Attractions

Greenmount Homestead (five kilometres west of Walkerston) is one of Mackay's most valued historic attractions.   Greenmount was developed by AA Cook on the cattle run first taken up by Captain John Mackay and was gifted to the city by the Cook Family in 1984.

The grounds contain a number of buildings including a 1915 Queenslander homestead, which houses intact a collection of more than 20,000 historical items.  The gardens and grounds played an important role in Cook family life, and feature a formal front garden, fernery and arbour.

Greenmount is open from 9.30am to 12.30pm, Sunday to Friday (closed on Saturdays). Tours are available at other times by appointment.

Location: Greenmount Road, Walkerston, Phone: 4959 2250

Download the Greenmount Homestead Self Guided Tour brochure (PDF 1.64MB)

Surrounded by a cool oasis of majestic trees and tropical gardens, Mackay Regional Council’s Queens Park features a large collection of stunning orchids at the Ken Burgess Display House.

Spend an hour or two leisurely strolling through the vast array of exquisite orchids. The Orchid House contains beautiful and bizarre looking exotic and Australian native orchids. The collection includes some ground living orchids but consists mainly of tree and rock living orchids.

It is located at Queens Park in Goldsmith Street, with opening hours Monday to Friday 10am to 11 am and 2pm to 3pm, Sunday 10am to 2pm.  Admission is free.

For more information go to http://www.mackay.qld.gov.au/community/council_facilities2/council_facilities/orchid_house

Depart from the Blue Water Quay at the end of Brisbane Street adjacent to Paxton's warehouse. Your journey begins touring the Mackay CBD looking at heritage listed and Art Deco buildings (some are listed with the Heritage Trust of Queensland), such as the Uniting Church in Macalister Street. Travel along River Street where the boats come to puck up and drop off supplies to locals.

Your guide will tell you stories of the various buildings and places of interest like the Old Town hall and McGuires Hotel, then you will travel over the Pioneer Rivers on your way to the Mackay Harbour where you will drive along the break wall overlooking the Marina with the expensive boats that are docked there and the restaurants that aligned along the waterfront. Your guide will tell you all about the Marina and the Mackay Port before travelling back to the City Heart where you will receive a treat to cap off your tour. You might like to have dinner in one of the restaurants that you saw on the city drive.

Tour Inclusions:  Bus pick up and return from the city, information about Mackay and its history.  DIRECT BOOKING COST (all inclusive) - $25pp.  Phone 1800 500 353 or email reeforest@matilda.net.au.  For more Reeforest Tours check out their website www.reeforest.com.au

Teeming with an abundance of native beauty are Cape Hillsborough and the Hibiscus Coast north of Mackay, where the rainforest meets the rocky volcanic headlands.  The rugged scenery, picturesque walking tracks and native wildlife are what make this destination a must to be explored.

Cape Hillsborough is most famous for being the focal point for an iconic Australian scene, wallabies on the beach during sunrise.  The morning sunrise at Casuarina Beach is an unforgettable Australian experience. Watch the sun rise from behind the Coral Sea and its tropical islands, while wallabies bound along the sand and feast along the water's edge.

Explore nearby walking tracks to view a plethora of colourful birds and butterflies, including the vivid Ulysses butterfly. Meander through a mangrove community, eucalypt open forest and vine thicket along the Diversity Boardwalk, or discover the 1.6 kilometre Juipera Plants Trail for a fascinating insight into local Aboriginal history.

At low tide, you can walk the causeway to Wedge Island, which has a small tranquil beach and coral reefs perfect for snorkelling. Just keep an eye on the incoming tide to avoid getting stranded.  Catch your own fresh marinara feast, with fish and crabs plentiful from Andrew's Point, Sandy Bay and Casuarina Beach.

There are barbecue facilities and a children's playground close to the beach.

On your leisurely drive to Cape Hillsborough stop in at the Old Station Tea House - a delightful converted railway station serving morning teas and lunch.  Sit and enjoy a Devonshire tea, cheesecake, sandwiches or wood fired pizza in a lovely garden ambiance.  The old station is as much an attraction as it is an eating place.  Open Monday to Sunday 9 am to 3.30 pm, closed Wednesdays.

Are you looking for an unforgettable way to immerse yourself in Queensland's stunning rainforests? Locals and visitors to the Mackay area love the fun and adventure of Forest Flying!

The Forest Flying eco-tourism experience is set up to allow you to view the rainforest of Finch Hatton Gorge from a unique angle. The flying fox is an overhead cable and pulley system up to 25 metres above ground that allows you to travel 340 metres through the rainforest canopy.

To learn more about the great rainforest tours or to make a booking, simply call the team at Forest Flying  on 49583359 or check out their website http://www.forestflying.com

A wonderland of waterfalls, lush flora and volcanic boulder formations contrast against a tapestry of sugar cane fields as you head through the Pioneer Valley into Eungella National Park.  Getting to Eungella National Park is an adventure in itself. The Pioneer Valley is the gateway to Eungella, and encompasses many rural townships and sights to see along the way.  

DID YOU KNOW? Eungella National Park is Australia's longest stretch of sub-tropical rainforest? 

From Mackay, drive 80km west along the Mackay–Eungella Road to Eungella township. At the head of the valley, the road winds sharply and steeply up the Clarke Range.  When you reach Eungella township at the top of the range, follow the road sweeping left to get to Eungella National Park and its short walks.

Eungella National Park has more than 20km of walking tracks and is the starting point for the 56km Mackay Highlands Great Walk. So whether you want to stroll with the family, walk for several hours, or set out on the Great Walk, there's something to suit. Stops along the way include, Finch Hatton Gorge, Peases Lookout, Pine Grove, Sky Window and Broken River, each offering different walks and facilities. The first stop, Pine Grove, is in the heart of Eungella township.

The park protects many unusual plants and animals, including the Eungella dayfrog, Mackay tulip oak, Eungella spiny cray and Eungella honeyeater. This isolated mountain refuge lies close to the boundary between subtropical and tropical rainforests and supports species from both vegetation types.

Much of the park is remote and inaccessible, and is dissected by gorges. Rainforest dominates the area, but open eucalypt woodland grows on Dick's Tableland in the rugged north-western part of the park. Flowering bottlebrushes and tall river she-oaks line the meandering Broken River—home to platypus.

On your leisurely drive west:  Visit the former house of famous opera singer Dame Nellie Melba (Melba House), now an information centre at the township of Marian, stop in at Pinnacle Pub - famous of its whopping big Pinnacle Pies, once voted into Queensland's Top 150 Must Do's.  Just down the road is Coffee Devine where you can enjoy a variety of coffees, teas and homemade cakes in a converted church and its gardens.  At the top of the range you can lunch at Eungella Chalet and enjoy spectacular views across the entire Pioneer Valley. 

A wonderful landscape of waterfalls, lush flora and volcanic boulder formations make Finch Hatton Gorge a must-see attraction.

There are many walking tracks which weave through sub-tropical rainforest. One of the most popular trails starts at the Finch Hatton picnic area and takes you on a 1.6 kilometre journey to the beautiful Araluen waterfall.

The granite boulders and surrounding vegetation make this an ideal place to take in the scenery. Take a refreshing dip in one of the nearby rock pools, a cooling haven favoured by locals in summer.

Continue 1.4 kilometres to reach the Wheel of Fire Cascades, another beautiful waterfall with a large rock pool at its base, popular for swimming. This second part of the walk is more challenging, with uphill segments and stairs to climb, but the views are well worth it.

Keep an eye out among the rainforest for rare and unusual flora and fauna, such as the rare gastric brooding frog, the orange-sided skink, Mackay tulip oak, Eungella spiny cray and Eungella honeyeater.

You can fly through the tree tops at Finch Hatton Gorge - check out the Forest Flying in the next slide.

If you’re curious about how a sugar mill works and how sugar cane is turned into sweet and yummy sugar, then a Farleigh Sugar Mill tour with Reeforest is a definite must.  During the Crushing/Harvest Season ONLY  (June to November).

Meeting at the Farleigh Sugar Mill, you will be taken through the mill by your guide and have the process explained to you step by step. On this tour you will be able to see up close how the crushing of sugar cane takes place. Take the tour from June until mid November 2016, 7 days a week except when the mill has a maintenance day or when a tour guide is unavailable.

For tour costs and more details please check out http://www.reeforest.com.au, email:  reeforest@matilda.net.au, or phone1800 500 353.  For more Reeforest Tours check out their website www.reeforest.com.au

Rainforest  Scuba offers you a WORLDS 1st chance of a lifetime to dive in the RAINFOREST'S crystal clear fresh water with turtles, fish, gordian worms, eels and if you're one of the lucky ones a platypus. The ONLY dive shop in the world that can offer you this unique experience to dive in the rainforest waters with the chance of being in the water at the same time as a platypus.  http://rainforestscuba.com

Did you know Platypus are shy and elusive but there is one small 'pool' that you can swim in and hope that you will encounter these creatures. Olivers Pool is a large clear pond on the rainforest creek within Eungella National Park not far from Mackay. This is known as the most reliable place in the world to see a platypus. 

Rainforest Dive 

• 30 Min platypus education.  Short talk and pics of other creatures living in the billabong
• All equipment
• Water/Tea/Coffee
• NO TIME LIMIT DIVE

$110.00 Certified divers   $150.00 1st time divers   both per person

Romancing the Platypus Land Tour

• Champagne and Chicken (can be adjusted for vegetarians, intolerances etc)
• Side Dish
• 30 min Platypus education
• Practical tuition on how to spot a platypus
• Children receive fruit juice

$150.00 1 or 2 person   $200.00 family (2x adults, 2x child under 12)

Self-drive tour to Broken river. Tansfers can be arranged at a cost of $80.00  ex Mackay per family/couple/singles

Dive & Fly Package

• 1 Rainforest dive tour
• 2 Forest Flying turns (not transferable)

$200.00 per person (certified divers)   $250.00 per person (1st time divers)

North of Mackay now has a net free zone prohibiting commercial fishermen, stretching from St. Helen's Beach to Cape Hillsborough.  This will be a massive boon to fish stock recovery and recreational fishing and tourism for our region.  The beaches in this zone are simply beautiful!  So grab your gear, pack up the family, and spend a day of freedom!

https://www.business.qld.gov.au/industry/fisheries/commercial-fishing/net-free-zones/permitted-activities

Some 41km west of Mackay is Kinchant Dam, home to great barramundi fishing.  The site below offers some good tips for fishing at Kinchant.  Season closes 1st November to 1st February.  http://www.shimanofish.com.au/articles/barra-fishing-at-kinchant-dam.html

Mackay's Botanic Gardens is a pleasant recreational facility featuring over three kilometres of walking and cycling trails amongst a vast range of tropical flora from area as well as other Australian native and exotic plants which feature in five 'culturally-themed' gardens.

If you're an animal lover, you'll be pleased to find that the local wildlife has made a home amongst the plants and foliage, making for excellent bird watching opportunities and insect spotting.

There is a unique Cafe and Gallery overlooking the beautiful lagoons for those who just want to relax with a cup of coffee and admire the view.

For more information go to http://www.mackayregionalbotanicgardens.com.au/

Jarravale is located 30km west of Mackay in the beautiful Pioneer Valley.

Tour Times

Mon - Sun: 10:30 am & 1:30pm

Please contact them to make a booking.

PRICES!

Tour & on Farm Party

Adult - 13 & Over - $15.00

Child - $ 10.00

On Farm Birthday Parties - $350 for 2.5 hours. $100 p/h after

*Closed in shoes are to be worn while at Jarravale*

Morning Teas:

You are welcome to bring your own morning tea or for an additional price we can supply morning tea on request when making a booking!

Full Animal Display

·         1 Miniature Pig

·         2 Guniea Pigs

·         1 Miniature Horse

·         1 Goat

·         2 Alpacas

·         1 Lamb Bottle Fed

Medium Display

·         2 Alpacas

·         1 Miniature Pig

·         2 Guniea Pigs

·         1 Lamb Bottle Fed

Alpaca Display Only

·         2 Alpacas

 Conditions Apply, please contact Josie for conditions, prices and more details.

Email: josieb256@hotmail.com

Tel: 0437 348 762

Bredl's Wild Farm is located at Bloomsbury Queensland Australia. 

• 65kms (60min drive) South of Airlie Beach
• 95kms (75min drive) North of Mackay 
• 114kms (90min drive) South of Bowen

To visit the farm you MUST have a booking!

Bredl's Wild Farm is a guided tour and one of a kind, unique and personal experience. It is not a zoo or a park it is the Bredl families private property where you will get to hold most of the animals, at no extra cost which includes snakes, baby crocodiles, lizards, koala, baby possum, wallaby and much more (only children over 12 years old can hold the koala). They will take you down to the big crocs where they will hand feed them only metres from where you are standing which will AMAZE you. This will be a day out you'll remember forever.

Bookings are a maximum of 20 people per day so it is a very personal hands on experience. During school and public holidays our maximum is 30 people, which will be split into two smaller groups.

Full payment is required when booking. Minimum number 4 Adults are required for tour to run.

Once you have booked and payment has been processed you will be emailed your receipt, booking confirmation and map to the property which is located at Bloomsbury Queensland approximately 1 hours drive from Airlie Beach or Mackay. The farm is open Monday to Saturday and the tour starts at 10am and runs till approximately 2pm.

If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact Kylie on       0457 777 937.

BOOKINGS

Your own transport to the farm

• Adults: $60,  Children (2-16 years): $30. Under 2 years old: Free
• Payment Methods: Visa/Mastercard/Cash
• Minimum number of 4 Adults are required for tour to go ahead.
•  0457 777 937 (Kylie)
• Bookings can also be made at;

        'Whitsunday Fishing World' 
        (Behind the BP service station)       
​         112 Shute Harbour Rd, Cannonvale QLD  
        (Mon-Sat 7am-5.30pm, Sun 7am-2pm)

Platypus Beach is the perfect spot for a picnic with the family, an adventure ground to explore with friends or even a mid-week break to catch some rays while enjoying the serenity.

You'll find Platypus Beach under the bridge in Mirani, only a short drive along the Mackay-Eungella Rd from Mackay. 

The Pioneer River is one of the few blue water rivers in QLD, so combine that with a sandy beach and you've got yourself the perfect swimming spot for those beautiful Mackay days.

Overlooking Lamberts Beach, the Cumberland Islands and Slade Point, Lamberts lookout offers stunning views especially at sunset. This is also a popular viewing platform to see the migrating whales as they breach and play off the coast of Mackay. It is suggested that tourists visit between the months of June through November, as this is the time the majority of Humpbacks migrate from the cold waters of Antarctica to warmer waters of Australia.

Lamberts Lookout can be found on Pacific Esplanade, Slade Point.