Mackay by Campervan: The Southern Gateway to the Whitsundays

Quick summary: Mackay is the largest city between Rockhampton and Townsville, and for campervan travellers it’s the natural southern gateway to the Whitsundays. Around 150 km south of Airlie Beach, it has supermarkets and services for restocking, a riverside lagoon, beaches and a marina, all surrounded by sugar cane country. In a campervan or motorhome, Mackay makes a base for Cape Hillsborough and Eungella National Park.

At a glance
Location	On the Bruce Highway, around 150 km south of Airlie Beach
In town	Bluewater Lagoon, Harbour Beach, the marina, art deco buildings
Nearby	Cape Hillsborough, Eungella, Sarina
Services	Supermarkets, fuel, an airport
Region	Sugar cane country
Tours	Whitsundays day tours

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What is there to do in Mackay?

Experience	Details
Bluewater Lagoon	A riverside swimming lagoon in the city centre
Harbour Beach	A long beach near the marina, with a walking path
Mackay Marina	Restaurants and boats, with views of the harbour
Art deco walk	Buildings from the town’s rebuild after a cyclone
Botanic gardens	Tropical gardens and wetland walks

Why stop in Mackay on the way to Airlie Beach?

To restock and to see a different side of the region. It’s a good place to fill the fridge and the fuel tank before heading north, and a comfortable overnight stop if you’ve driven up from Rockhampton. The beaches and lagoon make a pleasant afternoon.

What is near Mackay?

Cape Hillsborough is around 45 km north, with wallabies on the beach at sunrise. Eungella National Park is around 85 km west, with platypus and rainforest. Sarina, around 35 km south, is a sugar town with local produce and beaches nearby. See Cape Hillsborough and Eungella.

Where can you park an RV for the night in Mackay?

At holiday parks around the city and along the northern beaches. Overnight parking on streets and foreshores isn’t allowed, so use a park or a designated area for self-contained vehicles. Book ahead in school holidays. See where to stay.

Can you reach the Whitsunday Islands from Mackay?

The islands are best reached from Airlie Beach, around 150 km north, where most tours depart. Mackay is a stop on the way, not a departure point for most island trips. Browse day tours. If you’re flying into Mackay without a campervan, see Mackay Airport car hire.

What should you know about driving around Mackay?

Watch for cane trains crossing roads during the crushing season, and for wildlife around dawn and dusk on rural roads. See driving the Bruce Highway.

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Frequently Asked Questions