The Australian Immigration Book

74 Islands, Endless Opportunities

www.whitsunday.qld.gov.au
www.tourismwhitsundays.com.au

The Whitsundays is one of the world’s most desirable destinations. It is home to 74 idyllic tropical islands and is the major gateway to the magical Great Barrier Reef. Increasingly, people from all over the world are seeking to make their home here – lured by the charms of a tropical lifestyle.

Fortunately, The Whitsundays’ future as a protected environment is assured. National parkland, ancient rainforests and exotic wildlife are all protected by legislation, ensuring the future of the region for visitors and residents. The area also has a vibrant business sector, with the driving forces for the local economy being tourism, sugarcane farming, cattle grazing, fruit and vegetable production and mining. The Whitsundays is the tenth largest international tourist destination in Australia, with over 750,000 domestic and international tourists flocking to the region each year. Employment prospects are good in a diverse range of industries.

The region has a full range of services, facilities, educational and recreational facilities, which is why many people are choosing to raise their families in the Whitsundays.

For visitors, this means abundant accommodation, activity options and night life. The Whitsundays can offer each traveller a unique experience to complement their lifestyle. From the luxurious to adventure, relaxation, ecological or family fun-filled holidays – the Whitsundays has it all.

For locals, this means the chance to enjoy a resort-style lifestyle full time, or to enjoy a more rural lifestyle, with a world-class playground just down the road.

The Whitsundays enjoys a tropical climate of hot summers, warm winters and bright spring and autumn days, with an average annual temperature of 27 degrees. The tropical wet season occurs during January to March. Access to the region is easy, with several airports – the Whitsunday Coast Airport at Proserpine, the Great Barrier Reef Airport on Hamilton Island and through the nearby cities of Mackay and Townsville. You can catch a train, a bus, or simply drive up Queensland’s coast along the Bruce Highway and exit at Proserpine or Bowen.

The four main communities of Whitsunday, Proserpine, Bowen and Collinsville are quite different. Attitudes in Whitsunday are generally younger, more transient, fast-paced and modern. Proserpine is more traditional, conservative and houses many long term residents. Bowen’s beautiful beaches and combination of new and older residents provides for a happy place for young families. Collinsville is focused around mining, and it’s many long term residents are passionate about their town.

AIRLIE BEACH

Airlie Beach has become an internationally recognised tourist destination, particularly for backpackers traveling along the Queensland Coastline. Airlie Beach is a vibrant, but relaxing tourist centre. There are plenty of water sports activities to choose from with the safe man-made lagoon by the beach, plus an array of souvenir stores and homecraft markets every Saturday. After dark Airlie Beach becomes a social centre with plenty of night entertainment.

BOWEN

This town remains one of the region’s unspoilt gems, offering lots of parklands, award winning beaches, 24 murals depicting Bowen’s history, good shopping, and the region’s only movie theatre. The welcoming community offers numerous employment opportunities, from tourism to industry to fruit and vegetable production, and many suggest Bowen is about to experience a ‘golden decade’ of prosperity.

COLLINSVILLE

The historic mining town of Collinsville has a relaxed lifestyle but there’s also plenty to keep visitors and locals busy – from fishing, to the mining museum to exploring the vast geography of the area. It is a 45 minute drive west of Bowen and enjoys a variety of recreational and employment opportunities, as well as a vibrant, friendly community.

PROSERPINE

Proserpine and its surrounding districts have a wealth of history. You can also see its past in the art deco architecture that lines the main street. The people of the town are friendly, many with country backgrounds. Proserpine is surrounded by mostly sugarcane and cattle farming. Although the town is only small, it features modern facilities, like the hospital, library, entertainment centre, museum, local newspaper, high school and two primary schools (one private), a nursing home, plus many great services provided by caring people.

The Whitsundays will continue to grow – although the growth will be managed with care. After all, it’s The Whitsundays’ natural attributes that bring people here in the first place.

Just imagine what it would be like to live and work here!