{"id":5350,"date":"2024-10-27T22:26:32","date_gmt":"2024-10-27T22:26:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sixt.com.au\/magazine\/?p=5350"},"modified":"2024-10-27T22:26:35","modified_gmt":"2024-10-27T22:26:35","slug":"3-stunning-day-trips-from-mackay","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sixt.com.au\/magazine\/travel\/3-stunning-day-trips-from-mackay\/","title":{"rendered":"3 Stunning day trips from Mackay"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Mackay<\/a> \u2013 also known as the Sugar Capital \u2013 is a city on Queensland<\/a>\u2019s east coast, 11 hours\u2019 drive north of Brisbane and eight hours\u2019 drive south of Cairns. It\u2019s famous for its cosmopolitan population, Art Deco architecture and fresh seafood.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s also home to the longest stretch of subtropical rainforest in Australia, which makes it great for day trips, especially for nature lovers \u2013 whether you head to Cape Hillsborough to watch sunrise on the beach surrounded by kangaroos or to Sarina to explore Mackay\u2019s connections with the sugarcane industry. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Cape
Image credit: Kimberly Melissa Booth<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

SHARE SUNRISE WITH KANGAROOS AT CAPE HILLSBOROUGH<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the most magical experiences you can have in Queensland is sunrise at Cape Hillsborough, which is just 40 minutes\u2019 drive from Mackay. Every morning, local kangaroos and wallabies hop down to the beach at sunrise \u2013 and you can join them. You will, of course, have to get up early to make it in time, but you won\u2019t regret it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once the sun is up, spend the rest of your day exploring the national park, where the rainforest meets the sea. There are several excellent walking trails, including the Diversity Boardwalk, which meanders through mangroves, eucalypts and vines, and Andrews Point, which hugs the coast for 2.8 kilometres, taking in incredible views of sweeping beaches and nearby islands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

DIVE INTO SUGARCANE HISTORY AT SARINA<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

At Sarina, which lies 30 minutes\u2019 drive south of Mackay in the foothills of the Connors Range, you\u2019ll find out why the city is also known as the Sugarcane Capital. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Begin your adventures in the Field of Dreams. At the Sugar Shed, take an interactive journey through how sugar is made from sugarcane, which includes tastings of the Shed\u2019s sugarcane-infused treats, such as ice cream and ginger beer. Afterwards, head to the Sarina Art and Craft Centre to browse locally-made artworks in a former courthouse built in 1901.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sarina is also home to several gorgeous beaches. Visit Sarina Beach for a picnic, and, if you\u2019re there between November and March, look out for turtles nesting in the sand. From there, it\u2019s just 15 minutes\u2019 drive to Grasstree Beach, which is popular for its beautiful scenery. Meanwhile, Salonika Beach \u2013 just north of Sarina \u2013 is home to wildlife of all kinds, from black cockatoos and sea eagles in the air to turtles and echidnas on the land.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Finch
Image credit: Pavel \u0160pindler<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

SWIM BENEATH A WATERFALL AT FINCH HATTON GORGE<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finch Hatton Gorge is an hour\u2019s drive west of Mackay in the spectacular Eungella National Park. There\u2019s at least two waterfalls you can swim under. The first is Araluen, which is a 1.6-kilometre walk through subtropical rainforest from the Finch Hatton Picnic Area. It\u2019s surrounded by giant granite boulders, and there are several rock pools for dipping. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If one waterfall isn\u2019t enough, continue the trail for another 1.8 kilometres to reach the Wheel of Fire Cascades. Along the way, keep your eyes peeled for plants and animals you won\u2019t see anywhere else, including the Eungella dayfrog, the Eungella spiny cray and the Eungella honeyeater.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Please note: it\u2019s important to take care while visiting Finch Hatton Gorge. For more information, visit the Queensland Government\u2019s Parks and Forests website<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

GETTING TO MACKAY<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mackay<\/a> is well connected with Australia\u2019s capital cities, including Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne. For a convenient holiday, why not fly in, then pick up a car rental at SIXT Mackay Airport<\/a>? We\u2019re in the terminal, so you can get behind the wheel in minutes.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019ve a longer trip in mind, then make Mackay a stop on a road trip from Brisbane to Cairns<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Mackay \u2013 also known as the Sugar Capital \u2013 is a city on Queensland\u2019s east coast, 11 hours\u2019 drive north of Brisbane and eight hours\u2019 drive south of Cairns. It\u2019s famous for its cosmopolitan population, Art Deco architecture and fresh seafood.\u00a0 It\u2019s also home to the longest stretch of subtropical rainforest in Australia, which makes…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":108,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[132,82],"class_list":{"0":"post-5350","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-travel","7":"tag-mackay","8":"tag-queensland","9":"entry"},"yoast_head":"\n3 Stunning day trips from Mackay - SIXT Magazine Australia<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"From sunrise on the beach with kangaroos at Cape Hillsborough to a journey through sugarcane history in Sarina.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sixt.com.au\/magazine\/travel\/3-stunning-day-trips-from-mackay\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"3 Stunning day trips from Mackay - 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