Car Rental Proserpine Airport

Your island-hopping escape starts at Proserpine Airport. Make this your travel hub to discover the amazing Whitsunday Islands, 55 kilometres off the central Queensland coast. That’s 74 tropical islands with white sandy beaches, surrounded by the turquoise waters of the Coral Sea. What’s more, you’ve arrived at the launchpad for the Great Barrier Reef, Australia’s much-loved and legendary hotspot.

The coastal town of Airlie Beach is just a short drive from Proserpine Airport (also known as Whitsunday Coast Airport). This tropical resort makes the perfect base camp. It’s the laid-back neighbour of the Whitsundays, and your ticket to explore the marine parks of the Reef. Stay on shore awhile and slather on some sunscreen. Laze on Airlie’s palm-fringed beaches and unwind among the frangipanis. Enjoy casual outdoor dining, fish and chips on the foreshore, or picnicking at the waterfront parks. Get active with snorkelling off a purpose-made pontoon, jet skiing, and sailing in the sea. Families can enjoy safe swimming in a man-made lagoon. There’s rainforest walks and waterfalls, hikes in the hinterland, and Saturday markets to browse.

Airlie Beach is also connected by ferry (via a 10-minute drive to Shute Harbour) with the main Whitsunday Islands of Hamilton and Daydream. Both islands lie in the heart of the Great Barrier Reef. Being just 5 kilometres off the coast makes Daydream Island an easy stretch and a great choice for day trippers. Stunning beaches, reef lagoons and lush rainforests make it popular with families and couples seeking a quick getaway. Meanwhile, there are tons of watersports and activities on offer, plus food and entertainment options to keep the whole family happy on Hamilton Island, whatever your budget. From sail and snorkel tours to luxury cruises and light plane flights, rounds of golf or just playing on the sands. 

With so much to do in the Whitsunday region, there’s no need to wait – pick up your hire car and set off on one of the best adventures you’re likely to have on your great Aussie holiday.

Your hire car will help you experience one of the world’s natural wonders

If you’re a first-time visitor, you’re probably eager to get straight to the Great Barrier Reef. This World Heritage Site stretches from Cairns (600 kilometres to the north), down the coastline to Queensland’s south. The world’s largest living coral expanse is a whopping 2,300 kilometres in length, with a huge diversity of colourful marine life spread over 2,900 individual reefs. Home to over a thousand types of fish, six species of sea turtles alone come to the Reef to breed. Divers regard it as underwater heaven. Whether you choose a glass-bottom boat or a more immersive experience, find a tour to get you close to this natural wonder. 

Another way to appreciate this epic natural phenomenon is to take a scenic flight by helicopter or seaplane. The Whitsundays are right near the amazing Heart Reef. The sight of this naturally formed heart-shaped reef from above will add a splash of romance to any holiday. If you’re more of an adventurer, why not take the plunge with tandem skydiving above the Whitsundays and Airlie Beach. It’s a remarkable view of paradise you’ll fall for!

Whitsunday Island is the biggest island of the group and an unmissable experience. The 98% pure silica sands on Whitehaven Beach are a dazzling white and incredibly soft beneath the feet. The waves are warm and calm to soak in. This would fit most people’s picture of a tropical nirvana. Whitehaven was recently voted number one beach in the world by TripAdvisor. Queensland’s cleanest beach has also been crowned as the world’s top eco-beach. A 30-minute high-speed catamaran from Hamilton Island will whisk you here so you can experience this 7 kilometres of pristine nature for yourself. 

Explore the coastal hinterland around Proserpine in your hire car

For a tree change, head towards Shute Harbour to access the peaceful tropical rainforests and mangroves of Conway National Park. Go on some nice and easy circuit walks; or take the most challenging path – the 2-kilometre Swamp Bay walk – that offers the most stunning views over the Whitsundays and beyond. Start at the Mount Roper car park and finish at a beach rich with coral. 

For more excellent trails and a glimpse of native Australian wildlife, discover Cedar Falls in a hidden pocket of Conway National Park. When you’re ready to escape the buzz of the resorts, make your way to this quiet spot amid the forests and rocks of the hinterland. It’s a scenic 30-kilometre drive from Airlie Beach, along roads lined with cane fields. Dip into the clear waters when you arrive, and swim beneath the icy cold waterfall. Pack a picnic lunch to while away the afternoon.

With Prosperine just 20 kilometres away, you could head back into this charming town, built upon cattle grazing and cane fields. Explore the art deco buildings and learn more about its history at the Proserpine Historical Museum. Lake Proserpine has three pontoons for keen anglers to fish from the banks. The barramundi is known to be huge here. Set up camp lakeside to extend your experience. The more adventurous can head to Proserpine River for some crocodile spotting around the wetlands and estuaries. A vacation of various moods awaits you!