Perched on the edge of the Coral Sea, Airlie Beach in the Whitsundays boasts a lively village atmosphere, daytime and nighttime activities at the many resorts or restaurants and beaches with water sports and a lovely year round swimming lagoon. For one of the best views of Airlie at sunset, drive to Mandalay Point.

Visit the Department of Environment and Heritage for detailed Whitsunday maps outlining 10 km of bushwalks between Airlie Beach and Shute Harbour... If you're in the mood for adventure, turn left on Jasinique Drive before reaching Whitsunday Airport and look for the bush walking track leading to Funnel Bay, with it's beautiful palm-fringed beach, a popular swimming spot with locals around the high tide.

At Shute Harbour, turn left on Whitsunday Drive to view the islands from the Lions Lookout above the Shute Harbour carpark where a compass plate outlines the distances to each of the islands in the Whitsundays... Continue up the hill, turn right into Harbour Avenue to enjoy a view of Shute Harbour and the boats from the balcony of Coral Point Lodge, and while there enjoy a leisurely meal or snack. This is a great place to watch the changing colours of a stunning Whitsunday islands sunset.

If a relaxing walk is your style, enjoy a scenic stroll around Airlie's foreshore. Follow the walkway from the Whitsunday Sailing Club around to the Coral Sea Resort, the perfect spot for a cool drink, a swim and in the late afternoon enjoy a tropical Whitsundays sunset. Just around the corner you continue to follow the walkway to Abel Point Marina and Shingley Beach.

On the way you'll pass the Airlie Beach Lagoon... this beautiful addition to the Whitsundays is very popular with locals and visitors alike, 4300m² in area and holding 4.5 million litres of salt water. The Airlie Beach lagoon provides a 'stinger free' swimming environment all year round.

The Lagoon area is surrounded by landscaped tropical gardens, sheltered tables and chairs, shady trees, free barbecues, and extensive pathways... also included are buildings housing shower and toilet facilities as well as a first aid room and security room.

The swimming are contains a children's wading pool, another shallow children's pool which is a maximum depth of 1.5 metres. The remainder of the lagoon has a maximum depth of 2 metres... Airlie Beach lagoon supervision is undertaken by Lifeguards between 7.00am to 9.00pm, 7 days per week.

On Saturday mornings the Airlie Beach foreshore comes alive with the colour and festivity of the Airlie Craft and Community Market, a "must-see" Whitsundays showcase for local arts, crafts and fresh produce. Any day, window shopping around Airlie is a breeze, with all the shops located on or near the main street and plenty of trees and outside cafes to provide shade and the opportunity to relax and have a cool drink. Most shops in Airlie Beach are open 7 days.

For a view of the lush green hills, valleys and cane fields of the Whitsundays, take the Riordanvale turn-off (Riordanvale Road), then turn left onto Sugarloaf Road in the middle of small acre farms and some lovely Whitsunday homes hiding in the trees. Turn right at the T-intersection into Cannon Valley Road to travel past the canefields thick to the road, then left into Strathdickie Road at the "Strathdickie Smithy" before the road rejoins the Proserpine-Shute Harbour Road.

On the way to Proserpine in the heart of the Whitsundays, turn left on Conway Road and follow the signs to Cedar Creek Falls, a popular cool freshwater swimming hole with the locals and very spectacular during the Whitsundays wet season.

Although the Falls flow only after heavy rains, it's a great place to enjoy a picnic lunch any time of the year. Continue on to Conway and Wilson Beaches for good fishing (at high tide), picnic facilities and boat ramps. Conway is the home of the famous multi-award winning Conway Christmas Craft fair (mid November) with hundreds of craft stalls, and a smorgasbord of food and drink.

Take a drive past the Sugar Mill during the cane crushing season (June to November) and on Tuesday and Thursday soak up the history of this cane and cattle town at the Proserpine Historical Museum, 1 Main Street, Proserpine. Keep an eye out for original buildings in the main street of town or stretch your legs in Pioneer Park at the Highway end of town. To have a look at the old Dittmer Goldmine, closed in the 1930's, continue out along the main street, take the Kelsey Creek turnoff and follow the signs (partly unsealed).

Follow Proserpine's main street through the canefields for a picnic, swim or waterski (if you have your own boat) at Lake Proserpine, which is formed by the 500,000 megalitre Peter Faust Dam. This is a beautiful Whitsundays setting with beautiful Mt. Pluto on the far side of the lake.

Barbeques, playground equipment, a boat ramp and an interesting display showing how Lake Proserpine was created means you can make a full day of it.

For the ultimate in golf recreation, drive to this magnificent 1850 hectare bushland Whitsundays resort (turn off just south of Proserpine Airport). Play golf on the world class Turtle Point Golf Course, enjoy watersports at the Beach Club's 15 hectare non-tidal lagoon, and plan for a relaxing lunch around the large resort pool. The Laguna Whitsundays Marina also welcomes visits from private sailing vessels and bareboat charterers.

Past Laguna Whitsunday along the same road lies the charming Midge Point area. Midge Point is an ideal place to bushwalk, go fishing or crabbing and generally relax in a peaceful and tranquil area by the beach. It is home to various accommodation houses such as a caravan park set in 68 hectares of semi tropical rainforest.

If beautiful white sand beaches and fishing are more your style, head to Dingo Beach... The area is a beachcomber's delight, stroll along several kilometres of long sandy beaches picnic under shady trees. Enjoy talking to the great local characters at the village store and bar, or visit the dugong sanctuary.

The more adventurous might like to launch their dinghies and explore the secluded bays of Gloucester Island. East Side Bay has a lagoon that abounds with crabs and fish.

Take the Bowen turnoff and follow the signs through beautiful rolling hills and valleys, cattle country and palm studded bushland to the seclusion of Earlando or the tiny hamlet of Dingo. Part of the road to Dingo Beach is unsealed, requiring caution in wet weather.