Airlie Beach, QLD

Gateway to the Whitsunday Islands — the lagoon pool overlooks the Coral Sea with Whitehaven Beach a boat ride away.

Live AI Coastal Briefing

Friday 28 August is shaping up to be a beautiful day here in our little slice of coastal paradise, with partly cloudy skies and a gentle breeze blowing in from the southeast. The temperature is currently sitting at 18C, with a lovely warm day ahead of us, expected to reach a high of 25C. It's the perfect day to get out and enjoy all that our stunning coastline has to offer.



If you're heading out to catch some waves, the ocean conditions are looking great, with a wave height of 0.42m, making it an excellent day for beginners to get out and practice their skills. The water temperature is a comfortable 21.7C, so you can expect to be nice and warm in the water, whether you're swimming, surfing, or just paddling around. With high tide at 08:57 am and low tide at 03:02 pm, there's plenty of opportunities to get out and enjoy the ocean.



For all you sports and fitness enthusiasts out there, today is a great day to get out and enjoy your favourite activities. The calm and partly cloudy conditions make it ideal for a run or cycle along the beachfront, while the gentle waves are perfect for a spot of surfing or paddleboarding. If you're an angler, the conditions are looking good for a day out on the water, with plenty of opportunities to reel in a big catch. Whatever your sport or activity of choice, today is a great day to get out and enjoy the beautiful coastal scenery.



As we head into the afternoon, you can expect the temperature to reach its peak, with plenty of sunshine and partly cloudy skies. It's going to be a fantastic day to be out and about, enjoying all that our beautiful coastline has to offer. So why not grab your sunscreen, your favourite surfboard or bike, and get out and make the most of this stunning day. We hope you have a fantastic time out there, and we'll catch you back here tomorrow with another update on the coastal weather.

About This Coastline

Airlie Beach is the mainland hub of the Whitsundays, facing a tropical island-filled sea and organised around marinas, tour departures and a compact holiday centre.

Rather than relying on a single attraction, the destination draws strength from the combined presence of landscape, community and maritime activity.

The Vibe

The mood is energetic and strongly visitor-focused.

Sailing crews, backpackers, families and resort guests mingle around the lagoon, restaurants and waterfront, while most major beach and reef experiences begin with a boat journey. The experience is shaped as much by sound and movement as by appearance, from wind through coastal vegetation to boats, birds or breaking waves.

The Local Anchor

The Airlie Beach Lagoon is the central civic anchor, providing a year-round managed swimming area beside the foreshore.

Coral Sea Marina and the Port of Airlie connect the town to the Whitsunday Islands and Great Barrier Reef. Its local anchor helps organise the place visually and culturally, giving visitors a reference point amid a much larger coastline.

The Landscape

The immediate shoreline includes small beaches, tidal flats and marina infrastructure rather than an extensive natural surf beach.

Offshore, the landscape opens into sheltered passages, forested islands and coral-fringed bays, with seasonal marine-stinger precautions applying across the region. Changes in tide and weather continually redraw the boundary between land and water, particularly around reefs, estuaries and shallow bays.

The enduring appeal lies in the balance between open scenery, local tradition and the practical rhythms of coastal life.