After arriving late the previous day, we were up early and keen to check out Airlie Beach. Once a sleepy town you passed through on your way to the Whitsunday Islands, it has grown into a destination in its own right.
We enjoyed a relaxing morning around camp, catching up on school work. After lunch we headed into town to check out the Main Street and the Lagoon. The Main Street is full of the usual tourist shops, aimed squarely at the backpacker market. There is also a good selection of pubs claiming to be the number one party place in town. In a way nothing much has changed here since my first visit here back in 1999 - except this time we fit into a very different demographic!
Main St, Backpacker Central
The most significant change, the Lagoon has turned the waterfront area from a quiet grassy park and uninviting beach into a delightful safe swimming area. Unlike the Cairns Lagoon, this one has deep water (2.0 metres at its deepest). Just like Cairns, this one is often surrounded by young people worshiping the sun.
