A Gluten Free Guide to Airlie Beach Whitsundays by Blake Hampton
Planning a trip to Airlie Beach in Queensland’s Whitsundays? We have some gluten free recommendations for your travels
Share this post:
Hey Gluten Free Fam,
My partner Reanne and I were fortunate enough to enjoy a week long holiday at Airlie Beach on the Whitsundays in the month of May. This is definitely a downtime for tourism in the region, fitted in-between busier school holiday and summer periods where business is booming.
What we encountered was a peaceful, relaxing atmosphere, sprinkled in with some sunshine, lagoons, bars, ice creams, mocktails and more than one souvenir shop. Throw in an array of European, South American and Asian accents, and we blended into an environment with travellers seeking their own warm weather escape.
But I’m no travel agent. I know you’ve come here for one thing and one thing only: gluten free food recommendations. Full disclosure, there isn’t a plethora of options on the small coastal town on the central coast of Queensland. With this being said, there’s enough quality and variety in these gluten free meals to put your mind at ease.
We stayed right on the beach and close to the centre of town, limiting our options further up north where there are other cafes and restaurants. Yet the discoveries by the waterside were still delightful and satisfying.
PLEASE NOTE: I do not have coeliac disease, but I do have a gluten intolerance. I don’t travel with the same stress or pressures as those with coeliac, and as such, please take these following recommendations in mind. If you’re fortunate enough to visit these outlets for a great meal opportunity, please ask staff about their cross-contamination policies.
The Deck Airlie Beach
The Deck’s Gluten Free Pizzas were so good, we had to come back a second time
If you were to ask Reanne and I what our favourite gluten free establishment would be at Airlie Beach, there’s only one answer: The Deck Airlie Beach restaurant. Why is this the case? Their gluten free pizza menu is simply stunning. We indulged in their Hawaiian pizza with a gluten free base not once but twice over the course of the trip. On the first night, I had their gluten free Margarita pizza, complimented by a pair of yummy berry and mango mocktails.
What makes The Deck a great gluten free choice for breakfast, lunch or dinner is that it’s situated right dead centre in the middle of the main road at Airlie Beach, with friendly staff and a welcoming atmosphere. Their menu clearly lists what’s marked and available as GF, and if you’re too tired after some Whitsunday adventures to dine out, they will provide takeaway pizza for collection.
Eastwoods Dining
This may sound like a bold claim, but for my money, it’s difficult to find better gluten free South-Asian cuisine anywhere than Eastwood’s Dining. On the hunt for something a little different, I sourced Eastwood’s Dining via the Find Me Gluten Free app.
We ordered their QLD Prawn Pad See Ew as a main dish and their jasmine rice and edamame beans on the side. The Pad See Ew was sumptuous and listed as gluten free, dairy free and nut free. Combining rice noodles with egg, choy sum, ginger and oyster sauce, this is a location and dish I would have been more than happy to return for seconds.
Please check Eastwoods Dining menu carefully, and speak with staff about cross-contamination. They do outline in the fine print that “allergies and dietaries can be catered for, however traces may be present.” Yet their takeaway menu is even more helpful, stating in clear detail what is marked as gluten free (GF), dairy free (DF), nut free (NF) and vegan (VE).
Gelatiamo Dolce Patisserie & Gelato Airlie Beach
You cannot be on a coastal holiday on the Whitsundays and not indulge in some amazing gluten free desserts. Look no further than Gelatiamo Dolce Patisserie & Gelato Airlie Beach. I dare you to walk by this place on a lovely afternoon or evening and try not to buy one of their amazing gelato cake items sitting inside the display window.
With gluten free, dairy free and nut free selections, these enticing mixtures of ice cream, cake and pastry are too good to pass up. Like with every other recommendation here, speak with staff and read the labels before making your purchase, but don’t miss the opportunity because this establishment’s Italian-style dessert range is made from local ingredients and offers something for everyone.
The Sidewalk Cafe
A standout breakfast or brunch + coffee combination will be located courtesy of The Sidewalk Cafe. On our second last morning, having skipped most breakfast opportunities thus far, Reanne and I were eager for some bacon and eggs. At The Sidewalk Cafe, they had a classic option with gluten free bread, but we opted for the bacon and egg roll variety with gluten free buns.
Add in a large cup of almond cappuccino and the late breakfast/brunch was complete. They even make the QR code self-ordering process at the table straightforward, something a reluctant customer like me will still find easy enough to navigate. Fair warning - get there early before peak breakfast or lunch times because tourists and locals alike love this place, and after our experience, I can see why.
Mika Airlie Kitchen & Bar
Truth be told, we didn’t fit in a dinner at Mika Airlie Kitchen & Bar, but we heard great things from locals and the vibe inside and outside the restaurant walking past each evening looked enticing. Thankfully gluten free consumers could see their steak and chips with the GF sticker right out the front on the sandwich board.
Mika’s is located right alongside Eastwoods Dining and The Sidewalk Cafe, and just a short walk away from the sports bar across the road from the beach in the heart of town. If you’ve had your share of drinks, desserts, seafood and foreign cuisines, and just want your fill of good old-fashioned steak and chips, this would be the place to go to.
You can enjoy delicious gluten free treats at the buffet while cruising the sites via Sealink Whitsundays
Sealink Whitsundays
Our final recommendation for a nice gluten free treat won’t be found at Airlie Beach, or even on land for that matter. It will be found via Sealink Whitsundays. Reanne and I booked an impromptu day trip to Whitehaven Beach through one of many travel agencies you’ll encounter in town.
When you make the booking with an agency, make sure to flag that you’re gluten free, and inform them about your coeliac disease and any other dietary requirements. They will cater to you onboard your trip to Whitehaven Beach, one of the most spectacular beach experiences you could find anywhere in the world with its gorgeous white sand backdrop.
Onboard the cruise, they offered a buffet that included items marked as GF. This had gluten free chocolate brownies, and a range of delicious and fresh fruits that were a standout for afternoon tea on the return trip. Tea and coffee was complimentary, although fair warning, the coffee is only of the instant variety. Given that we experienced very choppy waters back and forth, eating and drinking on the trip was not a high priority, but the treats were packed with flavour. Lunch also offered cold cuts and salads to satisfy those initial hunger cravings.
Some General Tips for Whitsundays Travels
Perhaps what I’m about to suggest would be pointless for seasoned travellers. If you venture interstate or overseas every few months, you know the drill by now. But there are some important practical takeaways for those of you keen on a QLD Whitsundays adventure based centrally at Airlie Beach. This is the ideal town to takeoff from to see places like The Great Barrier Reef, Whitehaven Beach and Hamilton Island to name a few amazing spots.
The most stunning location of them all for Reanne and I had to be Hamilton Island. It’s a getaway paradise that includes luxury resorts, wildlife, beaches, games, and my favourite, a large resort heated pool with a poolside bar for good measure.
However, our travel agent neglected to mention one very important piece of information: hiring a buggy beforehand is essential. We had a 9am-5pm window to enjoy all the sights, and without a buggy, you will be left walking many kms and eating up that time unproductively. We hired one finally around 1pm to take the pressure off the final 4 hours, but do yourself a favour and have one reserved by the time you hop off the boat.
The other practical complication of Hamilton Island is that a number of the most popular establishments rarely cater to coeliacs and gluten free customers. The cafe close to the wharf explained they have a separate toaster for GF breads, but couldn’t guarantee zero cross-contamination.
With this being said, we didn’t cover the whole of Hamilton Island assessing their gluten free credentials, and there is an IGA supermarket a close walk from the main wharf where you can collect fresh coeliac-friendly food at your discretion.
If you’re fortunate enough to afford accommodation at any of the high-end luxury resorts on the island, I’m sure they will have you covered for gluten free menu items. If you’re like us and travelling on more of a budget-friendly approach, it’ll be helpful to pack a shopping bag or two and buy items from their IGA store just to be safe.
It was an unforgettable holiday with friendly people, beautiful scenery and the type of weather you really want in May when the East Coast of NSW begins to set in for the long hard winter.
If you’ve ever been to the Whitsundays and have other GF recommendations, reach out to A Gluten Free Family to let our community know! Email hello@aglutenfreefamily.com.au
Thank you for reading our blogs at A Gluten Free Family.
If you would like to support the show and help us continue our work to improve awareness, education and make change in the world for coeliac disease and the gluten free diet, subscribe to our Buzzsprout.
We have access to prizes, discounts, ad-free shows, bonus content coming soon and a shoutout on the podcast as well!
