Mackay to Airlie Beach drive: Distance and best road trip stops
The Mackay to Airlie Beach drive is 151km long, with a driving time of around 1h52m. It’s a slightly longer drive from Mackay Airport to Airlie Beach – 157km.
The drive from Mackay to Airlie Beach connects the biggest city of the Whitsundays region with the main tourist hub. Mackay doesn’t tend to be a destination for many, but it’s what passes for a major urban centre in tropical Queensland. And it does offer excellent snorkelling cruises to the largely untouched South Cumberland Islands.
To choose from the best Mackay tours and experiences, head this way. To select the right Mackay accommodation for you, book here.
You’ll pass through Mackay on the drive from Brisbane to Townsville or Cairns.
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.
For the best prices, book Airlie Beach accommodation and tours in advance.
Airlie Beach is a buzzy resort town of bars and restaurants, although neighbouring Cannonvale is more family-focused. Swimmers and sunbathers congregate around the Airlie Beach Lagoon. Others head out on Whitsundays kayaking tours and island cruises. The Hamilton Island ferry, stopping at Daydream Island before Hamilton Island, also departs from Airlie Beach.
Mackay to Airlie Beach distance and driving time
The distance from Mackay to Airlie Beach is 151km, making for a Mackay to Airlie Beach driving time of one hour and 52 minutes.
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.
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.
There’s not an awful lot to see on the way, either. The best road trip stops require a detour off the Bruce Highway. Go east to see the kangaroos on the beach at Cape Hillsborough (stay at the Cape Hillsborough caravan park if so) or west to Mount Charlton. You’ll see plenty of sugar cane, however.
Mackay to Airlie Beach drive: Proserpine River tours
The only reasonable-sized town on the Mackay to Airlie Beach drive is Proserpine. You can do a crocodile-spotting cruise on the Proserpine River if you wish. And, if you want flights to Airlie Beach, you’ll likely fly into Proserpine. It’s just over half an hour from Proserpine Airport to Airlie Beach.
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.
Mackay Airport to Airlie Beach
For those flying into Mackay for a Whitsundays holiday, Mackay Airport is to the south of Mackay. That means the drive from Mackay Airport to Airlie Beach is slightly longer, but not by a massive amount. The Mackay Airport to Airlie Beach drive is 157km long, and should take around an hour and 56 minutes.
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.
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.
More Mackay road trips
Mackay to Bowen: Distance 192km, driving time 2h14m.
Mackay to Cairns: Distance 733km, driving time 8h35m.
Gladstone to Mackay: Distance 443km, driving time 4h53m.
Mackay to Proserpine: Distance 126km, driving time 1h27m.
Mackay to Townsville: Distance 386km, driving time 4h32m.
Rockhampton to Mackay: Distance 336km, driving time 3h35m.
Yeppoon to Mackay: Distance 360km, driving time 4h.