Most Airlie Beach hotels emphasize two things for which Australians are well known—self-reliance and casual living. This means that even the finest Airlie Beach resort is apt to have at least a kitchenette in its rooms and that casual clothing is welcome everywhere, as it is from Sydney to Perth.

The most deluxe Airlie Beach accommodation can be found at resorts like the Coral Sea Resort (pictured), occupying a little point on the harbor and within walking distance of the center of town. This luxurious lodging at Airlie Beach has hotel type rooms and suites as well as apartments, villas, and penthouses with as many as three bedrooms and fully equipped kitchens. All have sea and harbor views, and all have access to the restaurants, bars, and room service. The property also has its own private jetty where you can dock a sailing vessel and head out to the Whitsunday Islands or the Great Barrier Reef on your own schedule.

You can find an Airlie Beach resort similar to the Coral Sea all over town with easy access to great shopping and lively nightlife, as well as a few in the outskirts, nestling up against the borders of the two national parks that virtually surround the town. Every two- or three-bedroom apartment at the Whitsunday Vista Resort on the same side of the harbor has a full kitchen. The Toscana is an even more luxurious Airlie Beach resort with more facilities, but is not located directly on the water. Virtually all of these have the facilities to accommodate weddings and other special events.

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Although not all Airlie Beach accommodation is deluxe, even the cheap Airlie Beach hotels offer great services and a wide array of rooms. Part of Australia’s history and tradition is the walkabout, and backpacking is one of the most popular things to do in the country. You will even find Sydney hostels that cater to this group of tourists, and they will be able to find the perfect Airlie Beach accommodation to suit their budgets and the spirit of their trip. The Airlie Beach Waterfront Backpackers is the perfect example. Here you will find clean, comfortable mixed (both sexes) dormitories sleeping as many as seventeen people in bunk beds; smaller dorm rooms for four to ten people either mixed or female only; and double/twin rooms, some with television, balcony, bar, and refrigerator. It is just opposite the beach and located at one of the main bus stops and within walking distance to the town center. For those who like more down-to-earth accommodations, there are numerous camping and caravan sites in the area.

Some Airlie Beach hotels are health resorts and some are actually motels, including the familiar American Best Western and Comfort Inn chains. Some visitors don’t choose hotels at all, but rather look for another kind of specialty Australia lodging—the charming, family-run bed and breakfast inn. There are several of these in Airlie Beach; some can be considered resorts and some are simply lovely and centrally located homes. The Airlie Waterfront Bed and Breakfast is one of the best, offering rooms with basic cooking facilities and all the fixings to make yourself a delicious and nutritious continental breakfast. On the other end of the scale is the Airlie Beach Organic Guesthouse, set on a forested hill above the harbor and serving a full, home cooked breakfast using ingredients from their own organic garden. Even the most modest Airlie Beach accommodation can assist you with tours, including excursions to the Great Barrier Reef and Whitsunday Islands, scuba diving trips, and even crocodile safaris to the nearby Proserpine River.