What’s Great About Airlie Beach Lagoon?

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The Airlie Beach Lagoon is a popular man-made lagoon located in an easy to get to location. The lagoon is known as a great place to cool off in the summer and it is right in the center of town. There are plenty of sun lounges and umbrellas around the lagoon for visitors to use, and there is also a cafe located nearby.

Airlie Beach Lagoon

Airlie Beach Lagoon is protected from stingers making it a safe, popular alternative to swimming in the coral sea. The large open pool area is split into 2 halves that are joined by a narrow bridge that you can swim under!

One end of the pool is designated as a sheltered shallow area for toddlers, it also has a shallow 1.5 metre maximum depth children’s pool, while the other end of the lagoon reaches depths of up to 2 metres.

Airlie Beach Lagoon Queensland

The lagoon itself is an enormous swimming area, approximately 4,300sqm, and holds 4.5 million litres of fresh, chlorinated water. As the lagoon is artificial, it was created on a raised breakwater, giving an excellent view out to the coral sea and Whitsunday Islands.

Where Is It?

Address: 275 Shute Harbour Rd, Airlie Beach, Queensland.

The center of town is near Airlie Beach Lagoon, parallel to the Main Street at the waters edge of Airlie Beach, Queensland, Australia. This easy access makes it popular with both locals and tourists alike.

See some of the highlights of Airlie Beach and the Lagoon in the short video below (duration: around 5 minutes).

When is Airlie Beach Lagoon Open?

While the opening hours varies depending on the season, the lagoon is patrolled by lifeguards from around 5:30am to 7:00pm during Winter (June to August) and 5:30am to 9:00pm during summer (September to May) and is closed during the night. The lagoon is an ideal place to enjoy a gorgeous sunrise or sunset!

Is Airlie Beach Lagoon Heated?

No, Airlie Beach Lagoon is not heated. The climate at Airlie Beach is warm all year round, even in the winter months, so there’s no need for the lagoon to be heated.

Hot sunny day the lagoon in Airlie beach

Is Airlie Beach Lagoon Free?

Airlie Beach Lagoon is open to the public and is completely free for all visitors, offering a variety of activities and amenities, such as swimming, sunbathing and picnicking. The pool itself has a few swimming lanes marked for those that want to get in a few laps. Facilities include:

  • Bathrooms, washrooms, changing room facilities, and cold water showers
  • Swimming fitness lanes
  • Deepwater swimming (up to 2 meters)
  • Shallow water (for non-swimmers and children)
  • Toddler/infant pool
  • Children’s playground
  • Free Gas BBQs and undercover shelters for picnics
  • Landscaped gardens, grassy areas for sunbaking and trees with shade
  • Onsite lifeguards, first aid trained staff, and 24-hour CCTV monitoring
  • Local families, visitor and holiday guest friendly environment

Carparking

While the lagoon is within easy walking distance of the town centre, car parking is available at either end of the lagoon. These areas are both paid car parking, however there is free car parking available at the council car park on Waterson Way, which is about a 5 minute walk to the lagoon.

lifeguard at Airlie Beach Lagoon

Is Airlie Beach Lagoon Dog Friendly?

No, dogs are not allowed at Airlie Beach Lagoon. Shingley Beach is the only beach in the Airlie Beach area where dogs are allowed to run free off-leash. Away from the crowd, this beach is stunning. If you’re coming from the downtown area, it won’t take you more than 20 minutes to walk there.

Where To Eat Nearby?

Airlie Beach Lagoon is a great place to take the family and friends, and with its central location, it’s easy to get to. There are plenty of restaurants and cafes nearby for grabbing a bite before a walk along the foreshore, or after a dip in the lagoon.

The Treehouse Cafe Airlie Beach

The Treehouse Cafe serves delicious coffee, lunch, supper, and beverages, and it’s conveniently located just next to the pool. Wonderful coffee, healthy lunch selections, and refreshing juices may be found at Wisdom Cafe, located at the southern end of the building near the parking lot.

Hogs Breath Cafe, situated on the main drag with views of the lagoon, serves up delicious steaks and cold beers. The Red Plate is a new restaurant in the area with a beautiful deck that offers shelter from trees and a view of the lagoon. This restaurant is a great place to relax and is just a short walk from the Airlie Beach Lagoon and is quickly gaining in popularity.

The Red Plate Airlie Beach

Activities Nearby

Play and explore the Airlie Beach foreshore area. Canoe and Stand up paddle boarding rentals are available on the northern shore of the complex. Two further playgrounds, a beach, and shady spots on lush green grass make up the foreshore of Airlie Beach.

Other popular activities nearby include The Bicentennial Walkway – a roughly 4 kilometre long boardwalk waterfront walk stretching from Airlie Beach’s lagoon through to the sands of Cannonvale Beach, that showcases some wonderful coastal views.

Segway Tours

Not a fan of walking? Try a Segway Tour instead! Travel the Whitsunday Bicentennial Boardwalk on your own Segway while taking in breathtaking views of Pioneer Bay and its crystal clear seas.

segway tours from Airlie Beach Lagoon

From Airlie Beach, you’ll go down the promenade along the water’s edge via Abell Point Marina, Shingley Beach, and the Whitsunday Botanic Gardens, and finally to Cannonvale Beach.

Explore The Whitsunday Islands

Airlie Beach is at the gateway to Australia’s iconic Whitsunday Islands! Plan an action-packed day trip that includes snorkelling, seeing Whitehaven Beach, and sailing on the Whitsundays. There are many fun and family friendly attractions in the Whitsundays, and Airlie Beach Lagoon is one not to be missed.

 

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