Proserpine Whitsunday Coast Airport: where to stay, areas and…

Whitsunday Coast Airport is located in Proserpine, but the real base for visiting the Whitsundays is Airlie Beach, 38 km and about 30 minutes by car away: from there the boats to Whitehaven Beach and the Great Barrier Reef depart. A shared shuttle costs around 22 Australian dollars one way (36 return) and a direct taxi around 100 dollars. It's almost always worth going for Airlie Beach, even for a short stay: Proserpine itself offers tourists almost nothing, and staying overnight there is only justified by a dawn flight or a late-night arrival.

Airlie Beach

Nearby town · Shared shuttle from the airport, about 30 minutes and 22 Australian dollars one way (36 return); direct taxi in 30-35 minutes for about 100 dollars.

Best for: Those visiting the Whitsundays: from here the boats to Whitehaven Beach and the Great Barrier Reef depart, with restaurants and evening life within walking distance.

Pros

Abel Point Marina a few minutes on foot or by car from the waterfront hotels, the departure point for Whitsunday tours
Restaurants, bars and a tour desk in almost every hotel to organise excursions

Cons

No train or direct bus from the airport: the shuttle must be booked in advance
In high season (June-October) the prices of the waterfront hotels rise significantly

Recommended hotels in this area

Club Wyndham Airlie Beach: Apartments with views over the marina and the Whitsunday Passage, 4 minutes by car from Coral Sea Marina and a 13-minute walk from the Port of Airlie.
Airlie Beach Hotel: On the Esplanade, at the start of Airlie Beach's main street: three in-house restaurants and a tour desk for excursions to Whitehaven Beach, 3 minutes by car from Abel Point Marina.

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Proserpine, near the airport

Airport area · A few minutes' walk from the centre of Proserpine; the airport is about 3 km away, reachable by taxi in 5-10 minutes.

Best for: Only for dawn flights or late-night arrivals, when you want to avoid the shuttle to Airlie Beach at that hour.

Pros

The only alternative to not depending on the shuttle schedule to Airlie Beach during night hours
Much lower prices than the waterfront hotels in Airlie Beach

Cons

Proserpine is a farming town with no tourist attractions or evening life
For the Whitsundays and the boats to the Great Barrier Reef, the 30-minute drive to Airlie Beach is still needed

Recommended hotels in this area

A & A Motel: On the Bruce Highway, a 2-minute walk from the centre of Proserpine; outdoor pool and covered parking, handy for a technical stop before or after the flight.

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