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MACKAY
Introduction
Mackay
is one of Queensland's major coastal cities on the Bruce Highway. It was
settled in 1862, and was named after Captain John Mackay who discovered
the valley of the Pioneer River.
Pioneer settlers introduced sugar and Mackay is now Australia's leading
sugar producer, has the world's largest bulk sugar terminal, and leads the
world in sugar research.
It is a popular resort area and part of the Great
Barrier Reef. Brampton Island is directly off its coast.
There are many
fine beaches and a large shopping centre.
The city heart has been
transformed into an unique community arts project consisting of over 580
pieces of art, with a theme depicting the environmental beauty of the area
and featuring the rainforests and the Barrier Reef.
Attractions
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The Whitsunday Islands, Golden Beaches, Brampton Island,
Rainforest and the Platypus.
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Greenmount Homestead located 18 kms
west of Mackay reflects the colonial days of the region.
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The Heritage
Walk, which reveals the history of the city and
includes a hotel built in 1889, the police station, court house and the
Commonwealth Bank, all over a century old, and all listed with the
National Trust.
Activities
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Visitors can make day tours of the
open cut coal
mines in the western Central Highlands where huge draglines tower into the
sky.
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Every aquatic pastime imaginable is available in the Mackay area,
while fishermen's dreams of coral trout and barramundi are often brought
to fruition.
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Several beautiful beaches are found just 15 minutes drive from Mackay. To
find them, turn off the Bruce Highway at Mount Pleasant just 2 kilometers
north of the Ron Camm Bridge and travel out on Bucasia Road past the
Mackay Golf Course.
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Activities offered at Mackay's northern beaches are
many and varied. Half an hour's drive to the north is the Hibiscus
Coast,
home of Holliday Bay, Ball Bay, Seaforth and Cape Hillsborough National
Park - billed as the "island you can drive to".
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Further
north still to Midge Point.
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Cruise vessels, leave daily to both inhabited
and uninhabited islands.
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