The Whitsundays are situated on the tropical north coast of Queensland, Australia and encompass the Great Barrier Reef and the 74 islands of the Cumberland group that makeup the magnificent Whitsunday Islands. The Whitsunday Shire has a permanent population of 15,891, a large casual population and attracted approx 635,000 visitors during 2003.

From the spectacular Laguna Whitsunday Resort in the South to sunny Bowen in the North, the Whitsundays incorporate the mainland towns of Airlie Beach, Cannonvale, Shute Harbour and the historic town of Proserpine along with resorts on Hamilton Island, Hayman, Hook Island, South Molle Island, Long Island, Daydream Island and Lindeman Island.

No matter your idea of fun, the Whitsundays have it all!

Romantic tropical retreats and resorts, sailing adventures, diving adventures on the Great Barrier Reef, tranquil rainforest treks or parasailing and skydiving for the action junkies - the Whitsundays will cater for your every need and desire - if, after reading this summary, you require any further information contact the Whitsunday Tourist Information Centre.

The Local Economy

The local Whitsunday economy is based around the national and international Tourism Industry - Airlie Beach providing the mainland port for the island resorts with two marinas - Abel Point Marina & Shute Harbour - along with a large and diverse selection of accommodation resorts, hotels, motels and backpacker accommodation. The town boasts many restaurants, cafes and bars along with a 140-metre x 40-metre all year saltwater swimming lagoon located on the foreshore. Admission is free and the Airlie Lagoon features children's playground equipment, free BBQ's and life guards on patrol in the precinct 7 days a week. The town also provides substantial support industries for the tourism and marine industries with an industrial park and numerous boatyards providing marine support industries. Real estate development has also seen numerous large scale real estate projects commence in the last two years offering employment opportunities to builders and associated tradespeople although a shortage of accomodation has resulted in high real estate prices and rent. The other major industry and employer in the region is agriculture - sugar the prominent crop - with the Proserpine Mill crushing around 2,000,000 tonnes in the last seasonal crop.

tc media services have put together all the details you require for your visit to the Whitsundays

Travelling to the Whitsundays is easy!

Our two major gateway airports - Proserpine and Hamilton Island - have daily and weekly scheduled jet services to and from Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne through major airline operators Qantas, Virgin Blue and Jetstar along with some connecting flights to regional centres.

Daily intrastate passenger rail services call at Proserpine Railway Station and all major Australian coach and tour coach companies call at Proserpine and Airlie Beach.

If you are contemplating a driving holiday, you can’t miss the Whitsundays. Most roads in the region are suitable for normal vehicles and with some of the most spectacular tropical scenery in Queensland. A driving holiday is the perfect way to see the Whitsundays. All the services you could require for your driving holiday are available in Airlie Beach and Cannonvale.

Travelling Times

Air Travel

Brisbane to Proserpine (direct) - 1.5 hrs
Brisbane to Hamilton Island (direct) - 1.5 hrs
Sydney to Proserpine (via Bris.) - 3.0 hrs
Sydney to Hamilton Island (direct) - 2.3 hrs
Melbourne to Proserpine (via Bris) - 4.8 hrs
Cairns to Proserpine (direct) - 1.0 hrs
Cairns to Hamilton Island (via Townsville) - 1.0 hrs

Rail Travel

Brisbane to Proserpine - 20 hrs - Standard Service
Cairns to Proserpine - 12 hrs - Standard Service

Coach Travel

Brisbane to Airlie Beach - 17 hrs
Cairns to Airlie Beach - 10 hrs
Townsville to Airlie Beach - 4 hrs
Mackay to Airlie Beach - 2 hrs
Proserpine to Airlie Beach - ½ hr

Getting Around

All mainland destinations are serviced by a scheduled bus service.
To experience the magnificent Whitsunday Islands and resorts,Fantasea Cruises operate Blue Ferries - a modern, high speed luxury catamaran ferry service to all major resorts and connecting with all arriving & departing flights to and from Hamilton Island Airport. Bookings can be made at any tour desk or travel agent, by phoning us on (07) 49481096 or at Fantasea Cruises terminal, Jilly's on the Jetty, located at Shute Harbour - approximately 6 kilometres south of Airlie Beach and the main deep water arrival & departure port in the Whitsundays.

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Time Zones Around the World

Times shown below are at 12.00 noon local North Queensland time.
The times may vary due to daylight saving in some Australian States and Countries during summer.
Adelaide 11.30am
Auckland 2.00pm
Bangkok 9.00am
Darwin 12.00pm
Hobart 12.00pm
Hong Kong 10.00am
Honolulu 4.00pm (previous day)
London 3.00am Melbourne 12.00pm
Munich 3.00am
Paris 3.00am
Perth 10.00am
New York 10.00pm (previous day)
Southern California 6.00pm (previous day)
Rome 4.00am
Seoul 11.00am
Singapore 10.00am
Sydney 12.00pm
Tokyo 11.00am
Vancouver 7.00pm (previous day)
Zurich 3.00am

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Medical Facilities in the Whitsundays

General Practitioners
There are three general practitioners surgeries in the Whitsundays - all are situated in Airlie Beach, on the Mainland, offering general consultations, and various other services.

Name: The Doctors,
Address: Shute Harbour Road Airlie Beach
Number of Doctors: 4 (Male & Female)
24 Hour on call Service: Yes - 7 Days a Week
Services: General Practitioners, Workcover, Pre Employment, Maritime Medicals,etc.
Bulk Billing: Yes

Name: Whitsunday Medical Service,
Address: 400 Shute Harbour Road Airlie Beach
Number of Doctors: 4
24 Hour on call Service: Yes
Services General consultations, gynecology, employment diving and travel medicals, immunization service, X ray facilities, vaccinations, back injury and pain management

Name: Whitsundays Doctors Service
Address: 257 Shute Harbour Road Airlie Beach

Hospitals

Hospitals (public): Proserpine Hospital, located 26 kilometers from Airlie Beach, provides a complete hospital service for emergency patients, day patients and an out patient service.
Name: Proserpine Hospital
Address: 2 Herbert Street, Proserpine
Telephone: (07) 4945 0400
24 Hour on call Service: Yes
Services: Complete public hospital facilities

Emergency Services

Ambulance Services: The Queensland Ambulance Service operates a full urgent and non-urgent ambulance transport service out of Airlie Beach and Proserpine.
Urgent medical service is available on resort islands with private resorts offering individual medical facilities.
Urgent medical transport from other islands can be sourced through the Emergency 000 telephone number.
CQRESQ operate an emergency medical helicopter evacuation service and can be sourced through the Ambulance or Police emergency number - 000
Ambulance: Emergency Calls 000
Police: Emergency Calls 000
Air Sea Rescue: Emergency Calls 000

IN AUSTRALIA DO NOT DIAL 911 or 999 FOR EMERGENCY RESPONSE - DIAL 000 ONLY

Dentists

There are dental surgeries in the Whitsundays located on the mainland in Airlie Beach and Cannonvale.

Name: Dr. Joanne Richardson,
Address: 287 Shute Harbour Road, Airlie Beach
Number of Dentists: 1
24 Hour on call service: Yes,
Services: Complete Dental Service

Name: Poschelk Dental Surgery
Address: Suite 1/6 Island Drive Cannonvale
Number of Dentists: 2
24 Hour on Call Service: Yes,
Services: Complete Dental Service

Chiropractors

Name: Airlie Beach Chiropractic Centre
Address: Suite 11 Beach Plaza The Esplanade Airlie Beach

Name: Dr. M. Bauer
Address: 400 Shute Harbour Road, Airlie Beach

Physiotherapists

Name: Julie Fayers
Address: 388 Shute Harbour Road Airlie Beach

Pathology Services

Name: Central Queensland Pathology Laboratory
Address: Shop 5 Harry Walsh Building, Main St. Proserpine

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Shopping in the Whitsundays

All forms of shopping expeditions are catered for in the Whitsunday region with a smorgasbord of food and provision shops, specialty and gift shops, fine clothes boutiques, holiday clobber and swimwear boutiques and an array of tourist shops specializing in traditional and not so traditional souvenirs and holiday memento's.
There are three main shopping precincts on the mainland, the Main Street of Airlie Beach, the mall of Whitsunday Shopping Centre at Cannonvale and the new Centro Whitsunday shopping centre on the way into Cannonvale although many other specialist shopping and food facilities are scattered throughout Airlie Beach and its suburbs including the marinas at Abel Point and Shute Harbour.
Main street (Shute Harbour Road) Airlie Beach is typical tropical shopfront retailing with shops offering everything from fast food, clothes and footwear, chemists and photography equipment right through to the most exquisite imported furniture.
There are some fifty shops in and around main street Airlie Beach and you are sure to find all but the most elusive item in the uniquely friendly, casual atmosphere.


One shopping event not to miss is the local art and craft market on the foreshore behind main street every Saturday morning. Showcasing the produce of the Whitsundays’ very talented craftspeople, the Airlie Beach market is a perfect place to take in a fresh tropical fruit drink made from your own selected fruit and blended before your eyes or to barter the price of one of the many hundreds of locally made craft items on offer.
The Whitsunday Shopping Centre on Shute Harbour Road Cannonvale is a large mall-style shopping centre and houses many specialty shops, banks, a post office, small department store, sports store and sidewalk cafes along with a large Bi Lo supermarket and associated fresh produce retailers.
Centro Whitsunday is the areas newest centre with Woolworts a Big W and larger speciality stores.
Shopping need not stop when you leave the mainland. Hamilton & Hayman Islands have magnificent shopping precincts catering for all tastes and supplying all manner of merchandise.
Hamilton Islands’ bakery is just one of the islands world famous eateries, producing a mind boggling aray of mouth watering pastry products. Other Island resorts cater for visitors shopping needs with outlets providing clothing, footwear, food, souvenirs and other holiday essentials.

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Whitsundays' National Parks - A Natural Wonder for Exploring and Camping

The National and Marine parks of the Whitsunday Islands offer dramatic vine and rainforest-covered hills and mountains dropping onto pristine, white sandy beaches.
The brilliant aqua blue waters surrounding the islands and mainland are alive with bird and marine life. It's paradise complete with long warm days and star-filled balmy nights. Camping in one of the twenty of so campgrounds within the National and Marine Parks of the Whitsundays is a great way to experience the unique wildlife, rainforest and climate of the Queensland tropics.
You can escape society and immerse yourself in the seclusion and tranquillity of a camping trip to a remote island or use your base camp for daily bushwalks through the rainforest or explore the magnificent marine wonderland on your busy doorstep.
The Queensland National Parks and Wildlife Service maintains and cares for the national parks and provides a very comprehensive service to campers in the region. The QNPWS information Centre at Airlie Beach is also the headquarters for the central Queensland region.

Camping Permits

A camping permit is required for all campers and can be obtained from the Queensland National Parks and Wildlife Service Whitsunday Information Centre located on the road to Shute Harbour outside Airlie Beach on the mainland.
Advance bookings can be made by writing to the Queensland Department of Environment and Heritage, Whitsunday Information Centre, PO Box 332, Airlie Beach, Qld, Australia, 4802. Applications should include your name and address, number of persons in the party, preferred camping site or island, date of arrival and length of stay and the size of your tent or campsite.

Camping Fees

Campsite fees are charged per person per night. Children under 5 years of age are free. Family rate is available. To ensure a good site is booked, payment is required in advance.
Telephone bookings can be made by credit card.

Getting There

Transport is available (at cost) to both mainland and island camping grounds. Day cruise sailing, powerboats, water taxis and aircraft leave from Shute Harbour and Abel Point Marina daily and will take you to any designated accessible island camping site. Taxis, shuttle buses, public transport and tour operators are available for most mainland camping sites.

Camping Guidelines

To ensure your camping enjoyment and safety and to protect the pristine nature of the national parks, there are some important guidelines to observe. Liquid fuel stoves are strongly recommended for all camping areas.

The collection and burning of firewood is discouraged on the islands as many plants and animals use dead wood as a home and food source.
Always extinguish all fires before leaving your campsite.
Always ensure you are carrying sufficient fresh water with you and check with park rangers as to the availability of fresh water on your island before your departure.
You should carry at least five litres of water per day per person with at least three days' supply at any one time.
The motto for island camping is "ship it in, ship it out".
Do not leave and do not bury rubbish or other waste. Use bins provided or take your rubbish with you and deposit it in a bin on the mainland.
Be considerate of others using the park.
Leave generators, stereos and other "noise makers" at home. Pets are prohibited.
Do not use soap or detergents in lakes, creeks or rivers.
Use walkways and designated campsite where provided.
Prepare and carry a well-equipped first aid kit.
Firearms are prohibited.
Do not remove coral, shells or vegetation from their natural environment.
Camp away from waterways.

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Unfortunate Neighbors!

With an abundance of alluring water in the Whitsunday region, swimming is a favored pastime. The crystal clear streams, waterfalls and tidal areas in the national parks combined with the beauty of the Coral Sea provide the perfect place for a cooling dip. However there are some dangers you must be aware of before your swim.

* Estuarine or Saltwater Crocodiles are dangerous
They live in and around creeks, rivers and tidal mangrove areas throughout North Queensland. The Department of Environment and Heritage signpost areas known to be inhabited by estuarine crocodiles. Do not swim in an area where you see this sign. It should not be taken lightly. In areas where no sign is visible always check with local authorities before entering the water.

* Marine stingers, box jellyfish and Irukandji frequent North Queensland waters between November and May. They inhabit creeks and the Coral Sea between the mainland and most islands and some beaches. Being stung by stingers, box jellyfish or irukandji is serious and can be life threatening. Some species are believed to cause heart attack or central nervous system seizures. During stinger season swim in stinger proof enclosures and pools or purchase a stinger suit for protection while swimming. If stung, treat the wounds liberally with vinegar and seek urgent medical attention. The unspoiled nature of the Whitsunday region is magical - the small amount of time it takes to receive expert, qualified advice on the specific area that you are visiting can ensure both your safety and enjoyment of the region.

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Useful Information

Cost of local calls from public telephones – 0.40 cents Most public telephones in Australia accept both coins and phone cards. As some public telephones will only accept phone cards it is suggested that you pre purchase a phone card to ensure your telephone call can be made successfully. Phone cards are available in denominations between $AUD5.00 to $AUD50.00 and are available from Post Offices as well as from some newsagents, resorts and backpacker information centres.

Telstra Supplied Operator Assistance

* Local & National Directory Assistance 12455
* Call Connect 12456
* International Call Connect 1225
* Operator – Reverse/Collect Charges 12250
* Operator Assistance 1234
* Time 1902 241 143
* Wakeup Calls 12454
*Alcohol & Drug Information 1 800 177 833
*Crisis Care 1 800 177 135
*Hearing Impaired 1 800 812 225
*Poisons Information Service 131126
*Translating & Interpreting Service 131450
*National Parks & Wildlife Service (07) 4946 7022
*Taxi Service 131008
*Queensland Rail – Enquiries 132232
*Whitsunday Shire Council (07) 49450200
*Water Police (07) 4946 6078

Post Offices

There are two Australia Post Offices located on the mainland and one on Hamilton Island Mainland.
*Airlie Beach – 257 Shute Harbour Road Airlie Beach QLD 4802
*Cannonvale - Whitsunday Shopping Centre Shute Harbour Road Cannonvale QLD 4802
*Islands - Hamilton Island
Hours of operation are Monday to Friday 9.00am to 5.00pm. Cannonvale and Airlie Beach Post Offices are also open on Saturday mornings between 9.00am and 11.00am,

Banking

Local currency is the Australian Dollar ($AUD)
Notes - $100, $50, $20, $10, $5
Coins - $2, $1, 50cents, 20cents, 10cents, 5cents
ANZ, Commonwealth, National and Westpac Banks all have branches in Airlie Beach or Cannonvale as do smaller regional banks. The are numerous automatic teller machines on the mainland and at major resorts. Electronic Funds Transfer (EFTPOS) facilities are available at most hotels, resorts, shops and restaurants. Mastercard, American Express, Mastercard and Diners Club credit cards are widely accepted in the area.
Normal Bank trading hours are Monday to Thursday 9.30 am to 4.00 pm, Friday 9.30am to 5.00 pm - normally closed on Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays.
Banks will exchange foreign currency for a fee.

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Staying Healthy in the Tropics

Sunburn- one of the biggest problems when you are out in the sun enjoying the tropics is sunburn. Dependent upon your skin type you can start to burn in minutes. Always protect your skin against sunburn by liberally applying SPF factor 30+ sunscreen all over your body (including your feet) and wear a sun protective hat.

Dehydration - High humidity, high daytime temperatures and normal activity mean you can dehydrate very quickly in the tropics. Always carry water with you, no matter your activity. Try to avoid soft drinks and alcohol as they promote dehydration.

Bites - Many insects bite in the tropics. Mosquitoes carry various diseases, the most common being dengue fever and Ross river virus. Always apply repellent (day and night, particularly sunrise and sunset) and burn mosquito or citronella candles near accommodation or outdoor gatherings.
Should you feel ill or not well seek medical advice immediately.

Wounds & Cuts - because of climatic conditions, wounds and cuts can become infected very quickly in the tropics. Always treat minor cuts immediately with a strong antiseptic lotion available at Chemist shops locally. If the wound does not show immediate improvement seek medical attention. Cuts received on rocks and coral should be referred to a doctor for examination and treatment. These cuts will infect very quickly and can result in serious illness. To protect your feet always wear footwear in the tropics.

Snake Bite - There are many species of snake in the tropics and although some are not venomous, there are many potentially deadly snakes in the tropics. Always wear covered footwear and longpants when walking in grassed areas, scub and rain forests. Make plenty of noise to warn snakes of your presence, as most snakes will avoid human contact if they are aware of your presence. If bitten it is best to presume all snakes are venomous and administer the appropriate first aid. Wrap the wound tightly, keeping as calm as possible and seek urgent medical attention through the emergency 000 telephone number. Anti venom is available at most local hospitals and emergency workers will assist with your immediate evacuation.

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Schools & Education in the Whitsundays

The Whitsunday region prides itself with supplying a very high level of education services and infrastructure. There are two State Primary Schools in the area, Cannonvale State Primary and Pre-School located at Cannonvale on the mainland, four kilometres from Main Street Airlie Beach. Proserpine State Primary and Pre-School is located in Proserpine, approximately twenty six kilometres from Airlie Beach.
Both primary schools are serviced by a comprehensive local school bus system. There is also a private primary and pre school located in Proserpine. There is one State Secondary School in the area, Proserpine High School, servicing the Whitsunday region. It too is serviced by a comprehensive school bus system.

Schools:

*Cannonvale Pre School, 56 Coral Esplanade, Cannonvale, 4946 6690
* Cannonvale Primary School, 52 Coral Esplanade, Cannonvale, 49462333
*Proserpine Pre School, Sterry Street, Proserpine, 4945 1553
*Proserpine Primary School, 13 Sterry Street, Proserpine, 4945 3000
*Proserpine Special Education Unit, 4945 1918
*Proserpine High School, 4945 0111
*St Catherine's School, 69 Marathon Street, Proserpine, 4945 1081
*Whitsunday Christian College, Paluma Road Cannonvale

Tertiary Education is catered for through the Cannonvale campus of the Barrier Reef College of TAFE located on Shute Harbour Road, Cannonvale. The TAFE campus is the result of an $AUD11 million investment in further education in the Whitsundays. The TAFE also has a campus in Bowen.

Universities serving the area are James Cook University, Townsville and the University of Central Queensland, Rockhampton.

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Click here for complete information on the Bowen region

(Disclaimer: All information correct at time of publication - some changes may occur - we advise you check all information prior to visiting. tc media services accepts no responsibility for the accuracy of any information shown - all information is subject to change without notice)