Airlie Beach Music Festival: The only place in Australia where you can still party

For anyone trying to have a good time in Sydney over the past seven years – after lockout laws dampened the city’s nightlife – Airlie Beach has come as a bit of a culture shock.

The once sleepy seaside town is best known for its position as a major Launch pad to the Great Barrier Reef and the spectacular Whitsunday Islands – but hardly comparable to a big city.

When I came to town for the Airlie Beach Festival of Music in early November I didn’t really know what to expect. I knew the place relied on tourism and was hit hard by Covid lockdowns so I figured maybe there would be some boarded up venues.

Well I was wrong.

What I found instead was a thriving city full of music, activity and fresh energy – with no indication that the locals had fought so hard just a year earlier.

Pictured: Revelers dance in the mosh pit at the Airlie Beach Festival of Music in November

The high street in King Cross, which used to be buzzing with music and activity, is pictured empty on a Saturday evening

Police have been known to go into pubs with sniffer dogs. Left and right: Cops with dogs in bars in Sydney

The festival ran from November 4th to 6th and featured bands including Eskimo Joe, Jon Stevens, Bee Lee, Rogue Traders, Mi-Sex and The Badloves, with Sarah McLeod – the lead singer of Australian band Superjesus – the event’s ambassador.

The Animals, a 1960s band from Britain, stood out – performing I Put A Spell On You, House Of The Rising Sun and Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood on the festival’s main stage overlooking the Whitsunday Islands.

Ben Lee performed hits Catch My Disease and Gamble Everything For Love before handing out Iced VoVos to audiences and campaigning for marijuana legalization.

The crowd went wild as Eskimo Joe performed their 2006 hit, Black fingernails red wine.

And that was only on the main stage of the festival – the real magic happened in the city, where live music to spill all the bars and restaurants along the main street from midday until well into the evening.

Airlie Beach is known for its position as a key gateway to the Great Barrier Reef and the spectacular Whitsunday Islands. Pictured: The main stage of the festival under the tent

The Rogue Traders, including lead singer Natalie Bassingthwaighte, perform at the festival

There was something new to discover around every corner – a new band, a new eatery or (apparently) the world’s best mojitos at Fish D’Vine Restaurant and Rum Bar.

For anyone coming from Sydney, it was a stark reminder of what the country’s most populous city has lost – even in a city that really struggled to stay afloat amid lockdowns.

Sydney may have a few surviving nightspots, but they’re few and far between, and it’s incredibly rare to see revelers roam as freely between venues as they do in Airlie Beach.

Not once did I see police officers walking the streets in packs, or intimidating bouncers blocking the entrance to each venue – with so much security gear it was like a scene from a movie.

No one was outwardly violent or angry, and I have never seen anyone refused entry to or kicked out of a venue for dancing too hard.

The crowd went mad when Eskimo Joe performed their hit song “Black Fingernails Red Wine” in 2006 (pictured).

People of all ages attended the Airlie Beach Festival of Music in November. Next year the event returns to the city

The vibe was upbeat and there were revelers of all ages – the youngest was around 16 and the oldest in their 70’s.

Generation X was probably in the majority and no one shied away from the moshpit on the main stage of the festival.

The fact that the The fact that the festival didn’t start until the afternoon on the main stage wasn’t a problem either – the late start gave ticket holders more time to take in all that Airlie Beach has to offer.

The party

The festival is in its 10th year and was recently crowned People’s Choice Festival of the Year at the Queensland Music Awards.

But it’s not like any other music festival – this one offers stunning sea views from the Whitsunday Sailing Club’s main tent.

There are so many bars, cafes and restaurants in the city and each one was packed with music and activities during the festival – don’t you like the music in a pub? Stop by next door and see what’s up next.

Ben Lee performs at the Airlie Beach Festival of Music. He distributed Frozen Vovos to members of the Crows

Sarah McLeod, the lead singer of Superjesus, was the event’s ambassador. She is pictured on the main stage

Venues around the city also gave up and coming local bands a chance to play in front of a live audience. Many have performed in restaurants such as the famous Fish D’Vine seafood restaurant and in the foyers of local hotels.

Restaurants and cafes were full most of the time, but owners left the doors and windows open so passers-by could stop and listen to the music from the street.

In all, around 3,000 people flocked to the tent every night to listen to their favorite bands, and it wasn’t just Gen Z.

In fact, I’d say the majority of the people who filled the venues and partied on the streets were in their 40’s and 50’s. Many have attended the festival headliners but were nonetheless happy to cheer on bands featuring younger generation musicians.

Bigger nightclubs like Magnums — the city’s busiest bar with an impressive beer garden and indoor stage — had security guards, but the bouncers didn’t have the Sydney-style aggression that many have tragically grown accustomed to.

They didn’t have walkie-talkies, they didn’t use computers to scan people’s faces, they didn’t make it a habit to ask how many drinks someone had had, they didn’t wear safety vests or generally look for reasons to kick people out.

While this year’s event is over, early bird tickets are available for 2023. The event will take place from November 9th to 12th.

In all, around 3,000 people flocked to the tent every night to listen to their favorite bands, and it wasn’t just Gen Z

From heaven

The best way to see the region’s 74 islands and the Great Barrier Reef is from above.

Ocean Rafting offers a 60 minute scenic flight around the Whitsunday Islands, over scenic Whitehaven Beach and Hill Inlet before heading to the reef.

During the flight, the pilot shares fun facts – including the fact that Captain James Cook thought he arrived in the islands on Easter Sunday, also known as Whit Sunday.

However, it was the 17th century and there was no international date line, so he actually got there on Easter Monday or Whit Monday.

The Great Barrier Reef is pictured from above. Visitors to Airlie Beach can see the reef from a small plane operated by Ocean Rafting

If you’re still going, you’ll have figured out that this essentially means the Whitsunday Islands should actually be called the Whitmonday Islands.

In any case, the view from this incredibly small plane is breathtaking and you will show your friends and family the photos and videos of white quartz sand swirling around the turquoise sea.

Another way to see the region from above is to jump out of a plane and fRee-fall out 15,000 feet above sea level, also known as skydiving.

Skydiving Australia organizes dives at Airlie Beach and Whitehaven Beach and the views are stunning.

Skydiving Australia organizes dives at Airlie Beach and Whitehaven Beach (pictured)

From the ocean

Reef snorkeling is a must when traveling to Airlie Beach.

The Ocean Rafting team takes you and about 15 others on a super fast 12 meter inflatable boat, which basically means it won’t sink.

The crew plays music from the speakers, takes photos so you don’t have to hold your camera, and makes you laugh while making you feel safe.

Guests are fitted with a stinger suit to ward off unwanted jellyfish encounters before the boat stops at various snorkel spots around the reef for a swim with fish and sea turtles.

You can also stroll along the famous Whitehaven Beach and have lunch overlooking the reef.

Life jackets and pool noodles are given to anyone who is unsure about the water, so this is an experience everyone can enjoy.