Airlie Beach
Suburb profile, market snapshot and recent listings for Airlie Beach, QLD 4802.
About Airlie Beach
Welcome to Airlie Beach
Airlie Beach is the buzzing heart of the Whitsundays, perched on the Coral Sea coastline in North Queensland with the islands of the Whitsunday group scattered just offshore. It's less a commuter suburb than a destination in its own right, built around the business of getting people out onto the water and looking after them well when they're back on dry land.
With a resident population of just 1,312 and a median age of 41, Airlie Beach carries a permanent community far smaller than its reputation suggests — most of the crowd on any given day is visiting rather than living here. That mix suits owners chasing a holiday rental income, grey nomads and retirees drawn to the climate and pace, and locals who work in tourism, hospitality or marine services and want to live close to where the action is.
Lifestyle & dining
The Airlie Beach Lagoon and the beachfront boardwalk are the town's social spine, drawing a steady stream of walkers, swimmers and sunset-watchers, while the main strip along Shute Harbour Road is lined with restaurants, bars and cafes that punch well above their weight for a town this size. It's a lifestyle built around the outdoors and the water — sailing, diving and reef trips leave daily from the marina, and the nightlife has long made Airlie Beach the social capital of the Whitsundays.
Despite the holiday energy, there's a genuine community underneath it, with locals mixing with grey nomads, backpackers and sailing crews. The pace suits people who want warm weather, casual dining and an active, outdoor-focused routine over a quiet suburban rhythm.
Getting around
Airlie Beach sits close to Whitsunday Coast Airport, which connects the region to major eastern capitals, and the Proserpine to Shute Harbour corridor links the town to neighbouring Cannonvale, Jubilee Pocket, Mandalay, Woodwark and Flametree. Shute Harbour, a short drive away, is the departure point for ferries and vessels heading out to the islands, and much of local life revolves around that stretch of road connecting the beach, the marina and the surrounding residential pockets.
A car remains the most practical way to get around, particularly for reaching the wider Whitsundays coast, though the town centre itself is compact and walkable for anyone based near the foreshore.
Parks & recreation
The Airlie Beach Lagoon is the obvious drawcard, a free saltwater-style swimming lagoon fringed by lawns and shade that functions as the town's default gathering spot. Beyond the lagoon, the coastal boardwalk, the marina precinct and the surrounding hinterland offer walking tracks and lookouts with views over the islands.
For residents, the real recreational drawcard is what lies just offshore — the Whitsunday Islands and the Great Barrier Reef, both easily reached by boat from the town's marina, making Airlie Beach as much a base for outdoor adventure as a place to settle down.
Housing & architecture
Airlie Beach's housing stock reflects its tourism-driven economy: current listings are dominated by apartments and units (54%), with land (31%) making up much of the rest and houses (13%) and townhouses (1%) in shorter supply. Much of the built form is low-rise apartment and resort-style development geared towards holiday letting, interspersed with elevated houses taking advantage of hillside water views.
Buyers looking for a standalone house or larger block often look to the surrounding suburbs of Cannonvale, Jubilee Pocket, Mandalay, Woodwark and Flametree, where land is more readily available and the character shifts to a more conventional residential feel.
The property market
The median unit and apartment price in Airlie Beach currently sits at $635,000, reflecting the dominance of apartment and unit stock in a market where holiday-letting demand plays a significant role in pricing. With land making up close to a third of current listings, there's also a steady pipeline of buyers looking to build rather than buy established.
The small, tightly held nature of the town — a population of just over 1,300 — means supply can be limited relative to demand, particularly for well-located apartments near the lagoon and marina. Buyers should weigh up lifestyle and rental potential alongside the practicalities of owning in a market so closely tied to tourism cycles.
Market snapshot
Airlie Beach property market
Median sale price
$635k
Unit · 2 bed
Median rent
$700
per week
Gross rental yield
5.7%
annual rent ÷ sale price
Typical price range
Entry
$467k
Median
$635k
Premium
$1.15m
Days on market
34
Auction clearance
0%
Sold this year
64
Median sold price trend · Unit 2 bed
Compound growth +15.2% / yr over 4 yrs
Median price by bedrooms · Unit
Property types on market
Share of current listings in Airlie Beach by dwelling type.
Who lives here
Demographics
ABS Census 2021 figures for Airlie Beach, QLD 4802.
Population
1,312
residents (2021)
Median age
41
years
Household income
$1,562
median, per week
Median rent
$380
per week
Median mortgage
$1,925
per month
Mortgage / income
28%
comfortable
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2021. Suburb-level (SAL) aggregates.
Recent results
Recently sold in Airlie Beach
$635k
24/15 Flame Tree Court
Sold ~July 2026
$1.38m
21 Stonehaven Court
Sold ~July 2026
$680k
1/2 Lewis Street
Sold ~July 2026
$1.15m
104/33 Port Drive
Sold ~July 2026
$750k
4/26-34 Raintree Place
Sold ~June 2026
$1.25m
18/18 Seaview Drive
Sold ~June 2026
$1.25m
18 Marina View Court
Sold ~June 2026
$750k
19/144 Shingley Drive
Sold ~June 2026
Sold prices as published on the original listing; some may reflect the last advertised price. Dates are approximate.
Explore the area
Properties & amenities in Airlie Beach
Compare the area
Price map around Airlie Beach
Every listing for sale near Airlie Beach, coloured by price — so you can see how it stacks up against the streets and suburbs next door.
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Nearby suburbs
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Common questions
Airlie Beach suburb FAQ
What is the median property price in Airlie Beach?
The median unit price in Airlie Beach, QLD is $635k for a 2-bedroom home. Over the past year, median sold prices have risen about 14.3%.
How much is rent in Airlie Beach?
The median weekly rent in Airlie Beach is around $700 per week.
Is Airlie Beach a good place to live?
Airlie Beach is a coastal locality and resort town in the Whitsunday Region of Queensland, Australia. Airlie Beach is an established residential suburb in QLD, with a population of around 1,312.
What is the population of Airlie Beach?
Airlie Beach has a population of 1,312 (ABS 2021 Census), with a median age of 41.
How long do homes take to sell in Airlie Beach?
Properties in Airlie Beach take around 34 days to sell on average, with an auction clearance rate of about 0%.
How much do you need to buy in Airlie Beach?
Entry-level properties in Airlie Beach start around $467k, while premium homes reach $1.15m.
What suburbs are near Airlie Beach?
Suburbs near Airlie Beach include Jubilee Pocket, Cannonvale, Mandalay, Woodwark and Flametree.
Fresh to market
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