The nearest airport is at Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast Airport), about 25 minutes south of Airlie Beach, with flights from Brisbane, Sydney, and Melbourne. Hamilton Island also has an airport with more frequent services — from there, a ferry crosses to the mainland at Shute Harbour, and a short bus ride completes the trip to Airlie Beach.
Greyhound and Premier Motor Service coaches stop in Airlie Beach on the coastal run between Brisbane and Cairns. The drive from Brisbane takes about 12 hours; from Cairns about 8 hours.