Perched on a lush peninsula at Shute Harbour, Airlie Beach is a popular jumping-off point for the Great Barrier Reef and the Whitsunday Islands. The constant comings and goings of travellers make for a vibrant nightlife scene bursting with pubs and clubs. You’ll want to swim at the man-made lagoon, though, instead of one of the town beaches—their waters are full of stinging jellyfish.