Emerald to Airlie Beach road trip: Best stops, distance & time

The Emerald to Mackay drive covers a distance of 500km in a driving time of around 5h26m. The road trip route passes through coal mining country and the Great Dividing Range.

The drive from Emerald to Airlie connects a surprisingly interesting inland town near the Tropic of Capricorn to the main tourism hub on the Whitsundays coast of Queensland. For many drivers, this will be the last leg on the inland road trip from Melbourne to Airlie Beach.

Emerald offers a good botanic garden and the Outback Exploratorium. For Emerald accommodation, book here.

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 is aimed at helping travellers plan their perfect Emerald to Airlie Beach road trip itinerary.

Click through on the links for more detailed links about individual towns and attractions – and remember to stock up on your road trip essentials before setting off.

Emerald to Airlie Beach distance and driving time

By car, the distance from Emerald to Airlie Beach is 500km. This makes for a driving time of around five hours and 26 minutes. It is, alas, not one of Australia’s most exciting drives.

Where to stay in Emerald

The best Emerald accommodations options are:

For central location: Motel 707.
For a more stylish motel: Abode37.
For a good quality motel with cheap rates: A&A Lodge Motel.
For families: Discovery Parks Emerald.

The quickest route starts out along the Gregory Highway. You branch off in Capella, small town with a golf course, race course and Dooley’s Tavern – which serves up pub classics and a decent laksa.

Turn right along Crinum Road, and head towards Tieri, which has a golf course, a few simple accommodation options and a Foodworks supermarket.

Emerald to Airlie Beach road trip: Middlemount and Nebo

It’s the last worthwhile stop for a long time, as the drive heads through unglamorous mining country. Continue along Tieri Road, which merges into Dysart Middlemount Road. This takes you to Middlemount, which has tennis courts, a hotel-motel and a gold and country club. It is essentially a coal mine service town, however.

Shortly afterwards, you’ll turn left along State Route 67 – the Fitzroy Developmental Road. This is a dull slog for through coal country until you turn right along the Peak Downs Highway.

Nebo is the first settlement of any size here, with a racecourse, showground and petrol station. But, again, it’s 99% miners and 1% tourists.

Emerald to Airlie Beach drive: Peak Downs Highway

Around Epsom, the route starts to get prettier and more forested as it enters the Great Dividing Range.

The Peak Downs Highway then passes between the Ben Mohr State Forest and Spencer Gap State Forest. The 5km return walk to the Spencer Gap Waterholes is the highlight here.

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.

The highway goes into Mackay, the biggest city in the Whitsundays region. Highlights of Mackay include the crocodile-free Bluewater Lagoon pool, Blacks Beach and snorkelling cruises to the South Cumberland Islands.

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.

Emerald to Airlie Beach drive: Mackay to Airlie Beach

If continuing to Airlie Beach, however, the route skirts west of Mackay, joining State Route 5 in Eton. Before reaching the Bruce Highway, you may wish to turn off to the west for Eungella National Park, which offer platypus-spotting at Broken River and waterfall walks in Finch Hatton Gorge.

There’s also the less exciting Mount Martin National Park nearer the junction with the Bruce Highway.

Shortly afterwards comes another worthwhile detour to Cape Hillsborough National Park, where you can see 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.