Mackay

Mackay is a tropical city on the eastern coast of the Australian state of Queensland, some 900 km north of the state capital Brisbane.

Get in

By plane

Qantas and Jetstar have frequent flights from Brisbane. Qantaslink flies to Cairns, Townsville, and Rockhampton.

• 1 Mackay Airport (5 km south of the city centre). (updated Apr 2021)

By train

Queensland Rail serves Mackay via its Spirit of Queensland service between Brisbane and Cairns that operates five times per week.

• 2 Mackay railway station, Connors Rd. (updated Apr 2021)

By car

The Bruce Highway is the coastal highway between Brisbane and Cairns and passes through Mackay. The Peak Downs Highway runs from Clermont North-East to terminate in Mackay.

By boat

Mackay has an extensive marina which is often the first stop for those exploring the whitsunday islands but no regular passenger ferries run at this time.

By bus

Greyhound buslines have regular services from Brisbane stopping at the airport and in Mackay itself on the way to Carins. Mackay Transit Coaches operates from North Mackay to South Mackay. The area with the best service coverage is Mackay CBD.

Get around

Limited bus services run in the Mackay region. Cars can be hired from the airport.

Taxis are available from major shopping centres and individuals can call the service to be picked up from a specified destination.

Bicycles (push bikes) are a good fit for city transportation. Projects are ongoing to expand current bicycle routes, one long route exists from West of the city to the Canelands shopping area.

See

• Harbour Beach and The Marina
• Eungella National Park
• Cape Hillsborough National Park
• The Whitsunday Islands
• Mackay Regional Botanical Gardens
• Artspace Mackay
• Historical Farleigh Mill - tours run daily (Monday to Friday) during the sugar season: July - November

Work

The main industries of Mackay are coal mining and Sugar Cane, Mackay being the "Sugar Capital of Australia". Many use Mackay as a stopping point for lucrative mining work in the Bowen Basin of central Queensland.

Buy

Mackay has two major shopping centres

• Mount Pleasant Greenfields located on the Corner Phillip Street and the Bruce Highway

Mount Pleasant (affectionately known by locals as "Mount P") contains major retailers such as

• K Mart
• Woolworths
• Coles

Greenfields is a shopping precinct located across the road from Mount Pleasant. Occupants include:

• Silly Sollys
• Spotlight
• Sams Warehouse
• Clark Rubber
• Autobarn
• World Gym
• Birch Carroll and Coyle Cinema's

Caneland Central is undergoing expansion, it is located on Mangrove Road and includes major retailers such as

• Target
• Big W
• Woolworths
• Coles
• Myer
• Action
• Best and Less
• City Beach
• Rush Surfwear
• Mathers Shoes
• Spend Less Shoes
• Vodafone
• Crazy Johns
• Telstra
• Optus
• EB Games
• Tarocash

Eat

Try the eateries at the Marina overlooking the boats - loverly cool breeziest. Mid range prices.

• Zambrero (Zambrero Mackay CBD), 1/47 Gordon St, ☏ +61 7 4957 8937. 10AM-9PM. (updated Oct 2021)

Sleep

• Comfort Resort Blue Pacific, 26 Bourke Street, Blacks Beach, Mackay 4740, ☏ +61 7 4954 9090. 
• Clarion Hotel Mackay Marina, Mulherin Drive, Mackay, ☏ +61 7 4955 9400. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 10:00. 4.5 star Mackay hotel, close to CBD, on site restaurant, buffet breakfast, room service, fitness centre, business center facilities. 
• 1 Casa Nostra Motel Mackay, 30 Nebo Rd, ☏ +61 7 4951 1288, info@casanostramotelmackay.com.au. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 10:00. 4-star motel with 22 air-conditioned motel rooms, free undercover parking, free Wi-Fi, private bathrooms and a computer friendly workspace. $100. (updated Dec 2020)

Go next

Routes through Mackay

Townsville ← Eungella National Park ←

N  S

→ Rockhampton → Brisbane