We didn't plan to stay at Mackay, it was the final stop of our road trip and that's where the airport was. Airport only 10 minutes' drive from centre of Mackay, where we stayed in a motel. Plenty of restaurants nearby. The Lagoon area is lovely and very quiet on a weekday when we were there. We walked the Lagoon trail which was pleasant but much longer than anticipated as not very clear signing after you had reached the bridge over the Pioneer River. We should have just taken Sydney Rd back to town but ended up along the river and at the ocean at Iluka Park. Then another 2km into town. Great shopping centre in middle of town. We visited Cape Hillsborough and stayed three nights as it was so awesome. Trails to walk, great beach, wildlife. We saw a goanna, lots of birds, smaller skinks and of course the kangaroos at dawn. Visited Sarina Sugar Shed, which was very interesting after passing all the cane fields.

On checking in, we were given a room on level 1, with no view. The street noise was almost unbearable. We requested a change and the staff kindly moved us to a river facing room. The view was lovely, but to be honest this accommodation is sold as river frontage. It is in actual fact a block away from the River with large buildings obscuring the view. The location is perfectly central though with great accessibility to shopping. We recommend that upon booking your accommodation, to ensure what type of room you will be placed into.

I did visit a beach don't know it's name. Very clean and appealing lots of trees and some birds. It was low tide and sand which I walked out on right out into the ocean. The place was busy for a city but you can get around reasonably easy. Been here before. Marina great to see. Biotanic gardens worth seeing. City centre nice to walk around. Worth coming here for a look.

Beautiful city it would be a must to have a car to get around as it very spread out or be comfortable on public transport however then you would miss out on some great beaches or lookouts a car is highly recommended.

One of the worst Towns in Australia for accommodation and eating out. No proper facilities at all. There is no night life so you need to book an excellent Hotel where you are happy to spend most of your time. not easy to get around without a car and hire car costs are exorbitant. Only way from/to airport is a cab at $50 approx.

The hotel on 4 nebo road called cool plams likes to assume that all people do drugs had started to say there was residue on the floors but then said they cant take photos of a smell but if there was residue on the floor u could have taken photos of it then proceeded to try and take $150 off my partner bank account