Frommer's Australia from $50 a Day 13th Edition - To Parent Directory

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CHAPTER 6 . QUEENSLAND & THE GREAT BARRIER REEF
Harbour. The fare is A$29 (US$19) from the airport, or A$17 (US$11) from
the train station.
VISITOR INFORMATION Before you travel, contact Tourism Whitsundays,
P.O. Box 83, Whitsunday, QLD 4802 (& 07/4946 6673; fax 07/4946
7387; www.whitsundaytourism.com). Another website is www.whitsunday.
net.au. Tourism Whitsundays’ information center (& 1800/801 252 in Australia,
or 07/4945 3711) is in Proserpine, on the Bruce Highway in the town’s
south. It’s open Monday through Saturday from 9am to 5pm and Sundays and
public holidays (except Christmas) from 8:30am to 1:30pm.
If you’re staying in Airlie Beach, it’s easier to pick up information from the
private booking agents lining the main street, which all stock a vast range of
cruise, tour, and hotel information, and make bookings free of charge. They all
have much the same stuff; but because some manifest certain boats exclusively,
and prices can vary a little from one to the next, shop around.
GETTING AROUND Island ferries and Great Barrier Reef cruises leave from
Shute Harbour, a 10-minute drive south of Airlie Beach on Shute Harbour
Road. Most other tour-boat operators and bareboat charters anchor at Abel
Point Marina, a 15-minute walk west from Airlie Beach.
Avis (& 07/4946 6318), Hertz (& 07/4946 4687), and Thrifty (& 07/
4946 7727) have outlets in Airlie Beach and Proserpine Airport (telephone
numbers serve both locations). Budget has no Whitsundays office.
Local bus company Whitsunday Transit (& 07/4946 1800) runs a halfhourly
service between Airlie Beach and Shute Harbour to meet all ferries. The
fare is A$7.80 (US$5.05).
Most tour-boat operators pick up guests free from Airlie Beach hotels and call
at some or all island resorts.
Whitsunday All Over (& 07/4946 6900), Whitsunday Island Adventure
Cruises (& 07/4946 5255 for the booking agent), and FantaSea Cruises
(& 1800/650 851 in Australia, or 07/4946 5111) make ferry transfers from
Shute Harbour to the islands and between the islands. One-way transfers from
the mainland cost A$18 (US$12) to South Molle Island, and A$29 (US$19)
from Hamilton Island. Children 4 to 14 pay around half price. It is not necessary
to book these transfer services, but do book your arrival and departure ferry so
that you don’t miss your connections. Most islands receive a boat only every 2 to
4 hours, some only once or twice a day, so it’s a long wait if you miss your boat.
CHOOSING A BASE
Many people like to combine a stay at Airlie Beach with a few days on an island.
The advantages of staying on the mainland are cheaper accommodations, a
Tips Water Hazards!
Although there have been no major stinging incidents in areas with
stinger nets since their introduction in the early 1980s, deadly marine
stingers may inhabit the shoreline from October to April. The best place
to swim during these months is in the brand new Airlie Beach lagoon.
The rivers here are home to dangerous saltwater crocodiles (which
actually live in fresh water), so no swimming in streams, rivers, and water
holes.