The ultimate guide on how to get to Daydream Island (2025)

Are you working out how to get to Daydream Island? In this Queensland travel guide, we are going to share everything you need to know.

Even though Daydream Island isn’t far from the mainland, it can be confusing to figure out how to get there considering you may need to take a few different modes of transport.

But don’t worry we’ve got you covered!

Recently, we took a week-long trip to Daydream Island and we’re excited to share our firsthand experience and top tips to help you with your travel planning.

Where is Daydream Island?

As we were saying, Daydream Island is actually quite close to the mainland, at only 5km.

It’s a short 30-minute ferry ride from Airlie Beach and a 60 minute ferry ride from Hamilton Island.

Further below we will cover how to get from both of these locations to Daydream Island.

Daydream Island is one of seven islands that make up the Molle Group, which is a subgroup of islands in the Whitsunday Islands.

These islands are located right in the heart of the Great Barrier Reef and are the gateway to some of the most fascinating coral reefs and amazing beaches, like Whitehaven Beach.

How to Get to Daydream Island?

In short, unless you’re arriving by a private charter helicopter or your own boat, you will need to get a ferry to Daydream Island from either Airlie Beach or Hamilton Island.

*Cruise Whitsundays are the main operators for ferry transfers between Airlie Beach, Daydream Island and Hamilton Island*

We have broken down all the options on how to get to Daydream Island below:

Fly to Daydream Island

There are two airports you can fly into to get to Daydream Island: Proserpine Airport (Whitsunday Coast Airport) and Hamilton Island Airport.

Proserpine Airport (Whitsunday Coast Airport)

This is the closest and main airport that serves Airlie Beach and the Whitsundays. 

If you’re visiting Airlie Beach before Daydream Island, flying into here will be your best bet.

It’s generally cheaper than Hamilton Island Airport too.

You can fly from Cairns, Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, and Adelaide. There are multiple flights available daily as well.

Airlines currently servicing Proserpine Airport are: Qantas, Virgin, Jetstar and Skytrans. 

Proserpine Airport is roughly a 30-40 minute drive from the Port of Airlie, which is where you’ll catch the ferry to Daydream Island.

You can organise a local shuttle bus or take a taxi/Uber to the Port of Airlie (Airlie Beach Ferry Terminal).

Then from the Port of Airlie, it’s a 30-minute ferry ride, with multiple departures every day.

Hamilton Island Airport

Flying into Hamilton Island is another option If you plan on visiting the island first before Daydream Island or if you’d prefer a slightly quicker route it’s ideal. 

You can fly directly to Hamilton Island Airport from Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne. There are multiple flights daily as well.

Airlines currently servicing Hamilton Island Airport are: Qantas, Virgin and Jetstar.

Although the ferry from Hamilton Island to Daydream Island is longer (60 minutes), you won’t need to make a road transit like you have to if opting to fly into Proserpine Airport.

The ferry to Daydream Island leaves from the Hamilton Island Airport or the Hamilton Island Marina. There are multiple ferries leaving daily.

Drive to Daydream Island

If you live locally in North Queensland like us or you’re road-tripping through North Queensland, this option may suit you. When we visited Daydream Island, we drove south from Townsville which took around 3 hours.

Before taking off on the ferry to the Daydream island, you’ll need to find suitable parking to store your car while you’re on the island. 

The most convenient parking is at the Port of Airlie. There is casual outside and basement parking available, as well as basement long-term parking (with a height clearance of 2.2 metres).

If you’re like us and your vehicle is higher than 2.2 metres, your next best option is parking at the Coral Sea Marina carpark. There is short and long-term open parking there. 

You’ll then have to catch a taxi or Uber over to the Port of Airlie to catch your ferry to Daydream Island. It was around $20 one way for us.

You can pay for the parking via the Easypark app or you can pay by plate once there.

Map of Coral Sea Marina Carpark & Port of Airlie Carpark

Take a Train to Daydream Island

Next up is taking a train to Daydream Island. To do this, you’ll need to hop on the Queensland Rail service train called the ‘Spirit of Queensland’. This train runs from Brisbane to Cairns.

There is a train station at Proserpine, so this is where you’ll hop off. From there, you can take the RailBus (book through Queensland Rail) or a taxi to the Port of Airlie to catch the ferry to Daydream Island.

Visit Daydream Island by Boat

If you have your own boat, you can arrange to moor it at the Daydream Island Marina. For more information on organising this, you can visit their website.

Daydream Island Map

Best Time to Visit Daydream Island

As Daydream Island is located in North Queensland, the best time to visit is during the dry season, which runs from April to October. 

During this period, there is little to no rainfall, mostly clear days, and comfortable temperatures. 

The most popular time to visit is in winter, from June to August. During this time, the weather conditions are the most consistent, with average temperatures ranging from 20-25 degrees Celsius.

It’s the perfect location for a winter escape from the colder southern parts of Australia. 

Our visit to Daydream Island was in late March, and we experienced a mix of cloudy and sunny weather.

Getting Around Daydream Island

Daydream Island is a small island, about 1 km in length and 400 meters wide, which means getting around the island is very easy. 

There are great established walking tracks around the island, like the Rainforest Walk or the main boardwalk, taking you from one end of the island to the other.

What to Do on Daydream Island?

There’s plenty to do on Daydream Island, whether you want to simply relax with a cocktail in hand by the pool or swim with marine life at the amazing Living Reef. We’ve listed some of the best things to do on the island:

On Island Activities:

• Discover the bays, like Lovers Cove.
• Swim and learn about marine life at the Living Reef.
• Relax by the pools.
• Check out the different restaurants and bars.
• Go to the gym.
• Watch a movie at the open-air cinema.
• Relax at the day spa.
• Do a Paint n Sip during sunset.

Off Island Activities:

• Go kayaking.
• Learn how to sail.
• Go hiking at nearby islands like South Molle Island.
• Take a Great Barrier Reef day cruise
• Take a helicopter tour of the Whitsundays.
• Visit Whitehaven Beach
• Sail the Whitsundays
• Go snorkelling

Tips When Travelling to Daydream Island

• Definitely book your trip in advance, especially during peak travel times like school holidays.
  
• Check and confirm ferry schedules ahead of time. You don’t want to miss your ferry, as this could disrupt your entire travel plan.
  
• If you’re driving, make sure you leave enough time to park and get to the ferry terminal before your ferry departs.
  
• There are no shops on the island, so be prepared to pay for your food and drink from the island’s restaurants and bars. As it is an island, it is more expensive than usual, but we found the lunch and dinner restaurants to be great!   
  
• The resort has a deal where kids eat free. If you’d like to read more about this check out the deal here
  
• Bring lightweight clothing, swimwear, and sun protection like a hat and sunscreen. Don’t forget to pack casual or smart casual outfits for dinners at the island’s restaurants.
  
• We both found we had phone reception the entire time on the island. The resort does also have wifi.
  
• Since there are no shops, pack any essentials you might need like medications, toiletries, and personal care items.
  
• As we mentioned above, the island has a lot of on and off island activities like snorkelling or kayaking. We recommend booking these activities in advance once you get on the island so you don’t miss out.
  
• The island is home to quite a lot of friendly kangaroos and cockatoos. It’s best not to feed or touch them. We highly recommend not leaving any food on your balcony as you will most certainly have some cockatoos coming for a visit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Wrap Up – How to Get to Daydream Island

In summary, even though Daydream Island is quite close to the mainland, there can be some planning required on how to get there.

Whether you’re flying from somewhere else in Australia to Proserpine Airport or Hamilton Island Airport, driving and parking at Airlie Beach, or even taking the train, there are plenty of options to choose from. 

Having a variety of options will help you choose what suits your preferences, needs or budget the best.  

Remember to book your trip and activities in advance, check ferry schedules, and pack smart for the tropical weather. 

If you have any questions about getting to Daydream Island, please feel free to reach out to us!

Happy Travelling 😊

Read More about the Whitsundays

• Honest Resort Review: Yangaro Resort In Airlie Beach
• What is the closest airport to Airlie Beach?
• Honest Daydream Island Review
• The ultimate guide on how to get to Daydream Island
• 10 Best Airlie Beach Snorkelling Tours