About Mackay
The Mackay Region makes an ideal holiday stopover, short break escape or meeting place for business - offering a wide variety of attractions and activities for all the family to enjoy.
Imagine a city with so many beaches that you could visit a different one everyday for a month! That's right, the Mackay Region has 31 beaches for you to visit and explore. Enjoy leisurely walks, swimming, and fishing or just sit and watch the kiteboarders and windsurfers ride up and down the water. Some of the region's best beaches include Eimeo Beach, Blacks Beach, Shoal Point, Harbour Beach and the spectacular beach at Cape Hillsborough National Park, where the rainforest literally meets the sea.
Take a drive to the Northern Beaches, where you can stroll along the quiet and secluded beaches or treat yourself to a counter meal, ice cold drink and million dollar views of the nearby islands at the Eimeo Hotel. Whales are also visible during the season from the back veranda of the hotel.
Experience the sugar industry in action – during the crushing season (July to November) the Farleigh Sugar Mill conducts daily tours (mon-fri) of a working mill. The tour takes around 2 hours and guides you through the crushing process, turning the cane into molasses, and then the different varieties of sugar – taste tests are provided! Polstone Sugar Cane Farm in Homebush, conducts tours every Monday, Wednesday and Friday- guiding you through a working sugar cane farm, showing the process involved with growing and harvesting a sugar cane crop- before it makes its journey to the sugar mill.
The Mackay region boasts some of the most spectacular fishing spots along the Queensland coast. Experience the best fishing in a range of areas including the beach, reef, estuarine, fresh water creeks and in-land dams. Check with Mackay's local bait and tackle shops for tide times and further advice about fishing in the region.
Apart from its permanent attractions, the Mackay Region hosts a number of exciting events throughout the year to keep visitors entertained. Sarina hosts the QLD Mud Trials during May; Nebo is the location for Graham Stuart Memorial Rodeo and the Campdraft in June. Mackay and Pioneer Valley annual shows are held during June and don't miss the two week long Mackay's Festival of Arts in July, the largest regional arts and cultural festival in Queensland.
Things to do in Mackay
Artspace
Mackay has its own art gallery and exhibition space to give visitors and locals alike a real sense of the region’s colourful heritage.
Artspace Mackay houses a unique collection of over 300 Artists’ Books in the Tate Adams Reading Room. The Mackay collection is of national significance and provides an insight into the artistic niche of artists books, where artists create books as artworks.
Mackay Regional Botanical Gardens
South of the city centre lies the newly developed Mackay Regional Botanical Gardens- the gardens were opened in 2003 and showcases the different cultures from throughout the region through a diverse range of vegetation. The picturesque landscape also overlooks the expansive South Sea Island Lagoons and Meeting House.
Golf Courses
Within the Mackay region you'll find three excellent golf courses, and it's a short drive north to one of Australia's best resort golfing facilities at Laguna Whitsunday's.
4WD inland adventure Inland
4WD inland adventure Inland from Mackay, visit the mining communities and hinterland, areas steeped in history and townships built around the coal and sugar industry. Stop at the historic Nebo Hotel, fossick for gold at Clermont, experience a working coal mine at Blair Athol, or take the Moranbah Federation Walk and learn about the regions rich pioneering history. You can be assured of a warm welcome!