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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8 experiences that make Moreton Bay the best getaway

    Rachel LayBy Rachel Lay
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    From the moment you arrive in Moreton Bay, stunning natural vistas, fresh and tasty dining, history and more invite you to stay and play.

    Untouched national park, mirror-like lagoons and endless stretches of beaches all make Moreton Bay experiences feel like you’ve stumbled across a secret Queenslanders collectively vowed not to tell. Yet it’s easily accessible. Explore further and discover hinterland farms, ancient rainforest, fresh seafood and more: there’s something on offer for every pace, interest and generation.

    Just 20 minutes from Brisbane Airport, it’s hard to believe how underrated this Queensland getaway is. Here’s your ultimate guide to rediscover play with unmissable experiences in Moreton Bay.

    1. G’Day Adventure Tours, Bribie Island

    G’Day Adventure Tours’ Sea to Table Experience
    Explore Bribie Island with G’Day Adventure Tours.

    G’Day Adventure Tours’ Sea to Table Experience should be your first agenda item in Moreton Bay. Take a 4WD journey through the sandy tracks of Bribie Island’s beaches to the still, glassy waters of the island’s lagoons. Glide over perfect replicas of paperbarks and fluffy blue clouds mirrored in the lagoon waters in your kayak. Listen as native birdsong echoes around you.

    Then, it’s on to Fort Bribie. During the Second World War, these concrete bunkers – now slowly being enveloped by the dunes – were the last line of defence for Moreton Bay.

    End the day with a sun-dappled beach picnic of locally caught Queensland prawns and famous Moreton Bay bugs. As you head home, watch the dolphins playfully dart in and out of the surf.

    2. Morgan’s Seafood at Scarborough

    Morgan’s Seafood
    It doesn’t get fresher than Morgan’s Seafood. (Image: Ezra Patchett)

    Right on the Scarborough Boat Harbour, you’ll find Morgan’s Seafood . Between the luxury yachts, you’ll also spot trawlers and fishermen delivering their day’s catch right to Morgan’s. The family-owned and operated spot is one of the best places to try the region’s eponymous Moreton Bay bug. Or, sample more of the area’s direct-from-the-boat seafood fresh at their oyster and sushi bar. If you’re lucky, your visit might coincide with a day they’ve caught tuna.

    Picture fish caught that day, prepared and then served to you as fresh sashimi as the sun sets over the unique silhouette of the Glasshouse Mountains.

    3. Woorim Beach, Bribie Island

    woorim beach bribie island
    Hang 10, or relax, on Woorim Beach.

    On Bribie’s eastern coastline, you’ll find Woorim Beach : aka the closest surf beach to Brisbane. Find a place on the sand by the patrolled area or wander further south to find a quiet spot and while the day away between the shaded dunes, the pages of your book and the peaceful sound of rolling waves.

    Ask any local where to grab lunch, and they’ll direct you to Bribie Island Surf Club Bistro . Tuck into a fresh, local seafood platter, just metres from the beach.

    4. D’Aguilar National Park

    D’Aguilar National Park
    Admire the landscapes of D’Aguilar National Park.

    D’Aguilar National Park is a 40,000-hectare slice of greenery that stretches from urban Brisbane right up to Woodford (home of the Woodford Folk Festival). The vast expanse of park is home to ancient rainforests, eucalypt forests and shaded swimming spots hidden within gorges and under waterfalls. The area is significant for the Jinibara and Turrbal people, with ceremonial bora rings and dreaming trails all found within the park.

    Carve out some time in your itinerary to explore the park’s many trails. The Maiala day-use area is the perfect starting point for walks for all levels of ability.

    5. Arcade Wine Bar

    arcade wine bar moreton bay
    Sit down to a menu inspired by Italy.

    Opposite the Redcliffe Jetty and down a laneway, you’ll find an unassuming wine bar. Venture inside and quickly fall in love with Arcade Wine Bar , one of the region’s most beloved local haunts.

    Owners Danilo and Matt have a combined 50 years of sommelier experience, which they have poured into the menu, styling and wine list. More than just a hole-in-the-wall wine bar, Arcade Wine is an enoteca (a wine repository), whose walls are lined with bottles upon bottles of Italian wine varietals from every corner of Italy.

    Settle in with a wine and work your way through the menu inspired by Danilo’s native Italy: traditional meatballs, their quick-to-sell-out terrine, or a selection of Italian cheeses, charcuterie and arancini.

    6. Wamuran & Loop Rail Trail

    Away from the ocean, tucked in the hinterland, is the Wamuran & Loop Rail Trail . Perfect for cyclists or walkers, the trail was built to showcase the history of the Caboolture to Kilcoy rail corridor (last operating in 1964) and makes for the perfect family day out. The trail runs for 10.5km and connects Wamuran and Caboolture via an accessible path.

    Pass through former railroad, bridges and shaded bushland as you cut from A to B. Plus, visit in winter for a detour along the way to one of the many pick-your-own strawberry farms.

    7. Farm Visits

    Beaches, mountains and history make an enticing combination. But Moreton Bay also brings hinterland, family-friendly farms to the table. Trevena Glen is one of the area’s most loved, with bunnies, ponies, sheep, alpacas (and more) available to visit for the kids. For the adults, book a horse-riding session and be treated to a grazing platter as you watch the sun set over the mountains of D’Aguilar National Park.

    At White Ridge Farm , find camels, putt-putt, train and tractor rides and all kinds of animals. The entire farm is paved, making it accessible for all.

    8. Miss Sprinkles

    Miss Sprinkles Gelato moreton bay
    Pick your scoop at Miss Sprinkles Gelato.

    An ice cream at the beach is one of life’s most perfect pleasures. While in town, stop by Miss Sprinkles for the locals’ pick of homemade gelato on the Scarborough foreshore.

    The gelato here is made the authentic Italian way and scooped up just across from the beach. Or, settle in at their kitschy pink wooden tables for traditional gelato in the sunshine.  Aside from the homemade gelato, you’ll also find tarts, pies and even doggie gelato.

    To start planning your Moreton Bay trip, or for more information, head to visitmoretonbay.com.au.