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Major city · Australia

Ayr

Stay 1 night as a Burdekin base for the Yongala wreck or Alva Beach; skip the town itself unless you are working the harvest.

Not yet checkedSourcesWhat these labels mean

Ayr is a small sugar and mango town on the Burdekin, 88 km south of Townsville on the Bruce Highway. It is not a sightseeing stop: the reason to sleep here is the SS Yongala wreck, one of Australia's best dive sites, 45 minutes offshore, plus a quiet beach at Alva. Most travellers pass through on the drive between Townsville and Airlie Beach.

basic guide: no trip line yet
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
More ways in
Print / PDF guide
Local time, weather, currency, airports
Weather
see forecast
Currency
AUD
Best months
May–Oct (dry, calm seas)
avoid Nov–Apr (wet season, stingers, cyclone risk)
Airports
TSV · CNS
Nights
1
Rules in force · 7
  • Oceania ↗Oceania's island states guard their farms and reefs at the border: tick 'yes' on the arrival card for any food, plant, animal product, soil or used outdoor gear, and let the officer decide.
  • Oceania ↗Across the tropical South Pacific, cyclones are possible from November to April: choose insurance that covers weather delays and keep one spare night before a long-haul departure.
  • Australia and New Zealand ↗Both countries drive on the left, with long distances between fuel stops in the outback and on New Zealand's back roads; fatigue causes more visitor crashes than speed.
  • Australia ↗Almost every visitor needs a visa or an electronic authorisation (ETA or eVisitor, depending on passport) before boarding: apply only through the official Department of Home Affairs site or the official AustralianETA app, and check the rules for your passport.
  • Australia ↗Declare all food, plant material, seeds, wood and animal products on your arrival declaration; undeclared items can bring on-the-spot fines or visa cancellation. When unsure, declare it.
  • Australia ↗Drive on the left. An overseas licence in English (or with an official translation or International Driving Permit) is accepted for visitors; check the state rules and your rental contract.
  • Australia ↗Swim between the red and yellow flags on patrolled beaches; rip currents cause most beach drownings.
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾

Not in this guide yet

  • Walking areas with bag rules
  • Day plans checked against opening hours
  • Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
  • Field-checked times and prices
Emergency numbers for Ayr000 ▾
  • Police, fire, ambulance000
  • From mobiles112

Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.

EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Ayr, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Show all 12 answers

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • CoffeeA$4–6 (≈ US$3–4)
  • Budget bedBackpacker dorm bed, a night, per personA$30 (≈ US$20)
  • Mid-range bedMotel or pub double room, a night, per roomA$150 (≈ US$100)
  • High-end bedMotel or pub double room, a night, per roomA$220 (≈ US$150)

A day, not counting the bed: Budget A$90 (≈ US$60) · Mid A$160 (≈ US$110) · High A$260 (≈ US$180)

Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →

DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

SS Yongala wreck divingAlva Beach (Lynch's Beach)Sugar cane and mango harvestsBurdekin delta wetlands
Airports
TSV Townsville Airport (About 1 h by car south on the Bruce Highway; flights to Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne.) · CNS Cairns Airport (About 4 h north by car; alternative for reef and dive trips.)

Best months at a glance

From the guide's best and avoid lists

  1. Jan

    Avoid

    31°C (88°F)

  2. Feb

    Avoid

    31°C (88°F)

  3. Mar

    Avoid

    30°C (86°F)

  4. Apr

    Avoid

    29°C (84°F)

  5. May

    Best

    27°C (81°F)

  6. Jun

    Best

    25°C (77°F)

  7. Jul

    Best

    24°C (75°F)

  8. Aug

    Best

    26°C (79°F)

  9. Sep

    Best

    28°C (82°F)

  10. Oct

    Best

    30°C (86°F)

  11. Nov

    Avoid

    31°C (88°F)

  12. Dec

    Avoid

    32°C (90°F)

Best: May–Oct. Avoid: Nov–Apr. Month by month →

Warmest Dec (32°C (90°F)), coolest Jul (14°C (57°F) low), wettest Feb (14 rain days), driest Jul (3). Averages, not a forecast.

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Ayr: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

31°C (88°F)

24°C (75°F)

13 rd

Feb

31°C (88°F)

24°C (75°F)

14 rd

Mar

30°C (86°F)

23°C (73°F)

12 rd

Apr

29°C (84°F)

21°C (70°F)

8 rd

May

27°C (81°F)

18°C (64°F)

6 rd

Jun

25°C (77°F)

15°C (59°F)

4 rd

Jul

24°C (75°F)

14°C (57°F)

3 rd

Aug

26°C (79°F)

15°C (59°F)

3 rd

Sep

28°C (82°F)

18°C (64°F)

3 rd

Oct

30°C (86°F)

21°C (70°F)

5 rd

Nov

31°C (88°F)

23°C (73°F)

8 rd

Dec

32°C (90°F)

24°C (75°F)

11 rd

High / low, both scales · rd = rain days

Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

A car is effectively required: the beach and dive base are 17 km out of town and there is no useful local bus. The Bruce Highway (A1) runs through Ayr, linking Townsville (1 h north) with Bowen and Mackay (south). Ayr railway station sits on the North Coast line.

See & doDay-trips, door to door

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time
Townsvillego

Door to door: About 1 h

Drive north on the Bruce Highway (A1), about 88 km (55 mi)

Bigger city with Reef HQ, Castle Hill and the Strand; good for a half-day or a flight connection.

Alva Beach

go

Door to door: About 20 min

Drive east from Ayr, about 17 km (11 mi)

Quiet beach and the dive base; check stinger signage before swimming.

Airlie Beach and the Whitsundaysovernight

Door to door: About 3 h

Drive south on the Bruce Highway (A1), about 250 km (155 mi)

Too far for a return day; sleep there for sailing and island trips.

Bowen

caution

Door to door: About 1.5 h

Drive south on the Bruce Highway (A1), about 130 km (81 mi)

Beaches and mango farms; a long half-day, better as a stop en route south.

Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Ayr town centre (Queen Street)

Supermarkets, cafés and the two backpacker hostels; walkable, best for one night with a car.

Alva Beach

17 km (11 mi) east of town; dive operators and beach access, very quiet at night.

PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
A$90–140 (≈ US$60–95) excl. bed
Mid
A$150–230 (≈ US$100–160) excl. bed
High
A$250 (≈ US$170)+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Motel or pub double room1 × 1 night × A$150A$150
Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × A$160A$320
Yongala two-dive day trip with gear hire2 × A$190A$380
Bus transfer from Airlie Beach2 × A$40A$80
eSIM, about a week of data2 × A$25A$50
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeA$98
Trip total≈ A$539 per person per day, bed includedA$1,078≈ US$750

2026 estimate in Australian dollars; fuel and flights excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

CoffeeA$4–6 (≈ US$3–4)
Pub meal (counter or bistro)A$20–35 (≈ US$14–25)
Supermarket groceries, one person, one dayA$15–25 (≈ US$10–17)
Fuel, unleaded, per litreA$1.80–2.10 (≈ US$2)
Yongala two-dive day tripA$160–190 (≈ US$110–130) with gear hire
Backpacker dorm bedA$25–40 (≈ US$17–30)

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Ayr is a small, low-crime country town; the real risks are marine stingers in summer, wet-season flooding and long, empty highway drives. Swim only where locals do and check signage.
  • Marine stingers (box jellyfish and Irukandji) are present in coastal waters roughly Nov–May: check local signage before swimming.
  • The wet season (Nov–Apr) brings heavy rain, road flooding and cyclone risk; check forecasts before driving.
  • Yongala dives depend on sea conditions and sell out: book ahead and expect a long boat ride.
  • Fuel and food options thin out quickly south of Ayr on the highway.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire, ambulance
000
From mobiles
112

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

AyrAyr

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

To this address, pleaseTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire, ambulance000
  • From mobiles112

Embassy

No embassy in Ayr; the nearest consulates are in Townsville and Cairns, with embassies in Canberra.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Ayr → Townsville by car: about 88 km (55 mi), 1 h
  • Ayr → Airlie Beach by car: about 250 km (155 mi), 3 h
  • Yongala dive trip with gear: A$160–190 (≈ US$110–130)

Say or show

  • Thanks — Thank you
  • Where's the beach? — Where is the beach?
  • Is it safe to swim here? — Is it safe to swim here?
  • How much is it? — How much is it?
  • Can I pay by card? — Can I pay by card?
  • Where's the nearest servo? — Where is the nearest petrol station?

English is the working language; no phrasebook needed.

Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Ayr. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: May–Oct (dry, calm seas) · avoid Nov–Apr (wet season, stingers, cyclone risk) · month by month →
  2. 2 airports and 2 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 4 day-trips, door to door
  6. 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Dive-operator contract for the Yongala: departure times, gear hire, sea-state cutoffs and a no-go fallback.
  2. Alva Beach access page with stinger-season rules and patrol dates.
  3. Harvest-season accommodation page: weekly hostel rates and when beds run out.
  4. Wet-season driving fixtures for the Bruce Highway so the route can go red.

Meanwhile

Back to Australia

Sources