Airlie Beach Then & Now

OVERVIEW

Step back in time to Airlie’s earlier days on a tour that visits a venue steeped in local history, then surveys the area’s contemporary sights. True time travel may not yet be possible, but this is the next best thing. You’ll begin with a visit to Proserpine Historical Museum, where you can relive the days when sugar was this area’s primary cash crop. The exhibits also highlight the Whitsunday region’s historic cattle industries and the coffee trade that thrived here from the late 1800s until it took a back seat to tea-drinking. Continue to the beautifully located Coral Sea Resort (or similar) to enjoy some beach views. The setting is the perfect place to relax and enjoy a morning tea with views across to Airlie and a peaceful feel. Enjoy a buffet of premium assorted cakes, local produce fruit platters and Australian Damper together with your juice, tea or coffee. On the return drive, get current on a brief sightseeing jaunt through both Cannonvale and Airlie Beach’s local shopping district. You’ll have the option to disembark at the local markets to browse for souvenirs, but if so, you’ll need to make your own way back to the pier.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Travel by coach about 30 minutes inland from Airlie Beach to Proserpine Historical Museum.
• See exhibits that tell the story of the days when the Airlie and Whitsunday regions’ economies were tied to sugar, cattle and coffee.
• Ride with the coach back to the pier or step off to do some souvenir shopping and return on your own.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.