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Sign in with FacebookLatest Mackay hotel reviews
Pro
Excellent weather, great beaches and close to the Whitsunday Islands.
Con
We needed to stay for 5 more days !!
In a nutshell
Gateway to some of the Barrier Reef islands, and a great town by itself.
lou31 Says: This lovely beach is about a 3/4 hour drive from Mackay and is well worth the drive. Along the expanse of open beach there is a variety of caves, rock pools and geological structures to explore. Another intriguing aspect of this area is the local kangaroo population that...
lou31 Says: Seaforth lies about 40 kilometres north of Mackay and has been one of the more popular beaches and day trip destinations for years. Facilities at this quaint beach community include a swimming enclosure, bowls club, nice park like surroundings and a large and well maintained...
lou31 Says: Each Sunday morning the City Heart comes alive with colourful stalls, rides, music and entertainment.You can find all sorts of merchandise for sale. Local fruit and vegetables, jewellery, handicrafts, flowers, cakes, pot plants, art and cosmetics etc.The Mackay Pipe Band...
1 Review and 97 Opinions This hotel is situated at the Marina and on the waterfront overlooking the Whitsunday Islands. The...
1 Review and 28 Opinions When you first enter the town via the south you will head down Nebo Road. Motels are situated all...
Ban-na Thai Restaurant: Best Thai in town!
lou31 Says: This is my favourite restaurant! For me it ticks all the boxes. From the food to the service and the decor you can't go past it.Inside is nice and roomy with pleasant furnishings and the staff are always friendly and efficient. I always go for the chicken Gang Panang...a...
lou31 Says: This place is a busy and popular steakhouse down on the Marina. They cater for both small and large groups and the service is quick and efficient.It is one of those places where they display the raw steaks and they always look fresh and tempting.It is open 7 days a week for...
Mackay Metro Market: New dining experience.
lou31 Says: This Bistro/Restaurant has recently opened up in Mackay. It is situated below newly the erected Rivage condominium. Most of the seating is outside in pleasant surroundings and there are some tables inside.It is fully licenced and there is also a small gourmet deli/grocery...
Sam's Singapore Restaurant: Good Asian Food
lou31 Says: This is a nice little restaurant which offers good Asian food. It is quiet and intimate and located in the City Heart.Outdoor dining is an option during the day. I had Sweet n Sour Pork which was tasty. A friend let me taste her entree which was marinated tofu....it was...
B'NW Asian Cuisine: Best Asian food in town.
lou31 Says: This restaurant is small and it is situated in a busy arcade amongst shops and cafes. Their $12 lunches are popular with about 10 dishes to choose from.I had a terrible experience with the owner here recently. He was very rude and openly argued with me in front of everyone....
Mackay Grand Mercure: Biggest meals in town.
lou31 Says: The A.M. Bar and Bistro at the 'Mercure' has the biggest meals I have ever seen ( or eaten!). They have recently made changes to this restaurant with table service only and the buffet option is no more. The prices have risen and the menu is limited. Apparently the food is...
The Coffee Club: Popular but a bit overated.
lou31 Says: The Coffee Club is a popular franchise in Australia and we have two establishments here in Mackay.One in Wood Street in the City Heart and one in Canelands Shoppingtown.They offer a wide selection of snacks, light and main meals, baguettes, salads, sandwiches, quiches,...
Molloys Irish Bar: Good music. Good bands.
lou31 Says: The best thing about Molloys is the good music they offer. There is always a good band playing and the place is very popular.It has a pleasant interior and there is an outdoor seating area at the rear.
Gordi's Cafe and Bar: Great Karaoke
lou31 Says: Gordi's is well known for it's Saturday night karaoke sessions. Situated in Victoria Steet it is a popular drinking hole.Lunch / dinner meals and oudoor alfresco dining is available. I remember having one of the nicest steaks I have ever had at Gordi's.
Shax Home Decor and Gifts: Interesting and colourful!
lou31 Says: This interesting little shop caught my eye as I walked down Victoria street. There are lots of good gift ideas as well and knick knacks and decorative items for around the home. Vases, candles, photo frames etc.
Whot's Hot: A great little boutique
lou31 Says: This fashionable dress shop has some lovely, modern and exciting clothes. I don't shop here often but when I do I always come out a winner! Womens clothes and accessories. Prices are comparable to other up market boutiques.
lou31 Says: Wasn't sure where to put this but here it is anyway. There are some nice old churches throughout the town. This is the Uniting Church in Macalister St. Lovely old building which has been around for years. Actually it's where I got married!
lou31 Says: Mackay locals have a quirk with the English language compared to other areas. If you are talking to us we are likely to end our sentences with...'heh'.So we would say...'It's a nice day heh'. Or 'Gee it's hot heh!'. Or 'Nice day for the beach heh'.'We're not weird just a bit...
Nebo and the now famous Nebo Hotel
lou31 Says: This should really be a restaurant tip but because Nebo is so far from Mackay I thought it would be better as an off the beaten path tip.About an hours drive south west of Mackay is the small dusty township of Nebo. Situated along a dry desolate stretch of highway between...
northeast80 Says: On the road south from Mackay towards Rockhampton is the Flaggy Rock Icecream and exotic fruit garden. A lovely place, we screeched to a halt and stopped here. I had a mixture of Macadamia nut, lychee & ginger and coconut & rum icecream for AU$3.40, lovley. That's what I...
Helpfulness
There are 5 golf courses in and around Mackay. Maleleuca, Mackay, Black Springs, Mirani and Sarina golf clubs ensure there is always somewhere you can enjoy a game.
Equipment: Equipment can be hired at all courses or of course you can bring your own.
Written Mar 12, 2005
Helpfulness
Favorite thing: If you decide to come to Mackay don't be put off by it being a 'tourist' spot. The town, though not large is big enough to let the tourists blend in so as not to stand out. I live here and can't really say I see any tourists, though I know they are here. The weather along with the location [ eg. Whitsundays and Great Barrier Reef ] make Mackay a popular tourist destination without the huge costs of places like Cairns. It is not a mega international tourist distination that has been spoilt by the 'big bucks'. We have still retained our laid back lifestyle and homliness. In the winter months an incredible amount of southerners flock here to enjoy our weather. They come in droves, towing their caravans and staying for weeks or months. Some come back year after year like migratory birds!
Fondest memory: If someone was to ask me to list 5 things synonomous with Mackay I would say :
Sunny days
Blue skies
Beaches
Cane fields
Palm trees
Another local feature is our river. It has been said that the Pioneer River is the only 'blue' river in Queensland. It meanders quietly along disecting the town in two. South, East and West Mackay on one side and North Mackay on the other. There are 3 bridges - Forgan Smith, Ron Camm and the Hospital bridge to choose from. These bridges are also popular fishing sites.
A new boardwalk has been established along the southern bank from the Forgan Smith bridge through to Caneland park. This walkway makes for a nice stroll. Shady pergolas provide quiet places to sit and relax or enjoy a picnic.
Updated May 30, 2007
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This is the town I was born in and I have spent many years enjoying the typical laid back Queensland lifestyle we enjoy up this way. Mackay is about 900 miles from Brisbane and roughly half way up the...
I took the Greyhound from Arlie Beach to Mackay, the stop was quite a walk from the coach stop, well it was in the heat and with a huge ruck-sack and full green bag. I stayed in Mackay for around...
Our Queensland itinerary plan was Townsville - Cairns, and Mackay wasn't part of it, but when our particular air fare worked out cheaper to fly into Mackay and then find our own way to Townsville, we...
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