TRAVEL INFORMATION

We’re very looking forward to seeing you in the Whitsundays for ATEC's Explore North Queensland 2025 Trade Engagement Event. 

Please see details below to assist with travel arrangements for both buyers and sellers, depending on where you are travelling from.


The Whitsundays is located along Queensland's central coast in north-eastern Australia, approximately 1,120km north of Brisbane and 630km south of Cairns. Please CLICK HERE and see below for further information on getting to/from The Whitsundays.


Car / Parking

  • Airlie Beach is approximately a 7.5-hour drive south from Cairns and approximately 3.5-hour drive from Townsville.
  • Car parking is available at many parking locations around Airlie Beach including the Port of Airlie, adjacent to the Cruise Whitsundays ferry terminal. 
  • Please CLICK HERE for a map and further details. 


Flights / Coach transfers

  • The Whitsundays has two airports that offer flights from Gold Coast, Brisbane, Cairns, Melbourne and Sydney. 
  • Brisbane offers the best range of connecting flights to the region. The two airports that service The Whitsundays on a daily basis are Great Barrier Reef Airport, Hamilton Island (HTI) and Whitsunday Coast Airport, Proserpine (PPP).
  • Skytrans also offers a regional flight direct from Cairns to Whitsunday Coast, but they do not fly every day.
  • There are direct flights to Whitsunday Coast on Monday 16 and Tuesday 17 June 2025 (arriving 3.30pm), but you will need to arrive on the Monday flight if you wish to attend the Welcome Networking Function (the cruise transfer is at 4.00pm from Cruise Whitsundays ferry terminal). 
  • The next available direct flight back to Cairns is on Friday 20 June 2025.
  • Heart of Reef Shuttles have generously offered to provide airport transfers FOC for all attending delegates (buyers and sellers) from/to Whitsunday Coast Airport (PPP) - please see below for further information on how to book.

Heart of Reef Shuttles Whitsundays

  • Contact: Res Team 07 49482385 / res@horsw.com.au
  • Promotion: FOC for buyers and sellers attending the event
  • To book: Call or email the Res Team as noted above to book with your travel details

Rail / Train

  • Spirit of Queensland have generously offered FOC tickets for delegates (both buyers and sellers) travelling southbound from Cairns and Townsville to Proserpine (Airlie Beach) on Monday 16 June 2025.
  • The service will depart Cairns at 7.40am and arrive in Proserpine at 5.15pm. Delegates can then catch the Railbus to Airlie Beach with the last drop at Jubilee Pocket at 6.05pm.
  • Please note that the next available Spirit of Queensland service northbound back to Townsville and Cairns is not until Saturday 21 June 2025.
  • To book your seat on the Monday 16 June 2025 service, please contact Ivana Andacic from Queensland Rail directly via Ivana.Andacic@qr.com.au with your full name and mobile number, along with your emergency contact full name and mobile number.


© Australian Tourism Export Council 2025

Destination Photo Credits: Tourism Whitsundays