Getting to the Whitsunday Islands

The Whitsundays are located in central Queensland, approximately 1100km north of Brisbane and 600km south of Cairns.

They are serviced by the Great Barrier Reef Airport on Hamilton Island (HTI). and Whitsunday Coast Airport on the mainland at Proserpine (PPP). Regular ferry services operate from the Great Barrier Reef Airport (Hamilton Island), South Molle Island and Long Island.

AIR: JETSTAR have 2 direct flights flights from Sydney per day to Great Barrier Reef Airport on Hamilton Island (duration 2.5hrs). They have 1 direct flight 3 times a week (Tue, Thurs & Sat) to Whitsunday Coast Airport. VIRGIN BLUE have 2 flights per day (except Sunday only 1 flight) via Brisbane to Whitsunday Coast Airport (duration 2.5 hrs). They have 2 flights per day via Brisbane to the Great Barrier Reef Airport on Hamilton Island.

From Brisbane JETSTAR have 1 direct flight per day to the Great Barrier Reef Airport on Hamilton Island (duration 1.15) and 1 direct flight per day to Whitsunday Coast Airport. VIRGIN BLUE have 1 direct flight per day to Whitsunday Coast Airport (duration 1.15) and 1 direct flight per day to Great Barrier Reef Airport on Hamilton Island.

From Melbourne JETSTAR has 1 direct flight per day to the Great Barrier Reef Airport on Hamilton Island (duration 3 hrs). VIRGIN BLUE have 2 flights per day via Brisbane to Whitsunday Coast Airport (duration 3 hrs) and 1 flight per day to Great Barrier Reef Airport on Hamilton Island. They also have one flight per day via Brisbane to Great Barrier Reef Airport on Hamilton Airport (duration 5 hrs).

From Cairns QANTAS has 1 direct flight per day to the Great Barrier Reef Airport on Hamilton Island (duration 1.5 hrs).

RAIL: Proserpine (26km inland of Airlie Beach) is the rail link to the Whitsundays. Queensland Rail's 'Sunlander' and 'Queenslander' services depart Brisbane and Cairns for Proserpine several times weekly. The Great South Pacific Express also services this area. The Sunlander is the Northbound train from Brisbane to Cairns and runs on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday mornings, arriving at Prosperine late afternoon the following day. The Spirit of the Trops leaves Brisbane for Townsville Wednesday and Sunday evenings arriving at Proserpine early afternoon the following day. The new Tilt Train travels between Brisbane and Cairns three times a week.

COACH: Leading coach companies operate multiple daily services between most major cities and Airlie Beach. Greyhound has several daily services that run northbound from Brisbane and southbound from Cairns. Premier Motor Service have a Brisbane northbound which arrives at Airlie Beach in the morning. The southbound from Cairns arrives in Airlie Beach late afternoon.

ROAD: The Bruce Hwy passes through the Whitsundays at Proserpine (26km from Airlie Beach). Follow the signs.

FERRY: Fantasea Cruises meet all flights for ferry services to Daydream Island, Club Med Lindeman Island and Shute Harbour on the Whitsunday Coast. Other islands are accessed from Shute Harbour by private ferries. Blue Ferries have direct services from Shute Harbour to Hamilton Island or via Daydream & South Molle Islands. Cruise Whitsundays meet flights with ferry transfers to Daydream Island, South Molle Island, Long Island and Abel Point Marina . Once at Abel Point Marina , pre-booked coach transfers will take you to Airlie Beach accommodation. Guests of Hayman Islands will be met by pre-booked luxury transfers. Access to Brampton Island is via Mackay Marina or with Island Air from Great Barrier Reef Airport on Hamilton Island.