Mackay

Mackay is a precious part of spectacular east coast of Australia. The city is built around Pioneer River and some older buildings in the surroundings of the river stand proudly, having survived from several destructive cyclones. Therefore, the old city is definitely worth to see.

In addition to the beautiful town centre, Mackay is one of the closest spots to Great Barrier Reef. So getting to some of the reef islands from Mackay takes pretty short time. The most popular ones are Brampton Island, Newry Island and Cumberland Islands. There are various ways to get to these. Day trips, diving or snorkeling tours and scenic flights are available. If you want to enjoy each island longer, take extended tours and get to know the most hidden places on them like the back of your hand. Once you extend your investigation below the sea level, you will notice that the more you explore the reef, the deeper you fall in love with it! Therefore, diving and snorkeling are the ideal water sports in the surroundings. Surfing at Mackay can be dangerous despite 31 tempting beaches of the region. Nevertheless, sunbathing is still a great fun. Maybe a friendly kangaroo drops by for a visit as well.

The national parks around Mackay are very rich from Australian flora and fauna point of view. The closest ones are Eungella National Park and Cape Hillsborough National Park. Did you know that Eungella National Park is home to a subtropical rainforest? Take a walk through one of the hiking trails. The vista is a real feast for the eyes! Cape Hillsborough National Park also has some walking tracks, in fact on the coast line of Mackay, so the panorama is completely different than at Eungella National Park. The walking tracks at Cape Hillsborough National Park also have several difficulty levels for every taste. Just choose the most suitable one... By the way, be prepared to meet some locals regardless of which track you follow in these parks. Possums, wallabies, native birds and many other members of Australian wildlife will be happy to greet you.

Mackay is located on the half way between Brisbane and Cairns. Greyhound has daily transfers to the region. Mackay also has an airport which makes it much easier to get to this paradise. Bargain prices are available.