Free stuff to do around Airlie Beach
Twilight Sailing
Every Wednesday afternoon local skippers take to the water for a casual race
around Airlie Bay. As long as you bring your own beer and don't wear shoes
that could mark up the deck you are pretty likely to get an invite to join
in.
The boats go out at around 3 30pm and race until twilight when the crews
take a breather and have a cold beer on the way back to the harbour. Be prepared
to join in with sailing the boat - you can learn loads from some of the skippers
and might get invited back if you get along.
This is a great way to meet some of the locals, have a sail for free and
ask about the best trips.
Whitsunday Great Walk
The Long Walk
A
30km journey through Conway State Forest, starting at Brandy Creek, and finishing
at Airlie Beach, it officially takes 2 days but some ironman types run it in
about 4- 5 hours.
Its a good plan to plan to camp at one of the 2 camp sites - if you are making good time belt on till the end.
Two camps are located along the Great Walk. Both have access to toilets and drinking water. Storage boxes are also provided so you can keep food away from wildlife.
Smaller bush camps are located between the two main camps if you wish to walk further on the first day. There are no facilities at these camps, but water tanks are provided at four different points along the track. Camping outside designated areas is not permitted.
Camping fees $4.00 per person per night
One kilometre north of Proserpine (or 65km south of Bowen), turn off the highway onto Shute Harbour Road. Travel 12km before turning right onto Brandy Creek Road.
Brandy Creek to Repulse Creek Camp. 8.3km (3.5 — 4.5 hours).
There are two choices to begin the Great Walk. You can stay on the main track, an old logging road through lush rainforest, or you can set out on the Kingfisher Circuit. This option will add at least 45 minutes to your days walk, and rejoins the main track after sections of steep stairs.
Continue to the Wompoo Walk junction, where you can continue on the main track, or turn left to walk to a seasonal creek (allow another hour)
Repulse Creek Camp to Bloodwood Camp. 11.5km (5 — 6 hours).
A gentle walk through drier forest. Cross two creeks till the track becomes steep as you follow a ridge to the summit of Mt Hayward.
Bloodwood Camp to Airlie Beach. 8.5km (3.5 — 4.5 hours)
Follow the coastal ridge towards Airlie Beach through low vegetation tangled with vines.
Tackle a steep climb through low vine thicket and then descend through some taller forest before coming to a junction in the track. Here, you can turn left to extend the walk by about 1.5 hours for beyond Cannonvale to the Dryander Range and the Whitsunday Islands from Honey Eater lookout.
Short walks
Kingfisher Circuit. 2km return (45mins — 1.5 hours)
Be prepared for lots of stairs.
Weave through giant strangler figs, tulip oaks and basket ferns.
Wompoo Walk. 7km return (3 — 4 hours)
You can also walk to Honey Eater lookout from the Airlie Beach end of the walk
- walk up Begley St to Lewis St, carry on up the steep hill to St Kara Crescent
and walk up the wooden steps. The round trip takes about 3 hours - take some
water!
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