The best places to camp in Airlie Beach

Craig TansleyBy Craig Tansley
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Sleep in camping sites set in hectares of tropical gardens within walking distance of town in caravan parks which offer the most cost-effective way to stay in Airlie Beach.

There’s no more affordable way to stay in Airlie Beach than camping under the stars in some of North Queensland’s best caravan parks, complete with water parks, swimming pools and loads of other family features. Here are the best Airlie Beach camping spots to stay at during your next visit.

NRMA Airlie Beach Holiday Park

At NRMA Airlie Beach Holiday Park  you can pitch your tent amongst five hectares of tropical gardens and grass right beside Airlie Beach’s best-kept secret beach, Cannonvale Beach.

an aerial view of NRMA Airlie Beach Holiday Park
The resort-style park is situated near the beach.

There’s a resort-style pool, splash park, bike hire, BBQs and an onsite cafe, and you’re right next to the Bicentennial Walkway which takes you all the way to town along the Coral Sea.

an aerial view of the pool at NRMA Airlie Beach Holiday Park
Cool off at the pool surrounded by tropical gardens.

Purists might prefer unpowered campsites, but those looking for more convenience have the option of electricity.

a cabin at NRMA Airlie Beach Holiday Park
Stay in a cabin or boutique bungalow.

Address: 234 Shute Harbour Road, Cannonvale

Pet-friendly: Only permitted on selected sites. Contact the park directly.

Big 4 Adventure Whitsunday Resort

There’s no better place for a family to pitch a tent than at Big 4 Adventure Whitsunday Resort . Stay in powered sites across 10 hectares of landscaped, tropical gardens of palms and flowering shrubs set against the backdrop of a national park above, but all on the edge of Airlie Beach.

an aerial view of Big 4 Adventure Whitsunday Resort
The Big 4 Adventure Whitsunday Resort comes with a lagoon-style pool.

There are 13 water slides, a 32-metre lagoon-style pool, mini-golf, and two giant jumping pillows and you’ll also be able to access the only animal park in this part of Queensland (with plenty of goats and chickens for the kids).

waterslides at Big 4 Adventure Whitsunday Resort
There are 13 waterslides at the resort.

Address: 25-29 Shute Harbour Road, Jubilee Pocket

Pet-friendly: No

Big 4 Whitsundays Tropical Eco Resort

You’re just a short walk from the main street of Airlie Beach, but you’ll camp on either powered or unpowered grass and slab camping sites cocooned within three hectares of green tropical rainforest, adjacent to national park.

two women sitting outside a cabin at Big 4 Whitsundays Tropical Eco Resort
Retreat into a rustic cabin at Big 4 Whitsundays Tropical Eco Resort.

While you’re close to all the amenities of town, you might struggle to leave your bushy oasis  with its kids’ playground, inflatable ninja challenge, jumping pillow, go-kart track, solar heated swimming pool and movie nights held out under the stars.

a solar heated swimming pool at Big 4 Whitsundays Tropical Eco Resort
Soak in a solar heated swimming pool.

Address: 2955 Shute Harbour Road, Airlie Beach

Pet-friendly: Yes

Tasman Holiday Park Airlie Beach

You won’t believe how quickly you can get to the main street of Airlie Beach and the town’s stunning beaches and beachside parks from Tasman Holiday Airlie Beach .

an aerial view of Tasman Holiday Park Airlie Beach
Tasman Holiday Park Airlie Beach is a tropical oasis.

It’s just a quick walk to everything the town offers (though you won’t have to go further than a few metres for your morning coffee with a coffee van out front each morning).

the glamping tent at Tasman Holiday Park Airlie Beach
Sleep in a glamping tent at Tasman Holiday Park Airlie Beach.

Opt for a powered site or choose an ensuite site with its own private bathroom. There are BBQs, a kids’ playground, pedal karts and daily bird feeding.

the pool at Tasman Holiday Park Airlie Beach
Laze by the pool.

Address: 1 Jubilee Pocket Road, Airlie Beach

Pet-friendly: Yes

Discovery Park Airlie Beach

Situated just below the lush, green national park on the edge of Airlie Beach (Conway National Park) you’ll feel like you’re camping in the middle of the wilderness at Discovery Park Airlie Beach .

the Bali villa at Discovery Park Airlie Beach
Be transported to Bali in one of the Discovery Park Airlie Beach villas.

Local wildlife like kangaroos, possums, wallabies, brush turkeys, goannas and rainbow lorikeets hang out amongst the tropical rainforest of the park.

a look inside one of the cabins at Discovery Park Airlie Beach
Each cabin is complete with modern comforts.

Spend time at the swimming pool looking up at the national park – there’s also a toddler pool, outdoor spa baths, kids’ playground and a water park.

the bedroom inside a cabin at Discovery Park Airlie Beach
Stay in a rustic but cosy cabin.

Address: 2634 Shute Harbour Road, Jubilee Pocket

Pet-friendly: No

Nomads Airlie Beach

This is camping for the young and young-at-heart right in the beating heart of Airlie Beach. At Nomads Airlie Beach  there’s a great bar on-site and you’re only metres from the main street, but you’ll have some peace and privacy amongst five hectares of tropical gardens away from the dorm rooms. There are two resort-style pools and volleyball courts – so if you are looking for a bit of fun, there’s no better spot for a bargain-rate price anywhere in Airlie Beach.

Address: 336-354 Shute Harbour Road, Airlie Beach

Pet-friendly: Yes

Now discover the 10 best restaurants in Airlie Beach.
Craig Tansley
Craig Tansley has been a travel writer for over 20 years, winning numerous awards along the way. A long-time sucker for adventure, he loves to write about the experiences to be had on islands, on the sea, in forests or deserts; or anywhere in nature across Australia, and the world.
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Airlie Beach accommodation
Airlie Beach

A guide to the best Airlie Beach accommodation

Airlie Beach accommodation for every budget: from swish hotels and resorts to well-kept family-friendly camping grounds and caravan parks, these top five picks will cover most bases.

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5 of the best Sunshine Coast day trips

    Kate BettesBy Kate Bettes
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    City buzz, gourmet trails, surf breaks and art scenes are all at your fingertips.

    When it comes to planning a trip, picking a holiday destination is the easy part. The real dilemma is where to set yourself up for the night. Do you go coastal, city, or countryside? Somewhere remote and rugged, or right in the action? Luckily, the Sunshine Coast, and huge number of amazing Sunshine Coast day trips, have kindly made the choice for you.

    Ditch the hotel-hopping and suitcase-lugging. Instead, base yourself at Novotel Sunshine Coast or Mantra Mooloolaba , where big-city culture, vine-covered valleys, and theme parks are all within a two-hour drive.

    1. Sunshine Coast to Brisbane

    Drive time: 1 hour 20 minutes (105km)

    Shake off the sand from your sandals and swap the beach for the throb of the Queensland capital. Ease in gently with a bougainvillea-filled stroll through South Bank, iced latte in hand, before cooling off at Streets Beach lagoon – Brisbane’s answer to the coast (but without the waves).

    Once firmly in big-city mode, hit up the Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA) , home to Australia’s largest collection of modern and contemporary artworks. Dive into the past at the Queensland Museum, where prehistoric fossils of Australian dinosaurs and megafauna collide with First Nations cultural collections and interactive science exhibits.

    All this learning got you hungry? Howard Smith Wharves calls. Here, riverside dining delivers breweries with meat-forward menus, Japanese fine dining and overwater bars. If you’ve got room for more, Fortitude Valley’s shopping boutiques await you and your wallet.

    woman walking around Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA)
    Wander the Gallery of Modern Art. (Image: TEQ)

    2. Sunshine Coast to the Scenic Rim

    Drive time: 2 hours 15 minutes (170km)

    Make your way inland to the Scenic Rim for the state’s best vineyards and age-old volcanic slopes. Start your day early (like, sparrow’s breakfast early) at O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat in Lamington National Park . Here, take a treetop walk through the canopy and hand-feed the wild birds who flock here.

    Next, it’s your turn to eat. Here, the food scene operates where locally sourced produce is an expectation, not an exception. Order a picnic basket crammed with regional wine and cheese to devour next to the creek at Canungra Valley Vineyards . Or perhaps a grazing platter of vegan and non-vegan cheeses at Witches Falls Winery .

    Feeling bold? Tackle the Twin Falls circuit in Springbrook National Park. Or keep the gourmet life going with a Scenic Rim Brewery tasting paddle, best enjoyed while taking in the rise of the Great Dividing Range.

    woman with cheese and wine at Witches Falls Winery
    Enjoy a cheese platter at Witches Falls Winery. (Image: TEQ)

    3. Sunshine Coast to the Gold Coast

    Drive time: 2 hours (180km)

    Surf, sand and sparkling skylines might be the Gold Coast’s MO, but there’s more to Surfers Paradise and beyond. Kick things off with a beachfront coffee at Burleigh Heads, then hike through Burleigh Head National Park to look over the ocean and whale sightings (dependent on the season, of course).

    Cool off in the calm waters of Tallebudgera Creek before chowing down on the famously buttery Moreton Bay bug rolls at Rick Shores . Travelling with the kids? Then you can’t miss Australia’s theme park capital, with Dreamworld ’s big rides and Warner Bros. Movie World ’s Hollywood treatment at hand to keep the family entertained.

    aerial view of Tallebudgera Creek
    Dive into Tallebudgera Creek. (Image: TEQ)

    4. Sunshine Coast to Tweed Heads

    Drive time: 2 hours 15 minutes (200km)

    Dare to cross enemy lines? Then welcome to New South Wales. Tweed Heads blends the laid-back attitude of the Northern Rivers with high-quality dining, experimental art, and farm-fresh indulgence – a combo worth the drive.

    Start strong with a long, lazy brunch at Tweed River House , then swing by Tropical Fruit World for exotic finds like red dragon fruit, handfuls of lychees and black sapote. Next, hit M|Arts Precinct – an art deco hub of micro galleries, artist workshops and one-off boutiques.

    Round off the day with sunset drinks at Husk Distillers among the glowing cane fields, and order one with their famous Ink Gin. You’ll thank us later.

    exterior of Husk Distillers
    Taste the famous Ink Gin at Husk Distillers. (Image: Destination NSW)

    5. Sunshine Coast Hinterland

    Drive time: 1 hour (70km)

    Strap on those hiking boots and make tracks inland, where volcanic peaks, misty rainforest and hinterland townships beckon. Ease in with the Glass House Mountains Lookout Walk, or, if you have energy to burn, tackle the Mount Ngungun Summit Walk for a 360-degree sight of the surrounding summits.

    Next: Montville. This township delivers European-style architecture and old-world appeal. Nearby, settle in at Flame Hill Vineyard, where a large pour of estate-grown wine comes with encompassing views of the countryside.

    Not ready to leave the hinterland villages just yet? Of course not. Meander past art galleries and indie shops at Maleny. Nab some fudge from Sweets on Maple for a sweet fix. Or go salty at Maleny Dairies with a farm tour and a chunky wedge of their deliciously creamy cheese.

    End the day among the eucalypts and rainforests of Kondalilla National Park. Here, the Kondalilla Falls Circuit winds down through trees humming with life to a rock pool beneath a waterfall – as if designed for soaking tired feet before heading back to the coast.

    view of Mount Ngungun on the scenic rim queensland
    Take on the Mount Ngungun Summit Walk (Image: TEQ)

    Start planning your Sunshine home base at all.com.