Heart Hotel and Gallery Whitsundays is at 277 Shute Harbour Road, in the middle of Airlie Beach and about two minutes on foot from the lagoon. It is rated class 4 and combines designer rooms, a restaurant, a bar, a coffee shop and an on-site art gallery with designer stores. Rooms have furnished balconies and either village or partial ocean views, with queen rooms of about 20 square metres and king rooms, including a king spa room, of about 30 square metres. The Airlie Beach market is about seven minutes away, Coral Sea Marina about eight, Boathaven Beach about ten and Port of Airlie about twelve. It suits couples and friends who want a stylish, central base with a balcony and good places to eat nearby, at a mid-range price level.
Location and getting around
The hotel is on Shute Harbour Road, the main strip, so cafes, bars and tour desks are on the doorstep. The lagoon is about two minutes on foot, the Airlie Beach market about seven, Coral Sea Marina about eight, Boathaven Beach about ten and Port of Airlie about twelve.
The Deck, Whitsunday Seafood Bar and a handful of other casual places to eat are one to three minutes away. Whitsunday Coast Airport at Proserpine is roughly a 33-minute drive, and a round-trip airport shuttle is available for a fee per person. The hotel also rents bikes and scooters if you want to explore.
The rooms and the feel
All rooms sleep two. The designer queen rooms are about 215 square feet, or 20 square metres, and come with a village view or a partial ocean view. The designer king rooms are about 323 square feet, or 30 square metres, and the king spa room has a partial ocean view as well. There is an accessible king room. Rooms have air conditioning, furnished balconies, premium bedding with pillowtop mattresses, a mini fridge, a laptop-compatible safe and designer toiletries.
Food, drink and facilities
There is a restaurant, a bar and a coffee shop on site, and a cooked-to-order breakfast is available for a fee. The art gallery and designer stores give the hotel a different feel from the typical resort. There is no pool on site, though the property notes that pool access is nearby, and the town's lagoon is only a couple of minutes away. Free WiFi, coworking space, luggage storage, a front desk safe and tour and ticket assistance are available.
Practical details and who it suits
Parking is not clearly offered by the property, although a public parking area is nearby, so check when you book if you are driving. Check-in runs from 2 pm to 8 pm, with late check-in during limited hours. Check-out is at 10 am, and early check-in and late check-out carry fees. Pets are not allowed, except service animals. Choose Heart Hotel and Gallery for a stylish, central base with a balcony. If you want your own pool and more space, at Waters Edge Resort is a better match.
Why stay here
- ✓Furnished balconies
- ✓Partial ocean-view rooms
- ✓Restaurant and bar
- ✓Coffee shop
- ✓On-site art gallery
- ✓Bike and scooter rental
- ✓Airport shuttle (paid)
- ✓Walk to the lagoon
Good questions
Where is Heart Hotel and Gallery Whitsundays?+
It is at 277 Shute Harbour Road in Airlie Beach. The lagoon is about two minutes away on foot and the market about seven.
Does the hotel have a pool?+
No. Pool access is nearby, and the Airlie Beach lagoon is only a couple of minutes' walk away.
What are the check-in and check-out times?+
Check-in runs from 2 pm to 8 pm, with late check-in during limited hours, and check-out is at 10 am. Early check-in and late check-out carry fees.
