My husband and I are leaving the first of February for a 5 week vacation to New Zealand and Oz. After spending several days in the Port Douglas area, my husband and I want to bareboat in the Whitsundays, but I have not found any flights listed from Cairns to Proserpine. I discovered the Tilt Train service, but it was not available on the day we want to travel, March 02. How do people get to Airlie Beach from Cairns? Drive???

Hey there. Great choice for the Whitsundays...it's definitely my fav spot in Aus.

Try Greyhound.com.au They have buses leaving on 2 March. It's a 12hr trip unfortunately, but they leave in the morning, midday and midnite if you want to sleep on the bus.

Hope that helps!

Hi

I would take the greyhound. I went from Cairns to Brisbane last march and stopped off at Airlie to see the Whitsundays, it does take 12 hours but you stop off every 2-3 hours to walk around and to get something to eat and if you take the morning or noon bus you get to have a look at the country side.

Enjoy

If you need too get the bus, but 12 hours on a bus isn't that great.
I would drive, this trip has some great scenery.It's around 600K's which is a good days drive, or do it in 2. Leave early from
Cairns, see what the earliest time is that you can pick up the car, (you might have to pick up the evening before you leave)and you will get there easily in a day, with the advantage of doing your own thing along the way.
Car hire will probably be cheaper.
You may have to pay a drop off fee, but try to find one that doesn't charge that.
It's highway all the way, you would only need a small car..

I just had a look at the car hire, you would have to drop off at Mackay.
Budget charge a huge drop off fee, but while in Cairns inquire at the airport, don't hire there though.See what deal you can do.
Good luck and enjoy Qld:)

I also opt for the car driving option. When I travelled there we took the road via the fantastic Atherton Tablelands, spent a night in Townsville, and then carried on to Airlie Beach. We had even left the car at the harbour (think it was not expensive) and drove back to Townsville from where we flew to the next destination.

Hi, whatever you do , do not give up and make sure you get to the Whitsundays, it is a fabulous destination. Qantas and the other major providers, Jetstar and Virginblue have recently had their internet sale and offer great fares. We were on Hamilton Island for 4 nights early Sept'06 and flew Jetstar from Brisbane at Au$70 per person one way. I suggest you go into each carriers webpages and see what they have on offer, they may have cheap flight Cairns to Brisbane and Bris Hamilton Island( the main airport on the islands). Keep looking early each morning as they often only have a few cheap seats on offer each day. This may be cheaper than going by rental car or bus. You might have to rearrange your travel plans to fit the Whitsundays in, but if you were intending to drive to Brisbane you could pick a rental car up at Airlie Beach and take a few days to drive down, visiting Fraser Island, Noosa Heads on the Sunshine Coast etc etc.
You can hire small yachts from Hamilton Island and other locations. You are welcome to view my Whitsunday Pages on Hamilton Island, Long Island, Airlie Beach, yet to construct Daydream Island. On our Sept trip we had a week on the Sunshune Coast and my Noosa Heads and Fraser Island pages may be worth visiting if you are interested to see what is on offer.
Good Luck & Happy Holidaying, Mike

Thanks so much, y'all (that's Southern American for "all of you"),for your quick responses to my traveling dilemma. Upon being threatened with an 8 hour bus ride, we have decided to fly Cairnes-Hamilton Island, and bareboat out of that harbor! While we will miss some beautiful scenery (by bus or car), I will have one additional night in a heavenly anchorage. With airfares so low tonight, I will be booking them asap; thanks for those suggestions, Mikebb.
Speaking of bareboating, we want to get estimates from 2-3 charter companies who depart out of Hamilton Island. Any suggestions? Also, I usually self provision with online companies when we sail the BVI's; should I consider a partial provisioning for the Whitsundays? Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Try www.seastarcruising.com.au they have a fantastic boat that is based at Hamilton Island and very reasonable rates. You can buy some provisions online (fresh seafood) but there is a good general store on Hamilton Island for you to get your other goods. Make sure you go to Whitehaven beach and Mantra Ray Bay because they are fantastic sites.

Great to read you now can get to Hamilton Island. On my Hamilton Island page there is a 'Off The Beatten Path" tip on hiring Yachts at the Hamilton Marina. The photo shows Sunsail as the operator and has many yachts in the picture, this will give you some idea of what is available. You most likely can Google Search their webpage for prices etc. The General store at the marina has most food items, some are very pricy.
Good Luck, Mike

Great to read you now can get to Hamilton Island. On my Hamilton Island page there is a 'Off The Beatten Path" tip on hiring Yachts at the Hamilton Marina. The photo shows Sunsail as the operator and has many yachts in the picture, this will give you some idea of what is available. You most likely can Google Search their webpage for prices etc. The General store at the marina has most food items, some are very pricy.
Good Luck, Mike

We now have 7 days bareboating with Queensland Yacht Charters. They have been terrific working with us. Expat friends from Sydney (whom we met while all of us were working in Zhuhai, China) are joining us, so it should be fun. Other expat friends now living in Bangkok may fly in for the week, and you know what happens when old expats get together on a boat--pass the rum!! Thanks again for all suggestions. Australia, here we come!

The rum to drink is Bundaberg (Bundy), made in Queensland and the locals favourite.
Good Sailing