Guidebook for West Mackay
Essentials
Open 24/7 every day of the year with a good selection of products. Butcher and fruit and veg section are very good.
Nick’s IGA
Open 24/7 every day of the year with a good selection of products. Butcher and fruit and veg section are very good.
Shopping centre with large Coles (great for groceries), bakery, pharmacy, restaurants and coffee shops, florist, etc.
Coles Mackay (Parkside)
245 Bridge RdShopping centre with large Coles (great for groceries), bakery, pharmacy, restaurants and coffee shops, florist, etc.
Entertainment & Activities
Beautiful big swimming pools, water slide, kids water play area. FREE!!
26 locals recommend
Bluewater Lagoon
River StreetBeautiful big swimming pools, water slide, kids water play area. FREE!!
Parks & Nature
Lovely walking and cycling tracks, find out about local plants, cafe with view over the lagoon. Really lovely at dusk when you can watch the sun set.
11 locals recommend
Mackay Regional Botanic Gardens
9 Lagoon StLovely walking and cycling tracks, find out about local plants, cafe with view over the lagoon. Really lovely at dusk when you can watch the sun set.
Our favourite beach in Mackay for long walks. Picturesque, with nice views across to the islands. There are some lovely picnic tables under the palm trees overlooking the sea which are fantastic for enjoying fish & chips or a breakfast (located at the end of Bourke St). Watch out for Magpies in Summer!!!
6 locals recommend
Blacks Beach
Our favourite beach in Mackay for long walks. Picturesque, with nice views across to the islands. There are some lovely picnic tables under the palm trees overlooking the sea which are fantastic for enjoying fish & chips or a breakfast (located at the end of Bourke St). Watch out for Magpies in Summer!!!
Lovely place to go for a long walk. Kids playground. Views over to the islands. Almost always quiet. Watch the ships come into Hay point in the distance. Tides in Mackay are extreme, and at low tide this beach becomes quite unsightly with mud flats exposed as far as you can see. Check the tides and come at high tide when it's beautiful!
Far Beach
Lovely place to go for a long walk. Kids playground. Views over to the islands. Almost always quiet. Watch the ships come into Hay point in the distance. Tides in Mackay are extreme, and at low tide this beach becomes quite unsightly with mud flats exposed as far as you can see. Check the tides and come at high tide when it's beautiful!
Beautiful look out over the sea. Stay for a picnic, or just a rest in the shade. Spot whales from this lookout between June and October. Head down to the beach below for a swim, walk or to let the kids play in the playground. Lovely rock pools to explore.
14 locals recommend
Lamberts Beach Lookout
Beautiful look out over the sea. Stay for a picnic, or just a rest in the shade. Spot whales from this lookout between June and October. Head down to the beach below for a swim, walk or to let the kids play in the playground. Lovely rock pools to explore.
This is a great beach for swimming - very sheltered and patrolled on weekends and school holidays. Lifesavers do check for jellyfish, but best to wear a stinger suit to be extra safe!!
Eimeo Esplanade
Eimeo EsplanadeThis is a great beach for swimming - very sheltered and patrolled on weekends and school holidays. Lifesavers do check for jellyfish, but best to wear a stinger suit to be extra safe!!
Sightseeing
Cycle or walk along the Blue Water Trail. Lovely views over the river, and generally a flat and easy route. Stop at Canelands shopping centre, the city, or botanic gardens for a drink along the way. Borrow our 2 bicycles and head along the trail.
Blue Water Trail
Blue Water TrailCycle or walk along the Blue Water Trail. Lovely views over the river, and generally a flat and easy route. Stop at Canelands shopping centre, the city, or botanic gardens for a drink along the way. Borrow our 2 bicycles and head along the trail.
Magnificent beach, great for long walks, swimming, and just lounging about. Walking trails through tropical forest, up to gorgeous lookouts, past mangroves and around volcanic rock with some caves to explore. Usually mostly empty - a natural paradise! Arrive early at dawn to see Wallabies on the beach. Sandflies can be bad in the parking area and around the tables - best to bring bug spray and head straight to the beach! Make a day of it by stopping by the Old Station Tea House for yummy food and drinks.
13 locals recommend
Cape Hillsborough
Magnificent beach, great for long walks, swimming, and just lounging about. Walking trails through tropical forest, up to gorgeous lookouts, past mangroves and around volcanic rock with some caves to explore. Usually mostly empty - a natural paradise! Arrive early at dawn to see Wallabies on the beach. Sandflies can be bad in the parking area and around the tables - best to bring bug spray and head straight to the beach! Make a day of it by stopping by the Old Station Tea House for yummy food and drinks.
Dense tropical rainforest with walking trails, lookout points, restaurants and picnic spots. The drive there is spectacular - a steep winding road up the range through the forest. Walking tracks range from 500m to over 20km - something for everyone!
36 locals recommend
Eungella National Park
Dense tropical rainforest with walking trails, lookout points, restaurants and picnic spots. The drive there is spectacular - a steep winding road up the range through the forest. Walking tracks range from 500m to over 20km - something for everyone!
Food Scene
Wonderful tea and scones, cakes and light lunches served in vintage teacups in a small French inspired decor store. Great spot for a ladies catch ups! They also do wonderful high teas if you book in advance.
A Deja-Vu Experience
29 Sydney StWonderful tea and scones, cakes and light lunches served in vintage teacups in a small French inspired decor store. Great spot for a ladies catch ups! They also do wonderful high teas if you book in advance.
The best fine dining in Mackay. Fantastic food, interesting seasonal menu, good service.
BURP.eat.drink
86 Wood StThe best fine dining in Mackay. Fantastic food, interesting seasonal menu, good service.
Delicious gelato in the tropical summer heat. Need I say more? Always lots of different flavours and air conditioning inside.
Gelatissimo Mackay
174 Victoria StDelicious gelato in the tropical summer heat. Need I say more? Always lots of different flavours and air conditioning inside.
Hands down best coffee in Mackay. Always busy and only a small seating area inside. Don't get take away coffee anywhere else!!!
Woodman's Axe Espresso
47 Gordon StHands down best coffee in Mackay. Always busy and only a small seating area inside. Don't get take away coffee anywhere else!!!
Lovely little place for breakfast and lunch. Delicious food and quality coffee.
Our Kitchen by NE Food
88 Wood StLovely little place for breakfast and lunch. Delicious food and quality coffee.
Beautiful cups of tea surrounded by history. A shop full of lovely vintage treasures, and a good place to have a cup of tea.
Kitten Vintage Mackay
78 Harbour RdBeautiful cups of tea surrounded by history. A shop full of lovely vintage treasures, and a good place to have a cup of tea.
Absolutely phenomenal views!! The hotel is up on a hilltop overlooking the sea. 180 degree views over the sea to the islands. On a sunny day without a breath of wind it is spectacular. The hotel itself is a bit old and tired, and the food is fairly average pub style eats; both worth it for the view.
21 locals recommend
Eimeo Pacific Hotel
1 Mango AveAbsolutely phenomenal views!! The hotel is up on a hilltop overlooking the sea. 180 degree views over the sea to the islands. On a sunny day without a breath of wind it is spectacular. The hotel itself is a bit old and tired, and the food is fairly average pub style eats; both worth it for the view.
Classy dining at a reasonable price. Really good food, lovely atmosphere, good service. Their lunch prices are very attractive.
fusion128
128 Victoria StClassy dining at a reasonable price. Really good food, lovely atmosphere, good service. Their lunch prices are very attractive.
Shopping
Wonderful children's store. Quality toys from all over the world. A great place to find an unusual, handmade or educational gift. Wonderful knowledgeable staff happy to help with advice. There is a little track at the back of the shop where kids can try out ride-ons, bikes, etc.
Let the Children Play Toyshop
176 Victoria StWonderful children's store. Quality toys from all over the world. A great place to find an unusual, handmade or educational gift. Wonderful knowledgeable staff happy to help with advice. There is a little track at the back of the shop where kids can try out ride-ons, bikes, etc.