Famously known as the Sugar Capital of Australia, Mackay has become Queensland’s largest sugar-producing area within a decade of settlement. At the same time, with its location between protected mangroves and a smart beach marina, Mackay has succeeded to preserve its natural wildlife and is becoming a top destination for thousands of visitors.
The Mackay region is located on the eastern coast of Queensland and Mackay airport hosts direct flights by QantasLink, Virgin Australia, and Jetstar from Brisbane and most major cities in Australia.
Its close proximity to the Great Barrier Reef has shown Mackay to be a convenient base for excursions. However, there is more to Mackay than just the Great Barrier Reef. Check out some of the things to do in Mackay, Australia, if you plan to experience a holiday full of wildlife wonders.
1. Join the locals at Bluewater Quay
Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing
A community space with quirky art installations built on the southern banks of the Pioneer River, Bluewater Quay is known as the ‘town square on the river’ among the locals. It was built around the historic Leichhardt Tree, which constitutes the last remnant of the original bushland that welcomed the first settlers in the area. Complete with a children’s playground, barbecue facilities, a covered area for market stalls, and fishing platforms, the quay is a beloved gathering spot for the local community.
Bluewater Quay
Address: 10 River St, Mackay QLD 4740, Australia
Website: Bluewater Quay
Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)
Price: Free
2. Get your adrenaline pumping at Adrenalin Paintball Mackay
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
Posted by Adrenalin Paintball Mackay on Saturday, January 11, 2020
Battlefield strategic planning and physical prowess are two key requirements, should you wish to experience Adrenalin Paintball Mackay. Wear a mimetic uniform, pick your weapon, and head to the well-kept battlefields. Featuring many different scenarios, from urban to natural landscapes, Adrenalin Paintball Mackay is the ideal place to spend an active day out with your family and friends.
Adrenalin Paintball Mackay
Address: LOT 1 Boundary Rd, Mackay QLD 4740, Australia
Website: Adrenalin Paintball Mackay
Opening hours: 8am - 6pm (daily)
Price: From 50 AUD (38.60 USD) per player
3. Learn about the region's history at the Mackay Historical Society and Museum
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
Posted by Mackay Museum on Thursday, December 6, 2018
Operated by the Mackay Historical Society, the museum recounts the history of the sugarcane crop, the main source of income for the entire area, the life of pioneers, and the early settlements of the original inhabitants. Thanks to a wide collection of artifacts, everyday objects, and a research area complete with an extensive library, visitors can paint a better picture of the town of Mackay as well as of the whole region.
Mackay Historical Society and Museum
Address: 4 Casey Ave, South Mackay QLD 4740, Australia
Opening hours: Tue, Thu & Sat: 10am - 2pm (closed on Mon, Wed, Fri & Sun)
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4. Grab a bite at The Dispensary
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
That café de Paris butter is that good! ? If you haven’t tried it yet, you need to!
Posted by The Dispensary Mackay on Monday, June 8, 2020
Not far from the southern banks of the Pioneer River is this hip eatery with an extensive menu and three different spaces that guests can choose from. Depending on the type of event you’re hosting or the type of dining experience you wish to experience, The Dispensary offers a romantic cellar for small, intimate parties, a spacious, elegant lounge ideal for networking events, and the dining room, best suited for parties. Book in advance as the place is popular among locals.
The Dispensary
Address: 84 Wood St, Mackay QLD 4740, Australia
Website: The Dispensary
Opening hours: Sun - Mon: 6am - 2:30pm: Tue - Thu: 6am - 10:30pm, Fri - Sat: 6am - 12am
5. Access your creative side at Artspace Mackay
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
For the safety of our community, Artspace Mackay will temporarily close to the public from 5pm today (March 25, 2020)...
Posted by Artspace Mackay on Tuesday, March 24, 2020
Operated by the Mackay Regional Council since 2003, Artspace Mackay can boast three gallery spaces featuring curated exhibitions by Australian and international artists. The building is in itself a work of art, imagined and designed as a multi-functional venue connecting and bringing together people within and outside the lively, local community. If you have time, join a gallery tour, an artist-led talk to gain more insight into a specific exhibition, or get a more hands-on experience by attending workshops and masterclasses (now available online).
Artspace Mackay
Address: Civic Centre Precinct, 61 Gordon St, Mackay QLD 4740, Australia
Website: Artspace Mackay
Opening hours: Tue - Fri: 10am - 5pm; Sat - Sun: 10am - 3pm (closed on Mon)
Price: Free
6. Relax amidst nature at Mackay Regional Botanic Gardens
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
Posted by Mackay Regional Botanic Gardens on Wednesday, June 10, 2020
Yet another popular spot in South Mackay is the Mackay Regional Botanic Gardens. Opened in 2003, this is one of the “youngest” botanical gardens in Australia. Displaying the vast and varied array of flora and fauna typical of the Central Queensland Coast bioregion, which extends around Mackay, the gardens also feature hiking trails, a café, a garden playground for the younger ones, and an art gallery.
Mackay Regional Botanic Gardens
Address: 9 Lagoon St, West Mackay QLD 4740, Australia
Website: Mackay Regional Botanic Gardens
Opening hours: 5am - 9pm (daily); Administration building: Mon - Fri: 9am - 5pm
Price: Free
7. Stroll along Illawong Beach at sunset
Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing
When in Australia, a short trip to the beach, even just for a few hours, is a must. Facing the Coral Sea, Illawong Beach is a long, sandy beach that provides tourists and locals with a serene area to relax and unwind. The beach is popular among surfers, whom you can see in action when the waves are raging. Alternatively, you can go for a pleasant stroll at sunset, when the low tide reveals the many ripples in the sand and unveils a laborious population of blue soldier crabs funnily scampering along the shore.
Illawong Beach
Address: Illawong Dr, South Mackay QLD 4740, Australia
Website: Illawong beach
Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)
Price: Free
8. Admire the colorful orchid collection at Mackay Orchid House
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
UPDATE: The Orchid House has now reopened Council wishes to advise that the Orchid House is currently closed due to a...
Posted by Mackay Regional Council on Wednesday, December 18, 2019
Located within Queens Park in East Mackay, Mackay Orchid House has a fascinating array of beautiful orchids. A fine, exquisite delicate flower, the orchid is famously high-maintenance and requires a lot of attention. This should be reason enough to appreciate the collection at Mackay Orchid House, also known as Ken Burgess Display House, which features exotic species alongside indigenous ones. Spend an afternoon here feasting your eyes on the bright colors of the orchid petals.
Mackay Orchid House
Address: Queens Park, Goldsmith St, Mackay QLD 4740, Australia
Website: Mackay Orchid House
Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 10am - 11am, 2pm - 3pm; Sun: 10am - 2pm (closed on Sat)
Price: Free
9. Take a refreshing dip at Bluewater Lagoon
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
Posted by Bluewater Lagoon & Pancake Bliss on Wednesday, March 7, 2018
Can’t find respite from the heat? Head to Bluewater Lagoon, by Canelands Park and the Pioneer River, just north of the city center. Here, you’ll find a waterfall as well as a water slide connecting the two main pools, a water playground, Bluewater Lagoon Café for a coffee or ice cream break, and, as you would expect when in Australia, electric barbecue facilities. But the best part is that you won’t have to pay a thing: the park is, in fact, free of charge.
Bluewater Lagoon
Address: River St, Mackay QLD 4740, Australia
Website: Bluewater Lagoon
Opening hours: Sep - Mar: 9am - 5:45pm (daily); Apr - mid-Jul: 9am - 4:45pm (daily)
Price: Free
10. Buy fresh produce at Parkside Plaza Mackay
Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing
A shopping center in West Mackay, Parkside Plaza offers a wide range of shops and vendors to choose from. Whether you’d like to find some shade from the unforgiving Australian sun or you’re in need to buy fresh produce and healthy snacks for the road before embarking on your next outdoor adventure, Parkside Plaza has you covered.
Parkside Plaza Mackay
Address: 245 Bridge Rd, West Mackay QLD 4425, Australia
Website: Parkside Plaza Mackay
Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 8am - 6:30 pm; Sat: 6am - 5pm; Sun: 6am - 3pm
11. Watch the sunrise with the wallabies at Cape Hillsborough
The Cape Hillsborough National Park, with its rainforest-clad hills and rocky headlands, overlooking white sandy beaches, is the perfect place to start your wildlife-centered holiday. You can explore nearby walking trails to learn about the Yuibera Aboriginal people and their history and observe more than 150 species of birds and 25 species of tropical butterflies along the famous Diversity boardwalk.
The best way to enjoy Cape Hillsborough National Park is to stay in one of the several accommodation options, from caravans and camping to beachfront huts and motel units.
And here is the secret - you will be able to go and watch the sunrise with the wallabies and kangaroos that are searching for their breakfast. Where else in the world can you catch the most iconic Australian experience with a photo of the wallabies and kangaroos while you enjoy the sunrise?
Cape Hillsborough Nature Tourist Park
Address: 51 Risley Parade, Cape Hillsborough QLD 4740, Australia
Price: from 135 AUD (103.44 USD)
Access: Cape Hillsborough Nature Tourist Park is located less than an hour from Mackay
Contact: +61 7 4959 0152
12. Go bushwalking to meet the platypuses at Eungella National Park
Eungella National Park is one of Australia’s most ecologically diverse parks, with species both tropical and subtropical living in the rainforest. It’s Australia’s oldest and longest stretch of subtropical rainforest.
Get back to nature with a bush picnic at Broken River or walk the Broken River trail to the viewing platform to see the shy-but-oh-so-cute platypuses swimming in their natural environment.
There are other well-formed trails that lead to further natural wonders, including the Sky Window walk leading through layers of bright palms with dewy fronds and a spectacular view across the Pioneer Valley. Much of the park is wilderness, dissected by rugged gorges, which can be explored along the Mackay Highlands Great Walk - a 56 km (35 mile) trail, starting in Eungella.
Rainforest Scuba Dive
Address: 55 Anzac Parade, Finch Hatton, Mackay Area, Queensland, Australia
Price: from 110 AUD (84.30 USD)
Contact: +61 4 3445 5040
Website: Platypus Dive
13. Swim with the turtles at Finch Hatton Gorge
After days of visiting tropical rainforest or the beaches of Mackay, pack a picnic and plunge into the cool fresh waters of Finch Hatton Gorge. A wonderful landscape of waterfalls, lush flora and volcanic boulder formations make Finch Hatton Gorge a must-see attraction.
There are many walking trails, which weave through subtropical rainforest. One of the most popular trails starts at the Finch Hatton picnic area and takes you on a 1.6 km (1 mile) journey to the beautiful Araluen waterfall. The granite boulders and surrounding vegetation make this an ideal place to take in the scenery. Take a refreshing dip in one of the nearby rock pools, a cooling haven favoured by locals in the summer.
Continue 1.4 km (.9 miles) to reach the Wheel of Fire Cascades, another beautiful waterfall with a large rock pool at its base, popular for swimming. This second part of the walk is more challenging, with uphill segments and stairs to climb, but the views are well worth it.
Keep an eye out - you might get lucky and find yourself swimming with the freshwater turtles!
Finch Hatton Gorge
Website: Finch Hatton Gorge
14. Kayak and canoe with the dugongs at Clairview
Go kayaking or canoeing at Clairview, a small beach town approximately 1.5 hours south of Mackay, and keep an eye out for a close encounter with the dugongs when they surface to breathe.
In 1997, the Great Barrier Reef Ministerial Council established Clairview as a dugong sanctuary. The fully protected dugong is a large herbivorous mammal, which spends its entire life at sea. It has paddle-like forelimbs, no hind limbs or dorsal fin, and its tail is broad and horizontally flattened. Adults grow between 2.5-3.5 metres (8.2-11.5 feet) long and weigh about 230-240 kilograms (507-529 pounds).
Enjoy your water activities with these majestic creatures, but be sure to slow down your vessel in areas dugongs are known to inhabit. It is extremely important that you don’t litter and help to protect these environmental areas.
15. Soak up the sun on the beautiful white beaches of Keswick Island
Keswick Island, one of the southernmost Whitsunday Islands, is situated 32 km (20 miles) from Mackay and is accessible via the water from the Mackay Marina. Be aware that Keswick Island experiences significant tides, which at times can impact access to certain areas of the island. The hours of operation of the jetty will vary, depending on these tides.
Keswick Island also has a privately owned airstrip, so it is possible to arrive by plane or helicopter direct from Mackay.
The nearby reefs are teeming with marine life, including beautiful coral gardens. Keswick Island also offers divers a unique experience with three different shipwreck sites, all in a short distance from shore.
Put your best bikinis on and enjoy your day at Keswick Island, a truly tropical paradise. The island is fringed by white sandy shorelines, with coral reefs within swimming distance, perfect for snorkelling.
If you go to Keswick Island between the months of July to September, you might get a chance to see Humpback whales during their annual migration through the Whitsundays.
Keswick Island Boat Transfers - Megaforce Charters
Address: Keswick Island, QLD Australia
Contact: +61 7 4955 5290
Website: Keswick Island Boat Transfers
The natural wonders of Mackay - where nature is preserved
If you’re looking for a destination that brings nature to life, then look no further than the Mackay region. Mackay is the best destination for a nature focused holiday, but bear in mind to support the preservation of the nature, while you are there.
For further options in the region, you can visit some of the Great Barrier Reef destinations from Mackay.
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