- Duration
- a full day, ferry 8am to 6:10pm (≈ 6 h 42 min: moving and stop time only)
- Who it suits
- With kids
- Transport
- ferry, walk
- Start
- Port of Airlie, 8am ferry
- Finish
- Marina Tavern
- Pace
- relaxed pace
- Best time
- year-round; the koala encounter is at 9:30am
- Budget per adult
- A$165 adult, A$115 child aged 4 to 14, family A$555 (Hamilton Island Freestyle with Marina Tavern lunch)Prices as of: October 2026
Getting there
Port of Airlie (24 The Cove Road) is a 10-minute walk from the Airlie Beach main street, and most hotels are close by. The Cruise Whitsundays coach to the terminal is A$13 per adult, booked 12 hours ahead. Pay by card; Visa and Mastercard carry a 1.42% surcharge.
Stops in order
The text version of the route: stops, time at each and the legs between them. Times are estimates, without queues, traffic or swims.
1. Port of Airlie, 8am ferry~30 min at the stop
Cruise Whitsundays' Hamilton Island Freestyle ticket: return ferry, lunch, the resort pool, Catseye Beach and the island shuttle.
Tip: The Popeye's lunch option (fish and chips only) is cheaper: A$155 adult, A$109 child.
Open on the map ↗↓ ferry · 1 h · 30 km
2. Hamilton Island Marina~15 min at the stop
The jetty by Front Street. The free shuttle runs around the island from here.
Tip: The island is cashless, so bring a card.
Open on the map ↗↓ walk · 10 min · 0.7 km
3. Hamilton Island Wildlife~1 h 30 min at the stop
A small wildlife park in the middle of the island: koalas, kangaroos, reptiles and Big Mac, the giant saltwater crocodile. Keeper tours at 10am and 2pm are included with entry.
Worth knowing: Big Mac the crocodile is fed on Wednesdays and Saturdays after the 2pm keeper tour.
Tip: Park entry: adult A$35, child 3–14 A$25, family A$95. The Koala Encounter photo is another A$35 per person, daily 9:30–10am. The café opens at 7:30am, the park at 8am, closing at 4pm.
Open on the map ↗↓ walk · 5 min · 0.3 km
4. Catseye Beach~2 h at the stop
A shallow, calm beach in front of the hotels; it is included in the Freestyle ticket along with the main resort pool.
Tip: In stinger season, October to May, the pool is easier with kids.
Open on the map ↗↓ walk · 12 min · 0.9 km
5. Marina Tavern~1 h at the stop
The waterfront pub on Front Street: lunch on the Freestyle voucher (one dish, drinks extra), then a stroll around the marina to the ferry.
Tip: Eat before noon, before the yachts come in and the queue builds.
Open on the map ↗
Before you go
- Route times are estimates: walking, driving and a sensible pause at each stop. Add queues, traffic and swims yourself.
- Prices, timetables and trail status change. Check the venue's official site and the state transport app before you go.
- On beaches, swim only between the red and yellow flags. Use sun protection even when it is cloudy.