Our most recommended things to do in Mackay

Mackay: Full Day Island Boat Tour on the Great Barrier Reef

1. Mackay: Full Day Island Boat Tour on the Great Barrier Reef

Get off the beaten track in Mackay and head towards the Great Barrier Reef. See the natural wonders of above and below the ocean as you ride by speedboat to untouched locations. Swim and snorkel in the waters at secluded beaches and grab a snack and beer onboard. Embark on a full-day journey on the Great Barrier Reef. Board your one-of-a-kind, custom-built vessel that blends technology with practical use. Discover hidden wonders below the ocean's surface, swimming and snorkeling in the waters of various beaches. Enjoy a morning and afternoon snack on board and cold beer from the fully licensed bar on board. Stop at many locations such as Cockermouth, Brampton, Keswick, St. Bees, and Scawfell islands. Plus, a few well-kept secrets.

Sarina: Guided Tour of the Sarina Sugar Shed with Tasting

2. Sarina: Guided Tour of the Sarina Sugar Shed with Tasting

Immerse yourself in the journey of sugar cane production on this guided tour of the Sugar Shed farm in Sarina. Discover how sugar cane is planted and explore a sugar cane patch. Visit the miniature mill and see historic cane-cutting machinery. Follow your guide on a trip through the sugar cane production process. Head to the sugar cane patch and see old machinery before visiting the fully operational Plane Creek Mill. Continue to the factory to nibble on raw sugar cane and sip on freshly-squeezed cane juice. Delight your taste buds as you try a range of gourmet sauces, chutneys, relishes, barrel-aged rums, and fruit liqueurs made in the distillery. During the cane crushing season (late June to early December), see the unique miniature sugar that is a replica the large mills.

Mackay: Wallabies Viewing Beach Sunrise Trip in Mackay

3. Mackay: Wallabies Viewing Beach Sunrise Trip in Mackay

The most picturesque time to see the wallabies and kangaroos on the beach at Cape Hillsborough is at Sunrise. Get up close and personal with these iconic Australian marsupials, waking up early is worth it! Learn and reflect on our role in preserving and protecting Australia's natural beauty with your local guide. After being collected from Mackay, you will arrive at the national park at dawn to catch a glimpse of the wallabies and kangaroos that come to the shoreline to feed on mangrove seed pods washed up by the tide. Spend time walking along the shoreline and taking in all the beauty of the sunrise. Our air-conditioned vehicles allow a comfortable adventure in a small group environment as you travel to explore the Cape Hillsborough National Park, where the rainforest meets the sea. Departs: Sep - Mar 4am/Apr - Aug 5am Returns: Approx 9am/10am

Mackay: Finch Hatton Gorge Hike, Swim & Platypus Adventure

4. Mackay: Finch Hatton Gorge Hike, Swim & Platypus Adventure

Get ready for an adventure that makes you feel like you've stepped into a real-life Jurassic paradise! Introducing our new Platypus Paradise Tour – your passport to the longest stretch of sub-tropical rainforest magic in Australia. Hop on our cosy ride as we journey through time and nature. But hold on because this tour isn't just about soaking up the sights – it's about immersing yourself in the heart of Yuwi country and discovering the stories of this ancient land. As we roll through the charming little communities of the Pioneer Valley, you'll be transported back to colonial times with tales of the Valley's unique story. It's like a history class, but way more fun. Lace up your hiking boots, because we're about to unveil one of nature's secret treasures – Finch Hatton Gorge. We will hike through lush foliage, with birds serenading you to crystal-clear waters inviting you to take a dip with a beautiful waterfall in the background. Oh, did someone say lunch? Absolutely! We have a great story about our lunch! Next stop? The charming town of Eungella perched high up on the range. But we're not just here to take in the breathtaking views, we've got a mission: platypus spotting. These elusive creatures are like the celebrities of the animal kingdom, and we're determined to catch a glimpse. Will you be lucky enough? The Eungella National Park Tour is your ticket to a day of history, nature, waterfalls, platypus magic, and local bites. Pack your sense of wonder and your camera, because this tour is all about making memories and having a blast. Book now, and let's make this an adventure to remember! Timings are approximate. Platypus sightings are not guaranteed but we know the best spots for the best chance!

Sarina: Rum Distillery Guided Tour and Tasting

5. Sarina: Rum Distillery Guided Tour and Tasting

This experience explains the distilling process at Sarina Sugar Shed, from the crushing of the cane to distilled cane spirit that creates our rum and liqueurs. Tasting includes an exclusive selection of Rum or Rum liqueurs not available on our regular tour. Running daily at 12pm, enjoy this tour on its own, or packaged with our 11am or 12.30pm Sugar Shed tour for the complete experience! This is a great experience for dedicated rum lovers or those interested in finding out more about the rum distilling process from sugar cane juice to the finished product!

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What people are saying about Mackay

Overall rating

4.8 / 5

based on 9 reviews

Reece and Benny were the best! We were greeted with a warm and kind welcome at the beginning of the trip and the great service just keeps rolling! There's a lot of very good things to say but I guess the best they've done for me were "encouragement, patience and empathy". I haven't done snorkeling and couldn't swim well too so I do not want to cause trouble and hassle so I was just staring to my fellow travellers who were snorkeling. "Benny" then approached me and asked if I want to join them and offered me to do the dry snorkeling instead. I was just delighted as I really want to see what the reef looks like in my own eyes. So then Reece came and picked me up and patiently guided and supported me as I snorkel while holding onto the boat ladder. This might be so naive of me but this is best thing that happened to me with the best customer service from Reece and Benny! So I would say that this trip is reasonably priced plus you get excellent care and service! 10/10 stars!

Very knowledgeable and personable guide did a wonderful job in explaining the process of sugar production from the initial planting of cane to the finished product. We all ejoyed the tastings immensely and highly recommend the tour for anyone travelling through or living in the area.

The crew were great, Friendly and helpful. The lunch was yummy and the snorkling was well organised.

Absolutely worth doing the tour we learnt so much about sugar cane