CRUISERS NOTES - AIRLIE BEACH

:: CRUISERS NOTES ::

AIRLIE BEACH

WHITSUNDAY ISLANDS

GREAT BARRIER REEF

AUSTRALIA

Airlie Beach is a relaxed sea-side town known as the gateway to the Whitsunday Islands and the Great Barrier Reef. For cruisers, Airlie is a great stop when traveling north for the season to take a break, shop to send presents home, provision - and organise maintenance and repairs.

There are numerous sea-side eateries from which to satiate the senses whilst enjoying the superb ocean views - along with the recently refurbished 'Lagoon' sea-side pool in which to chill and unwind.

The Conway National Park hosts the refreshing Cedar Creek Falls - and just up the back of the township itself there are many bush walks, such as the 'Honey Eaters Track' to stretch the legs and take in the magnificent views.

There are a plethora of touristy rides and events - and if you've timed it right you can experience one of the many Festivals, Race Week or the famous Shag Islet Cruisers Rendezvous!

CRUISING GUIDES:

100 Magic Miles - of the Great Barrier Reef and The Whitsunday Islands

Sixth Edition

Author: David Colfelt

MARINA'S:

Airlie Beach hosts two excellent marinas if you need to go into them, however anchoring out front in Pioneer Bay is convenient and easy with a dinghy dock provided at the yacht club.

PORT OF AIRLIE:

Airlie Beach's newest marina also hosts the Cruise Whitundays Terminal, a variety of excellent restaurants (we love Walters Lounge!), retail shops, berths and fuel jetty. It's an easy 5-minute walk into the heart of Airlie – where you can provision from Woolworths, Chemists and peruse a plethora of shops.

http://portofairlie.com.au/

ABEL POINT MARINA:

Located over the hill from Airlie township itself Abel Point Marina is a good 30-minute stroll around 'The Boardwalk' back into town. For provisioning it can be better to take the dinghy to the VMR ramp (30-minutes allowed) and shoot over to Coles in Cannonvale, where you will also find the Post Office, Chemist, Doctors and X-Ray services along-side the Shopping Centre.

Abel Point also hosts a Chandlery, Marine Electronics, Diesel Mechanics, Refrigeration service and repairs and haulout facilities along with fuel and water dock and various restaurants.

http://abellpointmarina.com.au/

YACHT CLUB

Whitsunday Sailing Club is located at Airlie Point just along the park from the main street. Cruisers can obtain a temporary membership allowing use of showers, amenties and washing machines. There is also a dinghy dock located behind the breakwall. The yacht club is a great place for sundowners, and to connect with other cruisers and racers.

http://www.whitsundaysailingclub.com.au/

PROVISIONING

Woolworth's and Cole's are the main supermarkets found in the region, however for fresh produce you can't go past the Saturday markets held on the foreshore. The fresh fruit and veges are locally grown and the freshly baked bread at the Bakery is just divine!

Woolworth's is located in the centre of town, an easy 5-min walk to your dinghy.
Cole's in located over the hill in Cannonvale. You would be best to take your dinghy around to the VMR located in Cannonvale.
Markets are held during the weeks when Cruise Ships are in, and every Saturday on the main beach foreshore.

GIFT SHOPPING

When shopping for yourself, or catching up on birthday and Xmas gifts to send home to loved ones - it pays to know the good places to go!

Colour Me Crazy:

Lusciously located in Proserpine, Colour Me Crazy is a veritable den of antiquity – and quickly became one of my favourite go to stores! At only 20-minutes from Airlie it is well worth catching a ride out there. The girls are delightful and love to make shopping fun!

You will find beautiful jewellery, beads and gemstones, exquisite clothing, candles, notebooks and journals, a plethora of bags and purses, colourful crockery and collectables, fabulous cushions and bedding – from Bohemian to modern, contemporary and funky – garden gifts, gift cards – this place it a must see!

T 07 4945 2698

http://colourmecrazy.com.au/

Grotty Yachty Clothing & Nautical Gifts of Airlie:

Another excellent store located in the heart of Airlie town, Grotty Yachty is a nautically inspired gift store stocking an incredible array of creations from local Artisans. We love this! From painted coconuts to beautiful silk scarves and clothing, jewellery, funky phone cases, yachtie bags, handmade gift cards, vinyl prints, stunning landscape canvasses – just beautiful! Grotty Yachty are the principal suppliers of the now famous 'Women Who Sail Australia' Burgee and the 'It's 5 O'clock Somewhere Sun-downers' Flag – be sure to stock up and let your colours fly!

Of particular note, these guys also stock an expansive array of t-shirts and will print to order, your design or one of theirs – and send it nationwide. A great service and a great place to wander!

T 0411 271 387

https://grottyyachty.com.au

FESTIVALS AND EVENTS

The climate is amazing in Far North Queensland, perfectly suited to year round cruising. If you don't mind the possibility of shelthering from the odd cyclone in the Wet Season, we have found some of the best cruising in these months. The winter season tends to be the high season when cruisers and holiday-makers abound – and The Whitsundays host an array of fun festivals to delight your senses!

June 2017

Whitsunday Writers Festival

July 2017

Airlie Beach Running Festival

Whitsunday Voices Youth Literature Festival

August 2017 3 August - Comedy Gala 2017 3 - 6 August - Whitsunday Reef Festival 5 August - Bowen Community Racing Celebration Race Day 10 - 17 August - Airlie Beach Race Week 19 August - Great Whitsunday Fun Race 19 - 26 August - Audi Hamilton Island Race Week 21 - 25 August - Bryan Kest – Power Yoga 24 - 27 August - SICYC Rendezvous

September 2017

1-3 September - Wintermoon Spring Festival 3 September - Airlie Beach Triathlon Festival 16 September - Bowen Family Fishing Classic 23 - 24 September - Run the Great Whitsunday Trail

November 2017 8 - 12 November - Airlie Beach Festival of Music 12 November - Whitehaven Beach Ocean Swim

SICYC – Shag Islet Cruising Yacht Club:

This event is an absolute highlight on the Cruising agenda each year. For four days in the last week of August every year, hundreds of cruisers gather at Shag Islet, Gloucester Passage in the Whitsundays, to celebrate the wonders of cruising life, great friendships - and most importantly to raise money for much needed research for Prostate Cancer. Oh hang on – to PARTY!!!

And the fun is endless! A dedicated team of 'Shaggers' organise the myriad of educational, fun and frivolous events throughout the Rendezvous – from safety seminars, to beach yoga, haircuts for prostate, to the massive fancy dress party night (think Jimmy Buffet and Parrots Head) and the recovery day Pirates Party held at the gorgeous Cape Gloucester Resort.

Thousands of people the world over are members of the SICYC. The concept of the club is that you become Vice Commodore of Your Own Nautical Location – and mostly spend your time attending fun social events... wonderful!

If you are cruising the Whitsundays in the last week of August (24-27 in 2017), we firmly encourage you to attend the Rendezvous!

https://www.sicyc.com.au/

MARINE SERVICE PROVIDERS

Marlin Marine & Chandlery

Chandlery and Rigging

Jubilee Pocket

T 07 4946 6453

http://www.marlinmarine.com.au/

Whitsunday Diesel & Marine

Volvo Diesel Mechanic

Jubilee Pocket

T 07 4946 7126

Edge's Boatyard

Hard Standing (Tidal)

Jubilee Pocket

T 07 4948 2607

http://www.edgesboatyard.com/

Doyle Sailmakers

Sailmakers, Dodger, Bimini, Stackpack design and repair

Jubilee Pocket

T 07 4948 1868

Airlie Upholstery

Recover squab, cushions and seating

Cannonvale

T 07 4946 6507

Whitsunday Ocean Services

Antifoul suppliers. Inflatable Dinghy, Liferaft, PFD, EPIRB sales, service & repair.

Jubilee Pocket

T 07 4948 1366

http://whitsundayoceanservices.com.au/

AB Marine Electronics and Electrics

Navigation Equipment, Lighting, Audio, Refrigeration

Abel Point Marina T 07 4946 4070 abmarineelect.com.au

Airlie Marine Electrics

Alternators, Anchor Winches, Batteries

Abel Point Marina T 07 4948 1010 airliemarineelectrics.com.au

All Marine Services

Volvo and Yanmar Diesel Mechanics

Abel Point Marina T 07 4946 5411 allmarineservices.net.au

Hawkes Boat Yard

Hard Standing

Abel Point Marina T 07 4946 6700 hawkesboatyard.com

Quadrant Marine Chandlery

Abel Point Marina T 07 4946 4033 quadrantmarine.com.au

Enzed

Hydraulics

Cannonvale

T 07 4946 4470

www.whitsundays.enzed.com.au

Auto Pro

Suppliers of batteries via FNQ Batteries Mackay

Cannonvale

T 07 4940 2600

https://www.autopro.com.au/stores/cannonvale

P&D Industrial

Bearings and Seals

Proserpine

T 07 4945 3233

www.pdindustrial.com.au

Beach Plaza Coin Laundry

Laundromat

The Esplanade, Airlie Beach

T 07 4946 4977

MEDICAL SERVICE PROVIDERS

Whitsunday Doctors Service

Airlie Beach Foreshore

T 07 4946 6241

http://www.whitsundaydoctors.com.au/

Dr2You

Mobile Doctors Service

T 1800 372 968

http://www.dr2u.net.au/

Proserpine Hospital

Emergency Services

T 07 4813 9400

http://www.mackay.health.qld.gov.au/your-hospitals/proserpine-hospital/

Whitsunday Health Clinic

Naturopathy, Osteopathy, Acupuncture

Cannonvale

T 07 4946 7910

http://whitsundayhealthclinic.com/

Physio Plus

Physiotherapy

Cannonvale

T 07 4946 4922

http://www.physioplus.com.au/

Specsavers

Optometrist

Cannonvale

T 07 4948 3407

www.specsavers.com.au

Smile Makers Whitsundays

Dentist

Cannonvale

T 07 3067 6366

Whitsunday Hearing

Audiologist

Cannonvale

T 07 4946 4906

www.whitsundayhearing.com.au

We hope these notes assist you with your cruising needs whilst discovering this wonderful region. If you have anything further to add, or great places you have found - please touch base and I will gladly update the notes.

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Wishing you Fair Winds and Happy Days,

Meg & Darren