I visited Airlie Beach, a small town of Queensland, due to my strong wish to see the great barrier reef and it was one of the best decisions of my life!
Airlie Beach Lagoon
You can go around Airlie Beach only in ten fifteen minutes on foot, but it was so tranquil and beautiful that I could spend a whole week just to relax and detox from everyday life. The best spot of the city is the Airlie Beach Lagoon. Initially when I read about artificial lagoons, I was kind of hesitant. I come from a country where the sun and beach are part of everyday life and culture and anything artificial sounded kind of indifferent. I was totally wrong! This free provision of the state constitutes a unique example of the organization of the country and its quality of life. An initiative that improves the city by creating a family-friendly spot where residents and tourists may swim safely in crystal clear water (there are even lifeguards), sunbath and enjoy the sunny days. Around the lagoon there are areas with free tables and barbeques for picnics (there are even outdoor electric stoves so that you can cook and hang around with your friends).
Whitsunday Islands
You may reach Whitsunday Islands by boat from Airlie Beach or from Hamilton Island. Both have airports but the flights and accommodation to Airlie Beach are usually cheaper than the Hamilton ones. So, when being in Airlie Beach as I did, the best day trip is to the Whitsunday Islands. After a lot of search I chose Sailing Whitsundays – the Whitsunday Bullet which I totally recommend (https://sailing-whitsundays.com/whitsundays/whitsunday-bullet). Our first stop was snorkeling at the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park (Wetsuits and snorkel gears are included in the price). Unfortunately, I didn’t have waterproof camera to show you the bright colors of the corals or the colorful amazing parrot fishes that I met while snorkeling, but I assure you that this experience is totally amazing.
Next stop was the divine Hill Inlet Lookout. I honestly don’t have enough words to describe how wonderful this place is. It is one of the few times that a photo cannot capture the real beauty of this heavenly made place. The view is even better from up close. Just mind blowing!
Last stop was Whitehaven Beach, a seven kilometers white silica sand beach with turquoise crystal-clear waters. It comes as no surprise that it was voted as the best beach in the world for year 2025. The silica sand that is always cold and the fact that only for a few hours the beach has visitors during the day as it can be reached only by boat, maintain the virginity of the place and landmark.
Scenic Flight To Heart Reef
Having the chance to observe the Great Barrier Reef from the air is a unique and one-in-a-lifetime experience that you can’t miss. I chose this 60-minute scenic flight with amazing views to the Heart Reef (a reef in the shape of a heart), Hill Inlet Lookout and Whitehaven Beach that I totally recommend (https://sailing-whitsundays.com/whitsundays/scenic-flight-to-heart-reef).The view was breathtaking!
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