Explore on your own rating
Tender lands near town; reef trips are tours.
Where ships dock
- Tender port: tenders to Port of Airlie
- Some calls use Shute Harbour (about 10 km away)
Getting to town
From Port of Airlie, Main Street and the lagoon are 5–10 minutes' walk.
Boat trips go to Whitehaven Beach and the Great Barrier Reef.
Fares are as reported by the sources below and change often. Treat them as estimates.
Money & entry
Currency: Australian dollar (AUD). Cards are accepted almost everywhere.
Entry: U.S. citizens need an Australian Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) before travel, including cruise passengers. Apply only through the official "AustralianETA" app; there's an AUD 20 service fee and no visa charge. Beware look-alike websites. (Australian Embassy USA / Home Affairs, checked Oct 2026.)
Top sights nearby
- Airlie Beach lagoon
- Whitehaven Beach (tour)
- Great Barrier Reef (tour)
Beaches
- Airlie lagoon (swimming)
- Whitehaven Beach
Safety & tips
- Stinger season (roughly Nov–May) means swimming in stinger suits.
- Book reef trips ahead.
- Check your landing point.
Check U.S. State Department travel advisories before you sail.
⏰ Back to the ship on time
Tours set your return; be at the tender 45 minutes before the last one.
Ship time can differ from local time. Your ship won't wait for independent travelers.