Hervey Bay to Townsville road trip: Distance & best stops
Hervey Bay to Townsville drive: Mackay to Cannonvale and Airlie Beach
From Mackay to Airlie Beach it’s another 151km behind the wheel. But you may wish to build in a couple of side trips. Eungella National Park is renowned for platypus-spotting at Broken River, while you can enjoy waterfalls and swimming holes at Finch Hatton Gorge on the way.
Mount Martin National Park and Bluff Hill National Park are other options, but the kangaroos on the beach in Cape Hillsborough National Park are more memorable. You can stay the night at the Cape Hillsborough caravan park.
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.
Proserpine is the biggest town on this part of the drive and you can do a crocodile-spotting cruise on the Proserpine River nearby. For most people, however, this is simply where you turn off towards quieter Cannonvale and rowdier Airlie Beach.
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.
Things to do in Airlie Beach include swimming in the Airlie Beach Lagoon, Whitsundays kayaking tours, helicopter flights and day trips to Hamilton Island. There are also plentiful day trips from Airlie Beach to the other Whitsunday Islands.
Airlie Beach accommodation picks
Specialist Australian booking site Wotif offers Airlie Beach accommodation for from $114 a night. You can look through the best deals here.
However, some Airlie Beach accommodation options are worth highlighting:
- On a budget: Tasman Holiday Parks Airlie Beach.
- For families: Big4 Adventure Whitsundays Resort.
- For waterfront apartments: At Marina Shores.
- For pampering: Coral Sea Marina Resort.
- For great value: Colonial Palms Motor Inn.
Click through for the next section: Cape Gloucester and Bowen.