If you've being following along for a while you'll know I'm all about budget travel, saving money and free activities. However, we've just had 4 epic days in Airlie Beach, North QLD and absolutely blew the budget!
We've been based in Mackay, North QLD, for 4 months working at a local motel. We have free accommodation and free food on shift. We've booked and paid for 2 campervan hires and our onward flights. On top of this, we've bought a car and joined a gym. So we've definitely "splashed the cash" compared to how we've lived the past few months. Since we are based only 90 minutes from Airlie Beach and the famous whitsundays we said we would go back and give Airlie another shot, after the disappointment that was Christmas! We didn't go back to Airlie on a budget though, we went all out and it was absolutely worth it!
I say "all out" but to some of you this would just be a normal holiday, nothing too extravagant, but for us as budget backpackers...well...it felt like the most bougie little getaway!
There was some budgeting with our accommodation though, we stayed outside of Airlie in Cannonvale. Just a short 3 minute drive into Airlie main street but made all the difference in price! We had a private cabin with a king size bed for $72 (£40) per person per night. It was a great little cabin and it had everything we needed! There was also a free library, swimming pool, ping pong table and pool table for guest use.
If that sounds as good to you as it did to us, you can book directly with Bush Village Holiday Cabins here or via booking.com (like I did) where you can secure better deals (not affiliated).
We had 3 major activities booked that were "budget breakers" but, I searched and compared these trips for so long to secure us the best deal! I used a coupon that had been sat in my emails since last year to save us $50. It's a habit I cannot break!
Whitehaven beach, hill inlet and snorkelling
We went with Red Cat Adventures for this one, booked via backpacker deals (because I had a coupon) usually I book things like this via trip advisor. Backpacker deals did send me a second coupon though so I will be using them again! (not affiliated)
The day trip included 2 hours on Whitehaven Beach and Hill Inlet lookout, 2 snorkelling spots, a buffet lunch and snacks all for $174 per person (should have been $199). It's a great way to see the famous spots in one day if you're short for time plus with 2 snorkelling spots you increase your chances of seeing more wildlife.
If you go on the trip I recommend purchasing a dry bag or at least lining your bag with a plastic bag! My book hasn't dried out from that trip yet.
Whitsunday jetski tours
Next up was an activity mainly for Tim, I was extremely nervous about this one. I needn't have been though, I enjoyed this so much and laughed the entire time!
We opted for a Twin Ski on the Two Island Safari costing $160 per person with Whitsunday Jetski tours. We booked directly with the company, but you might find better deals on Backpacker deals and trip advisor. We just struggled to find the correct ski option on trip advisor so booked directly to ensure we got the right one. Also if you book a snorkelling trip with red cat, see if you can get a bundle package with the jet ski tour too. We found out after that they do these bundles, gutted!
The tour lasted 2 hours plus an hour of safety talks/demonstrations at the start. I'd say we definitely got our money's worth. At the halfway point our guide handed out some chocolate bars and before we left we were given water to take with us (which is great for washing to salt water out of your eyes). I highly recommend this company mainly for their staff, they've been doing it for years, they've all got a good sense of humour and they're very kind.
Side note: max weight per jet ski 200kg
Fly Australia scenic flight
Now this, this was on my bucket list since we booked our world trip. I honestly never expected to even snorkel The Great Barrier Reef in my lifetime, let alone snorkel it three times AND have the opportunity to see it from the sky!
Running a plane is very expensive, so scenic flights are very expensive. We happened to get very very lucky with how our flight happened. We booked a 25 minute express flight over Airlie Beach and the Whitsunday islands for $160 per person. This got cancelled the night before due to not meeting the minimum number of participants. We was offered to upgrade to the 75 minute reef explorer flight for an extra $40 per person. I very quickly agreed, without consulting Tim, because I knew that the reef explorer flight cost $280-350 so by doing this we saved $80-150 per person! Sometimes, the budgeting God is looking down on us I swear.
Even for $350 I'd say it's worth it. Seeing The Great Barrier Reef from above it absolutely breath taking and a true once in a lifetime opportunity. Whilst the express flight would have still been an awesome thing to do and provided stunning sights, I'd honestly say it's worth paying extra to get out to the reef. We went with Fly Australia booked via trip advisor (I checked backpacker deals, as I had my coupon, but there wasn't any flight packages we wanted).
Now I absolutely recommend this to everyone BUT it is a very small plane, it gets hot and stuffy in there and it's very claustrophobic. If you don't do well in small spaces you might want to opt for a company that uses larger planes. The turbulence is also a lot more noticeable in a smaller plane compared to large commercial flights so if you're a bit of a nervous flyer this might not be for you.
Side note: max weight 115kg per person
Along with our expensive activities we also ate out every night, had drinks, got takeaway and shopped to my little hearts content. I didn't keep track of what I spent, but an educated guess and quick calculation puts me somewhere in the region of $1,100 (£590) (per person, although Tim may have spent more as his food options were more expensive). That includes petrol, accomodation, day trips, activities, parking, food, drinks and souvenirs. Compared to our budget 4 days in Majorca last year that coast €165 (£145) all in, it's quite a difference!
Sometimes you have to blow your budget. Without sounding cliche, you only get one chance at life so you might as well enjoy it! I worked very hard to save up for this big backpacking trip so when we got the chance to have a bougie 4 days away I thought why not? I'll earn that money back in a little over a week (here in Aus anyway, I wouldn't have in my old job in the UK). Budgeting is good, budget travel is great, treating yourself every once in a while? The best thing you can do.
I hope you enjoyed this blog! Comment down below if you've been to Airlie beach and what you recommend.
You can follow along for more here on wix blogs, Instagram and TikTok (@bilbo.h). Don't forget, I also have an exclusive discount code for you all to use at Pineapple island. An ethical boho surfer chic jewellery company that uses products from Bali to make their pieces. Check them out here and use code BILLIE at checkout for 20% off!
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