Clairview to Airlie Beach road trip: Distance, drive time & stops

The best stops on a Clairview to Airlie Beach road trip itinerary include Sarina, Mackay and Cape Hillsborough. The distance from the Clairview to Airlie Beach is 276km, with a driving time of around 3h7m.

The Clairview to Airlie Beach drive takes you to the primary activity hub in Queensland’s Whitsundays region.

Airlie Beach brings Whitsunday Islands sailing and snorkelling cruises, coral and marine life viewing from a glass-bottom boat and day cruises to the staggering white sands of Whitehaven Beach. To explore the full range of Airlie Beach tours and experiences, investigate here. For Airlie Beach accommodation bargains, look here.

Which Whitsundays cruise should I choose?

For those with limited time: Whitehaven Beach half day tour.
For the highlights reel: Whitehaven Beach and Hamilton Island day trip.
To see the reef two ways: High speed Whitsundays cruise plus scenic reef flight combo.
For romance, sparkling wine and sunset under sail: Multi-beach and reef Lady Enid cruise.
To see several islands: Sailing and snorkelling adventure.
For an overnight sailing adventure: Matador two day yacht cruise.

This guide should help you put together a Clairview to Airlie Beach road trip itinerary.

Clairview to Airlie Beach distance and driving time

By car, the distance from the Clairview to Airlie Beach is 276km. This makes for an approximate Clairview to Airlie Beach driving time of three hours and seven minutes.

After a long spell inland, the Bruce Highway finally hits the coast at Clairview, then scythes across Cape Palmerston. You’ll need a 4WD if you wish to go camping and fishing here.

Clairview to Airlie Beach road trip: Sarina to Mackay

Sarina is the next town along, and it’s a major sugar industry hub. The Sarina Sugar Shed tells the tale, but you can plump for Sarina Beach or Grasstree Beach if you’d prefer some beach time.

Top Sarina experiences worth booking in advance

Learn how sugar is grown and processed on a sugar mill tour – with sweet treat tastings.
Find out how rum is made on a rum distillery tour – with rum sampling.

Best Sarina accommodation options.

The best places to stay in Sarina, Queensland, are:

For beachside location with an outdoor pool: Sandpiper Motel.
For air-conditioned caravans and cabins: Sarina Palms Cabins & Caravans.
For palm trees and beach holiday vibe: Sarina Beach Motel.

From Sarina, it’s about half an hour’s drive north to Mackay, the largest city between Rockhampton and Townsville.

Three great Mackay experiences to book in advance

(Highly recommended ✅) Whitsunday Islands boat cruise – with snorkelling and paddleboarding.
Cape Hillsborough sunrise tour – meet wallabies on the beach.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Finch Hatton Gorge waterfalls tour.

Top things to do in Mackay include the Wildcat snorkelling cruise to the South Cumberland Islands and sunbathing on Blacks Beach.

Best Mackay accommodation options

The top places to stay in Mackay are:

For attractive apartments by Blacks Beach: The Shores Holiday Apartments.
For a cheap, but surprisingly good, motel: Cool Palms Motel.
For apartments with kitchenettes by the marina: Mantra Mackay.
For a holiday park with lot of family-friendly facilities: Big4 Mackay Blacks Beach Holiday Park.
For fully furnished apartments in prime position next to Bluewater Lagoon: Riviera Mackay.

Clairview to Airlie Beach drive: Mackay to Airlie Beach

It’s another 151km from Mackay to Airlie Beach, but you may wish to try two excellent side trips. Eungella National Park brings platypus-spotting at Broken River, plus the waterfall hikes and swimming holes of Finch Hatton Gorge.

At Cape Hillsborough National Park, meanwhile, you can see wallabies and kangaroos on the beach.

The road leading to Airlie Beach comes just after Proserpine, where you can enjoy a crocodile-spotting cruise on the Proserpine River. You’ll pass quieter Cannonvale on the way into Airlie.

9 memory-making Airlie Beach experiences to add to your visit

Whitehaven Beach day cruise – with plenty of snorkelling thrown in.
Glass bottom boat tour – see coral and marine life without getting wet.
Heart Reef flight – see the islands and Great Barrier Reef from above before flying over Australia’s famous heart-shaped island.
Proserpine River crocodile safari – see the big crocs from a boat.
Whitsundays sunset cruise – with free snacks and sparkling wine.
Sailing on the Camira – glide around the Whitsunday Islands under sail.
Whizz around the islands on a guided jetski tour.
Waterfall explorer day tour – with swimming in Hinterland rock pools.
Enjoy high speed thrills on a jet boat ride.