I lived at Airlie & worked in Proserpine in the early 80's so can't help with what's current really but I used to get up around Dingo Beach & Earlando quite a bit to get away from the Loopies (as tourists were known) One thing to be aware of is that driving on Conway beach is/was fraught with danger. I nearly lost my old 2a Landy there right where they used to launch boats.. I was rescued in the nick of time by a bloke with a tractor. With all the new crap we have you possibly aren't allowed on the beach now! Hope you enjoy the place.
Steve