Whitsunday Crane Hire: local cranes for Airlie Beach and the Whitsundays
Locally owned crane hire, lifting across Airlie Beach, the Whitsunday Islands and the wider region since 2007. Franna and all-terrain cranes from 15T to 80T, bigger cranes up to 350T sourced for major projects, licensed operators and dogmen, scissor lift hire and free site checks.
Crane hire and lifting services for every job
From a one-off residential lift to an ongoing mining contract, here's how Whitsunday Crane Hire can help on your site.
Building & Infrastructure
From foundations to final fit-out lifts, we support building, development and infrastructure projects across the Whitsundays.
- 55T and 80T all-terrain cranes for heavy, high lifts
- Frannas for tight access and quick turnarounds
- Licensed riggers and dogmen on site
- Free site check before we quote
Industrial & Marine
Precision lifts for boat yards, marinas, waterfront sites, factories and plant, where the load and the location both matter.
- Pontoons, boat hulls and yacht masts
- Two cranes working together on big loads
- Boat ramps, marinas and hardstand yards
- Industrial and commercial plant lifts
Private & Residential
Renovations, pools, spas and tight-access lifts. We help homeowners and owner-builders get it done safely.
- Pool shells, spas, trees and building materials
- Pick-and-carry Frannas, no outriggers needed
- Owner-builders and homeowners welcome
- Fast set up and pack down
Mining
Mine and industrial lifts on the western sites from Coppabella to Collinsville, backed by a certified safety system and full site paperwork.
- ISO 9001, 14001 and 45001 certified
- CICA member and CraneSafe accredited
- Inductions, lift plans and SWMS
- 55T and 80T all-terrain cranes for heavy lifts
Rigging & Transport
Licensed riggers and dogmen, plus transport and multi-crane lifts planned and run as one package.
- Riggers and dogmen directing every lift
- Transport organised with the crane
- Cranes run as a team for bigger jobs
- Complex lifts planned with you
Assessments & Quotes
Not sure what you need? We check the job on site and give you a free, no-obligation quote.
- We look at access, load and ground first
- Right crane and crew recommended for the job
- Lift plan and SWMS for every job
- Clear quotes, no surprises
Our crane fleet and specs
Real numbers for the Whitsunday Crane Hire fleet, plus a downloadable load chart for each crane, so you can check capacity against your job before you call.
80T Grove GMK4080-1
The biggest crane in our fleet. A 51m boom and 21m jib reach 73m, and independent steering gets it into tighter sites than a crane this size usually can.
- Main boom 51m
- Max jib 21m
- Tip height 73m
55T Zoomlion ZTC550
Powerful without giving up manoeuvrability. A workhorse for heavy construction and remote-site work.
- Main boom 44m
- Max jib 16m
- Tip height 60m
25T Franna MAC25
The biggest Franna in the fleet. Pick-and-carry for heavier lifts on tight sites, with a counterweight option to lift more across the chart.
- Tip height 18.4m
- Fly jib Up to 21.4m
- Capacity 25T
20T Franna AT-20
No outriggers and minimal set-up, built for tight-access lifts and fast work on site.
- Boom reach 13.85 to 17.9m
- Fly jib Up to 20.8m
- Capacity 20T
15T Franna AT-15
Compact and quick to set up, ideal for residential streets, tight sites and pick-and-carry work.
- Boom reach 11.8 to 17.9m
- Fly jib Up to 20.5m
- Capacity 15T
Hino 300 Crane Truck
A Hino 300 with a Unic 265 crane and a tray, so one truck carries the load and lifts it into place. Handy for smaller lifts and deliveries.
- Crane Unic 265
- Crane lift 2T
- Tray capacity 3.5T
Bigger cranes, sourced for your project
For lifts beyond our own 80T, we source the right crane and manage the logistics for you: transport, permits, traffic control and the lift plan. Talk to us early so we can book it in.
120T ZAT1200V7
A 120 tonne all-terrain for heavy lifts and high reach beyond our own fleet.
- Main boom 66m
- Jib 17.5m
- Tip height 84.6m
220T Grove GMK5220
Big capacity and over 100m of tip height for major steel and infrastructure lifts.
- Main boom 68m
- Jib 37m
- Tip height 108m
220T Liebherr LTR 1220
A telescopic crawler that sets up fast and can travel with a full load on the hook.
- Main boom 60m
- Fly jib Over 100m
- Max radius 88m
250T Liebherr LTM 1250-5.1
A five-axle crane with VarioBallast for heavy lifts on tight, constricted sites.
- Main boom 60m
- Fly jib 50m
- Max radius 96m
350T Liebherr LTM 1350
A six-axle crane for the biggest lifts in the region, with long boom and jib options.
- Main boom 65.6m
- Fly jib 78m
- Max radius 98m
Boom Lifts
Boom-type elevated work platforms for work at height, for short or long-term hire.
- Working height 45 to 80ft
- Type Boom EWP
- Hire Short or long term
Scissor Lifts
Wheeled and tracked Zoomlion models for smooth floors or uneven ground. Short or long-term hire. Heights shown are maximum working heights outdoors.
- Wheeled, outdoors 6.4m
- Tracked, outdoors 8.0m
- Platform load 230 to 250kg
- Hire Short or long term
What you get when you book with us
Locally owned & operated
Our yard is at Cannon Valley, minutes from Airlie Beach and Cannonvale, so we're close to every job in the Whitsundays.
20 years of crane experience
Lofty has worked with cranes for 20 years, from formwork and rigging in the mines to running his own fleet.
Triple ISO certified
ISO 9001, 14001 and 45001 certified by Equal Assurance, with CICA membership and CraneSafe accreditation.
Free site checks
Lofty checks access, ground and overhead hazards before we quote, so the right crane turns up on the day.
Certified, accredited and independently verified
Whitsunday Crane Hire is triple ISO certified by Equal Assurance, a member of the Crane Industry Council of Australia and CraneSafe accredited.
Verify online: Equal Assurance certificate register Crane Industry Council of Australia Our accreditations and safety
Multi-crane lifts across the Whitsundays
Real jobs from the region. When a lift is too big or too awkward for one crane, we run the fleet as a team.
Lifting the Big Mango
Three cranes working together to lift Bowen's Big Mango, with a rigger guiding the load.
Pontoon lift at the boat ramp
Two Frannas lowering a floating pontoon into the water at a local boat ramp.
Playground tower installation
Two Frannas dual lifting a playground tower into place, with a dogman directing the lift.
Scissor lift hire
Need safe access at height without booking a crane crew? Whitsunday Crane Hire has wheeled and tracked Zoomlion scissor lifts for short or long-term hire across the Whitsundays.
Lofty & Casey, owners since 2021
Whitsunday Crane Hire has been lifting across the Whitsundays since 2007. Lofty and Casey Loft took the business over in 2021 and run it from the yard at Cannon Valley. With 20 years of crane experience behind Lofty, we handle lifts for builders, developers, marine operators, mine sites and homeowners. Small enough to know your job by name, established enough to have the fleet and certifications to back it up.
Lofty
0438 461 185
Casey
0438 060 694ISO certificates you can check online.
A lift plan and SWMS for every job.
The islands, Airlie Beach to Bowen and the mine sites.
Dual and multi-crane lifts planned with you.
5.0 stars on Google
Here's what builders, owner builders and locals say about working with Whitsunday Crane Hire.
We had amazing service from Whitsunday Crane Hire, fast, safe and very careful. Watching the machines do their job for the heavy work we couldn't do on our home build was amazing, highly recommend and would use again for sure!
It is always a pleasure to deal with Jack and Casey from Whitsunday Crane Hire. Working in the construction industry, they are our go to company for all of our heavy lifting. Give them a call for all your lifting needs! Thanks guys!
They helped us move our cabin between blocks without trouble! It felt like our cabin was in safe hands, even with some tricky manoeuvres they got the job done. Super happy with their work and good people too!
Plan your lift with confidence
A few things worth knowing before you call, whether it's your first crane hire or your fiftieth.
What to have ready for a quote
- Job address and how a truck gets in
- What's being lifted, its weight and size
- How high and how far it needs to go
- Ground conditions and overhead lines
- Your preferred day and time
Franna or all-terrain crane?
- Franna (15T, 20T and 25T): pick-and-carry, no outriggers, fast set-up, ideal for tight access
- All-terrain crane (55T and 80T): on outriggers, up to 73m tip height for heavy, high lifts
- Big or awkward job? We can run cranes as a team
Planning for cyclone season
- Save Lofty and Casey's numbers before the season starts
- 24/7 call-outs, day and night shifts
- Know your site access and clear loose items beforehand
- Tell us what needs lifting and how it's secured
Crane hire questions
How much does crane hire cost in Airlie Beach?
Crane hire in Airlie Beach and the Whitsundays is quoted per job. The price depends on the crane, how long the job takes, the crew needed and travel to site. Whitsunday Crane Hire gives free, no-obligation quotes, usually after a free site check.
What size crane do I need?
It depends on the weight of the load, how far it is from the crane and how high it needs to go. Our 15T to 25T Frannas handle most residential and tight-access lifts, and the 55T and 80T all-terrain cranes take heavier and higher lifts. Send us the weight and distances, or check the load charts, and we will match the crane to the job.
Do you work on the Whitsunday Islands?
Yes. Whitsunday Crane Hire lifts on Hamilton, Daydream, Hayman and Lindeman islands as well as across the mainland. Island jobs need extra planning for access and transport, so call us early.
Do your cranes come with an operator?
Yes. Every crane comes with a licensed operator, and we supply dogmen and riggers to direct the lift. We prepare a lift plan and Safe Work Method Statement for every job.
Can you do after-hours or emergency lifts?
Yes. We take call-outs 24/7 and work day and night shifts. Our yard is staffed Monday to Friday, 6am to 4pm.
The Whitsundays and the islands
Whitsunday Crane Hire works across the whole Whitsunday region and the islands from our yard at Cannon Valley, plus mining work on the western sites from Coppabella to Collinsville.
Whitsunday Islands
Lifts on the resort islands.
Airlie Beach
Our home patch, close to the yard.
Proserpine to Bowen
Across the rest of the region.
Western mine sites
Mine and industrial work out west.
Need a lift? Let's talk.
Free, no-obligation quotes from Whitsunday Crane Hire. Call-outs 24/7, yard staffed Monday to Friday, 6am to 4pm.