Mackay

Mackay [1] is a tropical city on the eastern coast of the Australian state of Queensland, some 900 km north of the state capital Brisbane. Weather The climate is tropical, with daytime temperatures in the coolest month still averaging 22 C, and the coolest nights averaging 12 C. The ocean is also warm year-round. Due to the warm weather, Mackay is noted for its sugar cane industry. Understand In the last 10 years Mackay and the surrounding region has seen a massive boom in the coal mining industry with many of it's workers and supporting industries setting up shop there. As a result the cost of living has climbed somewhat and is a source of tension between the very well paid mine workers and those working in other industies in the town. The town is located by the Pioneer River. It started as a cattle station founded by a Scottish settler called John Mackay. Get in By plane Mackay Airport (MKY) is 5km south of the city centre. It has services from QANTAS, Virgin Blue and Jetstar have frequent flights from Brisbane. Qantaslink have services to Cairns, Townsville, and Rockhampton. Tiger airways now offers direct flights from Sydney and Melbourne. By train Queensland Rail [2] has twice weekly services running from Mackay to Brisbane on the "Tilt Train" By car The Bruce Highway is the coastal highway between Brisbane and Cairns and passes through Mackay. ThePeak Downs Highway runs from Clermont North-East to terminate in Mackay. By boat Mackay has a extensive marina is often the first stop for those exploring the whitsunday islands but no regular passenger ferries run at this time. By bus Greyhound buslines have regular services from Brisbane stopping at the airport and in Mackay itself on the way to Cairns and vice versa. Get around Limited bus services run in the Mackay region. Cars can be hired from the airport. Taxis are available from major shopping centres and individuals can call the service to be picked up from a specified destination. Bicycles (push bikes) are a good fit for city transportation. Projects are ongoing to expand current bicycle routes, one long route exists from West of the city to the Canelands shopping area. See Harbour Beach, a rather rough beach close to the harbour. East Point Road. The Marina, sporting a pretty harbour, green lawns and many cafés and restaurants. Mulherin Drive. Eungella National Park, one of the oldest subtropical rain forests in Australia. Bushwalking, waterfalls, platypus spotting. Cape Hillsborough National Park The Whitsunday Islands Mackay Regional Botanical Gardens Artspace Mackay, a regional art gallery showing changing exhibitions from national and international artists, as well as a few permanent exhibitions (pottery, prints). Shop and café. Free. Open 10.00am to 05.00pm daily, closed on Monday. Historical Farleigh Mill - tours run daily (Monday to Friday) during the sugar season: July - November St Paul's United Church, a typical wooden Queensland country church from 1898. 25 Macalister Street. Art Déco Buildings. There are many beautiful buildings from that period in Mackay, mostly in Victoria Street, Sydney Street and Wood Street. Do Drink, with over 2 dozen pubs within the heart of the city and more surrounding it. You can always find a place to roll out of. Work The main industries in Mackay region are coal mining and export, and sugar cane growing and sugar milling. Mackay is the "Sugar Capital of Australia". Many use Mackay as a stopping point for lucrative mining work in the Bowen Basin of central Queensland. Buy Mackay has two major shopping centres Mount Pleasant Greenfields located on the Corner Phillip Street and the Bruce Highway Mount Pleasant (affectionately known by locals as "Mount P") contains major retailers such as K Mart Woolworths Greenfields is a shopping precinct located across the road from Mount Pleasant. Occupants include: Bunnings Warehouse Spotlight Toys'R'Us Birch Carroll and Coyle Cinema's Caneland Central is undergoing expansion, it is located on Mangrove Road and includes major retailers such as Target Big W Woolworths Action Best and Less City Beach Rush Surfwear Mathers Shoes Spend Less Shoes Vodafone Crazy Johns Telstra Optus EB Games Tarocash Eat Try the eateries at the Marina overlooking the boats - loverly cool breezies. Mid range prices. Drink Mackay has some very fine establishments to tip a quiet ale or two. On the outskirts of town to the north-east along the Bruce Highway are two quaint little pubs; The Leap Hotel and the Farview Tavern. Both are excellent locations for grabbing a counter meal whilst overlooking the agricultural views of the Pioneer Valley. If it is the beach atmosphere that you seek then head to the Eimeo Pub, located to the North of Mackay perched picturesquely on top of a sea cliff. Slightly closer to town is the Seabreeze Tavern, located at Lamberts Beach, 10 seconds walk from the ocean. For some topless talent and a very fun long lunch you will need to head into town and visit either; Maguires Tavern or Taylors Hotel. A nipple and a smile always kicks the evening off well. For the remainder of the night there are several other standard pubs and clubs in town, including; Austral Hotel, Imperial Hotel, Kate O'Reillys (Irish Bar), Blue Heelers, Ryans Tavern, Andergrove Tavern, Mount Pleasant Tavern, Boomerang Hotel and the Spotted Dick. Remember Mackay has dial a driver, so drive in, drink up and get driven home safely. Sleep Comfort Resort Blue Pacific, 26 Bourke Street, Blacks Beach, Mackay 4740, ☎ +61 7 4954 9090, [3]. .  edit Clarion Hotel Mackay Marina, Mulherin Drive, Mackay, ☎ 07 4955 9400, [4]. checkin: 14:00; checkout: 10:00. 4.5 star Mackay hotel, close to CBD, on site restaurant, buffet breakfast, room service, fitness centre, business center facilities.  edit Budget Larrikin Lodge, 32 Peel Street (south of the river), ☎ +61 7 4951 3728. Small and relaxed hostel, friendly management, organizes discounted tours to Eungella National Park,  edit Get out Routes through Mackay Bowen ← Proserpine ←  N  S  → Rockhampton This article is an outline and needs more content. It has a template, but there is not enough information present. Please plunge forward and help it grow!