🏝️ Sleep, Stay, and Sail: Budget-Friendly Campsites & Hostels Across the Whitsundays
Ready to sail the seas with Matador Whitsundays? Why not stretch your trip with a few nights on land? Whether you’re road-tripping in a campervan, backpacking, or just chasing sunsets on a budget, this is your go-to guide for camping and hostels around the Whitsundays, Airlie Beach, and beyond.
📍 AIRLIE BEACH & JUBILEE POCKET
🏕️ Camping & Caravan Parks
1. BIG4 Whitsundays Tropical Eco Resort
- Where: 2955 Shute Harbour Rd, Flametree
- Price: From $35/night
- Vibe: Chill rainforest setting, perfect for vanlifers and tent campers.
- Bonus: Close to Conway National Park + pet-friendly.
2. Discovery Parks – Airlie Beach
- Where: 2634 Shute Harbour Rd, Jubilee Pocket
- Price: From $32/night (powered sites)
- Vibe: Great for families and solo travellers alike. Lagoon pool, waterpark, and lush surrounds.
3. Tasman Holiday Parks – Airlie Beach
- Where: 1 Jubilee Pocket Rd
- Price: From $30/night (unpowered)
- Vibe: Budget-friendly with resort feel. Loads of nature and walking trails nearby.
🛏️ Hostels & Backpackers
4. Base Airlie Beach Resort (Nomads)
- Where: 336 Shute Harbour Rd, Airlie Beach
- Price: From $28/night (dorms)
- Vibe: Party central! Pool, volleyball, live DJs, and a prime location.
5. Magnums Accommodation
- Where: 370 Shute Harbour Rd, Airlie Beach
- Price: From $30/night
- Vibe: Social but chill. Hammocks, communal kitchen, and walking distance to everything.
6. Backpackers by the Bay
- Where: 12 Hermitage Dr, Airlie Beach
- Price: From $29/night
- Vibe: Quieter vibe, with a pool and views. Great for couples and solo travellers.
7. Kipara Tropical Rainforest Retreat
- Where: 2614 Shute Harbour Rd, Jubilee Pocket
- Price: From $80 (private cabins), from $35 (dorms)
- Vibe: Tranquil and tucked away. Think peaceful rainforest retreat vibes.
🌿 CONWAY & PROSERPINE
🏕️ Camping
8. Conway National Park Bush Camping
- Sites: Swamp Bay, Bloodwood, Repulse Creek
- Price: $7/night (permit via QLD Parks)
- Vibe: Remote, peaceful, and great for hikers. No amenities – pack light and smart!
9. Proserpine Tourist Park
- Where: 79-83 Anzac Rd
- Price: From $33/night
- Vibe: Clean and quiet. A solid overnight stop before heading to the islands.
10. Gunna Go Caravan Park (Proserpine)
- Where: 13067 Bruce Hwy
- Price: From $30/night
- Vibe: Basic but friendly. Pet-friendly and ideal for van set-ups.
🌊 CANNONVALE
11. Seabreeze Tourist Park
- Where: 234 Shute Harbour Rd
- Price: From $40/night
- Vibe: Laid-back, right near Cannonvale Beach. Cabins and powered sites available.
12. BIG4 Adventure Whitsunday Resort
- Where: 25-29 Shute Harbour Rd
- Price: From $69/night
- Vibe: High-energy with waterslides, mini-golf and heaps of family fun.
🛥️ SHUTE HARBOUR & ISLAND ESCAPES
13. Swamp Bay / Tancred Island (Accessible by boat)
- Price: $7/night (permit needed)
- Vibe: Total off-grid island life. Great for seasoned campers and kayakers.
- 🔔 These national park campsites are hike-in or boat-in only. Book through Parks Queensland.
🧭 BETWEEN STOPS (Hidden Gems)
14. Brindabella Camping (Hipcamp)
- Where: 10 mins from Airlie Beach
- Price: From $35/night
- Vibe: Private, quiet, 4-acre camping for RVs and tents. Think stars, peace, and easy vibes.
15. Travellers Rest (Lethebrook, between Proserpine & Mackay)
- Where: Bruce Highway
- Price: ~$10 donation
- Vibe: Free-ish, with toilets and shade. Good for vanlifers needing a break.
🏙️ MACKAY REGION (If You’re Road Tripping!)
16. The Park – Mackay
- Where: Bruce Hwy, Mackay
- Price: From $40/night
- Vibe: Full-service, clean, pool, BBQs. Good if you’re en route or regrouping.
17. Gecko’s Rest Budget Accommodation & Backpackers
- Where: 34 Sydney St, Mackay
- Price: From $35/night
- Vibe: Small-town hostel vibes with good amenities. Walkable to bars and cafes.
18. Mackay Marine Tourist Park
- Where: Mulherin Dr, Mackay Harbour
- Price: From $38/night
- Vibe: Easy access to the marina. Quiet, with shaded powered sites.
🚿 FREE STUFF TO KNOW
- Public Facilities (Free showers/toilets):
- Airlie Beach Lagoon
- Cannonvale Beach
- Coral Sea Marina carpark area
- Book national park permits here: Parks DES QLD
- Hostel deals: Many hostels offer bag storage, late check-ins, and discounts for Matador & OzSail guests — just ask at the desk!
⚓ Ready to Sail?
Whether you’re glamping under the stars or bunking in a backpacker dorm, there’s no shortage of places to rest your head before or after your Matador Whitsundays sailing trip. Budget, vibe, and adventure — it’s all waiting for you in the Whitsundays.