Great Barrier Reef Festival
WHITSUNDAY VACATIONS

Great Barrier Reef Festival

Great Barrier Reef Festival is an annual celebration of the Great Barrier Reef and showcase of the Whitsunday lifestyle and community in the "heart of the reef" – Airlie Beach

The region's favourite festival will take over the vibrant tourist hub of Airlie Beach, the gateway to the Whitsunday islands, over the first weekend of August.

The event is a delicious combination of family fun, reef focused environmental and art initiatives, destination events, local food and culture and some of the biggest beach parties in the tropical north. The 4-day festival will feature a fun-filled program of events including the Coral Sea Marina Lantern Parade, Great Barrier Reef interactive workshops and art installations, massive reef-themed street parade, main street car show, a wearable art parade and Recyclable Regatta and free family fun activities on Airlie Foreshore.

The not-to-be-missed Fireworks on the Foreshore will ignite the skies over the Coral Sea, on the biggest night on the Whitsunday calendar, complete with night markets, food stalls, carnival rides and street performers and the popular Pop-up Beach Bar. The Beach Music stage will be pumping out live entertainment throughout the weekend.

Immerse yourself in the festival art installation of reef-themed animations and sculptures that transform iconic features of the town into an underwater reef wonderland over the festival weekend.

Information and images sourced from tourismwhitsundays.com.au

The Great Barrie Reef located in the Whitsunday, Queensland, Australia
REVIEWS

Why Our Guests Keep Coming Back

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Seascape on Shutehaven - Adults Only
Lovely home, comfortable beds, aircon in each room, great view from the balcony. The pool is chilly but very nice, loved the dining table on the covered patio and the huge wall of windows upstairs. Bring your own bath soap and beach towels. The kitchen is well stocked with everything you need to cook your own meals, including some spices. 15 minute drive to the port and Airlie beach esplanade with all the shops and restaurants and a lovely public pool. Book your boat tours and adventures in advance!
February 19, 2025
Cara
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Cove 18 Luxury Whitsunday Waterfront Beach House
Great place, very clean, all amenities thought of, good layout, no issues, the team at Whitsunday vacation very helpful. Loved the location of this property!
February 18, 2025
Brenda
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3 Bedroom Holiday Home, Valley Views in the heart of Airlie Beach
Great location, very clean and everything you need for amenities. Small but cute pool for a quick dip, nice view and very private. The team at Whitsunday vacation were very responsive and helpful! No issues at all, had a lovely time 🙂
February 18, 2025
Brenda
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Amazing Penthouse with Whitsundays lifestyle
It was a great stay, beautiful view, great pool and spa area
February 13, 2025
Callan
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Uninterrupted Marina Views at Port of Airlie
The apartment is in a fantastic location in airlie beach, short walking distance to ferry’s and restaurants. The apartment has a stunning view and although the weather was terrible it was still lovely to sit on the balcony and enjoy the views of the marina. There are good local cafes and restaurants close by. Great space for two couples. Clean , tidy and comfortable . Would recommend and hope to come back when the sun is out!
February 3, 2025
Sarah-Anne
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Whitsunday living on Hillcrest by the Beach
Beautiful space and super close to everything. Very convenient.
February 3, 2025
Lukas
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Relax & Daydream at 2 Elementa
Absolutely loved our stay in this beautiful place! Will be our first pick when we return to Airlie! Super clean and tidy, easy to check in and out and has amazing views! We were given all information required and had a quick response for any other queries. Looks exactly as the photos show! No complaints from us, we will definitely be back!
January 31, 2025
Natasha
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Marina living with Whitsundays lifestyle
I had an incredible stay at this beautiful apartment. The location is absolutely perfect, situated right in the heart of Airlie Beach port. It made exploring the nearby attractions and the lagoon super convenient.The view from the apartment is amazing. Waking up to the sight of the marina and enjoying the balcony was a highlight of my trip.The host were always helpful and they ensure I had a memorable stay. The apartment was spotless, well-equipped, and had all the amenities I needed for a comfortable stay. Everything was exactly as promoted in the photos.I highly recommend this property to anyone looking for comfortable and convenient place to stay at Airlie Beach.
January 30, 2025
Carolina
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Marina Waterfront Living at Port of Airlie
Terrific apartment on a Marina close to Airlie town centre and therefore all facilities ( which are an easy walk on flat ground).Very helpful and obliging managers who were quick to respond to our queries.
January 29, 2025
Peter
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Relax & Daydream at 2 Elementa
We thoroughly enjoyed our stay here, the house was amazing and exceeded our expectations. The house is well furnished and well thought out in providing towels as well as all the basic facilities. The balcony and view from the house is amazing, and we enjoyed the pool which also had a fantastic view.
January 28, 2025
Amara
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"High Tide" - Whitsundays Beachfront Accommodation
The view here is absolutely stunning—just like the photos, but even better in person! The house is super spacious with great amenities, and the cleanliness really stands out. Everyone in our group had a fantastic time! Plus, there’s an amazing café just down the road that locals swear by. I highly recommend this place for your next trip to Airlie Beach! You won’t regret it!
January 28, 2025
Amali
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Uninterrupted Marina Views at Port of Airlie
Four of us stayed 5 nights in January at Mark's place & we had a great time. The location was great, just a short walk away from the main street & local shops, cafes & restaurants. The condo was as described with great air conditioning which we needed because of the heat! Friendly communication from Mark was consistent & we appreciated that he let us leave our luggage for a few hours as we had a later flight. Thanks Mark, your place made our stay amazing in Airlie Beach!
January 27, 2025
Ryan
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3 Bedroom Holiday Home, Valley Views in the heart of Airlie Beach
Wonderful views - felt like our own little treehouse! Pool was absolutely perfect for our 2 year old niece who had an absolute blast. House is spacious and has most things you need to be able to cook during your stay. Location was super central, and we were able to easily walk or drive to anywhere we needed to go.
January 25, 2025
Sarah
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"High Tide" - Whitsundays Beachfront Accommodation
Beautiful views, it’s a very homey home as well. Had everything to entertain the kids and the kitchen has just about everything you need. Highly recommend this Airbnb if your in Airlie
January 24, 2025
Renee
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The Power House - Views & More
Great host and great place! Had a lovely weekend and definitely would like to come back! Thanks Mark
January 23, 2025
Amanda
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Mazlin House, Airlie Beach Waterfront Holiday Home ** New Waterfront Pool installed!**
Fantastic location. Beautiful house with everything provided that we needed. Great pool.
January 21, 2025
Donna
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Whitsunday Beachfront Apartment on Coral Esplanade
Beautiful views, and great coffee at ‘Froggies’. Bus close by, but Ubers and taxis are not reliable (and no uber eats or food delivery). If you don’t have a car, I recommend you order Coles online delivery in advance (they do next day delivery). Easy to walk to Coles, just a little too far to walk back with lots of food or heavy items. Or there is a great butcher within a 5 minute walk. Accommodation was great, had everything we needed. And host communication was excellent. We had a fantastic time and will definitely be back!
January 20, 2025
Megan
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14 The Cove - Waterfront Whitsunday Home
Amazing place! Couldn't fault it at all, great location and views. Was the perfect place for our family holiday.
January 20, 2025
Chris
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Luxury Airlie Beach Home with Panoramic Ocean Views
We had the most amazing stay at this stunning mountain-top home during our trip to Airlie Beach! The views were absolutely jaw-dropping, with the perfect blend of lush mountains and sparkling ocean as far as the eye could see. Every sunrise and sunset felt like a private show. The house itself was beautifully designed, with spacious, open-plan living areas that maximized the views from every angle. The interiors were elegant and comfortable, with all the amenities we could possibly need for a relaxing stay. The outdoor spaces were equally impressive, perfect for soaking in the scenery or enjoying a meal. The location was ideal—just a short drive to Airlie Beach and the surrounding attractions, but still offering peace and seclusion. Our host was incredibly welcoming and made sure we had everything we needed for a seamless stay. If you’re looking for a luxurious retreat with unforgettable views, this home is an absolute gem! Highly recommended!
January 19, 2025
Sukhraj
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'Vue de Bleu' Luxury Whitsunday Retreat
WOW!! What an incredible property...worth every cent! I had the privilege of staying at Vue de blue with my four children for a week. We felt immediately at home and at peace. It was so peaceful, all you literary heard was sounds of nature. The beds were super comfy, had some of the best sleeps ive ever had. All the amenities were perfect and the pool was definitely the highlight...my children and I practically lived in there throughput the day. Lounging around, watching movies and playing boardgames ...honestly hands down the BEST holiday we have ever had. Thank you for letting us into your home, we'll be back for sure!
January 17, 2025
Tracey
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