Mackay

900 km north of Brisbane, on the panoramic Pioneer River, subtropical Mackay is the undiscovered diamond of Australia’s prime holiday destinations. The legendary Whitsunday Islands, the famed Great Barrier Reef and Eugella National Park are all just a stone’s throw away from Mackay in Queensland.

Mackay is a dream destination for travelers of all ages. Go fishing in the Blue Pacific at Blacks Beaches for fresh bream and whiting, caught off the beach, just in time for breakfast. Or head to Eimeo Beach and Sunset Bay, also popular with eager anglers.

The historic Eimeo Pub, perched high on the cliff at Eimeo, boasts scrumptious meals and supreme views of the nearby islands and the Coral Sea. Harbour Beach is patrolled year-round, and Bucasia Beach sports a stinger-resistant enclosure.

Look north beyond the city confines for the magnificent coastlines of the Hibiscus Coast and Laguna, and then south towards the Serenity Coast. Mackay is where you emerge yourself in the warm tropical waters for a slow swim, or sink your line in any of the numerous fishing bays and creeks.

You can sail away into the glorious sunset to explore yet another dream island like Brampton Island. This is where you get hooked on the undiscovered pleasures of Mackay.

Yet there is so much more to do here than go first-class fishing, sailing, scuba diving and enjoy the spectacular views. Mackay tempts and surprises even the most seasoned traveler with fine alfresco dining, hinterland vineyards and Artspace Mackay, celebrating history and the arts in the centre of the city.