Queensland Destinations

Things To See & Do

Mackay Region
The Mackay region boasts a number of attractions - 31 unspoilt beaches, National Parks with vast tracts of sub-tropical rainforest, lush hinterland, tropical islands and coral gardens inside the Great Barrier Reef. Mackay is an exciting vibrant city with all the charm of an unspoilt seaside townside.

Mackay - The River City
Relaxed, tropical and picturesque - Mackay City offers everything you could want from a bustling region centre. The mighty blue Pioneer River flows past the city’s historical buildings and rows of palm trees fringe the main street. Beautiful beaches and a world class marina are within minutes from the city centre. As the hub of Mackay region, the city offers a diverse range of shopping, dining and entertainment options, an award winning gallery and picturesque botanic gardens. A short drive from the city heart is the Mackay Marina. Enjoy one of the many fine dining experiences as the lapping sounds of the water lull you into a complete state of relaxation.

National Parks
Eungella National Park is a scenic hour’s drive west of Mackay and is Australia’s longest continuous stretch of sub-tropical rainforest, covering over 51,700 hectares and filled with over 22km of well maintained walking tracks of varying degrees of difficulty and breathtaking views across the Pioneer Valley at 2500 feet above sea level. Broken river is also renowned for being the most reliable place in Australia to spot at platypus. Nearby Finch Hatton Gorge contains lush rainforest walking trails to waterfalls and deep, refreshing swimming holes. Cape Hillsborough national Park is a 40 minute drive north of Mackay and situated on the coast - remembered for the friendly wallabies that come down onto the beach each sunrise. Some excellent guided day tours are available to all areas.

Beaches
Town and Illawong beaches are close to Mackay's Central Business District, just some of the 31 beaches in the Mackay region. The northern beaches and the picturesque Hibiscus Coast offer easy touring options. Visit Bucasia, Blacks Beach, Dolphin Heads or Eimeo - with its cliff top location offering multi-million dollar views of the coast from the hotel.

Secluded beaches within Cape Hillsborough National Park offer you the chance to see possums and native birds at Smalleys Beach and Ball Bay. Rocky Hoop Pine headlands form part of Cape Hillsborough, a 816 hectare national park with walking paths including the Jupiera Aboriginal Boardwalk Trail. See wild kangaroos, wallabies and bush turkeys on the beach, an unforgettable memory.

Then head to St Lawrence, a port which was frequented by paddle steamers in the 19th century. The "Serenity Coast" encompasses Sarina Beach, popular Salonika Beach which is home to echidnas, loggerhead turtles and bush turkeys and the industrial coal terminals at Dalrymple Bay and Hay Point.

Great Barrier Reef and Islands
Head to the Great Barrier Reef from Mackay. There are day tours and extended charters, scenic reef flights and great diving and snorkelling options. Get a birds-eye view of the Great Barrier Reef and take an exhilarating scenic flight over this seventh wonder of the world. You can snorkel Bushy Atoll - a suspended lagoon of corals and marine life.

Be a castaway for a day and get back to nature on your own secluded island and delight in whatever you want.

For an island experience, spend the night on Brampton Island with its 11 kilometres of walking tracks on this popular tropical haven. Other islands in the region include the Newry Island Group, with six national park islands offering great fishing, snorkelling and bird watching as well as a small resort and camping facilities. The Cumberland Group of islands include Keswick, Scawfell, Carlisle and St Bees and is perfect for that secluded island experience only accessible by private vessel. The Lindeman Group of islands is situated between Mackay and the Whitsundays and is renowned for Club Med Lindeman Island Resort.

Must See and Do:

• Eungella National Park
• Cape Hillsborough National Park
• Dine at the Marina precinct
• Visit Australia’s only working miniature sugar mill the Sarina Sugar Shed
• Artspace - regional museum which always has great exhibitions
• Walk along Mackay’s riverfront enjoy the picturesque blue waters

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