catseye Beach and head up to One Tree Hill for views across the island chain. Day trippers can use the resort facilities.

Conway National Park

Just 20 minutes from town and completely free. Cedar Creek Falls is the main draw — a gorgeous waterfall swimming hole that’s at its best after summer rain.

If you don’t have a car, this Cedar Creek Falls tour includes transport, swimming, hiking and lunch at Notherlies Beach Bar.

Cape Hillsborough

Worth an early start for the kangaroos that feed on the beach at sunrise. It’s one of those genuinely surreal Australian wildlife moments. Kangaroos on a beach with the sun coming up behind the islands.

Finch Hatton Gorge

Best freshwater swimming hole in the region. Two swim spots — the Araluen Cascades for easy access, and the Wheel of Fire Falls if you’re happy to hike further for fewer crowds. Accessible year-round, though a 4WD may be needed in wet season.

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You will have no trouble finding what to do in Airlie beach with your family now, with so many fun ideas and Airlie Beach attractions to enjoy! The hardest part is now simply what to do first!