Wild About Mackay

The secret is out. Surrounded by an incredible eight lush national parks and 32 stunning beaches, aleney de winter reveals that Mackay is naturally perfect for families.

- Aleney De Winter

Its Art Deco buildings and palm tree-lined city streets are surrounded by gargantuan sugar cane farms, incredible coastal beaches and inland waterways, fish-filled reefs and wildlife-packed rainforests, making Mackay one of those totally wild destinations where reality exceeds expectations for nature-loving kids. Add a stack of family-friendly accommodation and enticing weather all year round, and this wonderfully wild slice of Queensland has all the ingredients for a sure-fire family holiday hit.

Wildlife warriors

One thing Mackay has no shortage of is furry, feathered and flippered critters. Visitors could easily spend a week here on a DIY wildlife safari, spotting platypus and echidna, kangaroos and wallabies, stunning native birds and incredible marine life.

Eungella National Park is one of the best spots in Australia to catch sight of the bashful platypus in the wild. At pretty Broken River, visitors have a 95 percent chance of spotting one of the curious critters during the day and higher odds at dawn or dusk. We followed the bubble trails on the water surface as instructed and, sure enough, we spotted two of the elusive duck-billed cuties doing their thing, leaving the kids giddy with delight.

If it’s underwater critters you seek, head to Keswick Island, just 32 kilometres northeast of Mackay, to explore the southern end of the Great Barrier Reef and meet its extraordinary marine population. Time it right and you may even spy a migrating humpback or two.

Or head to Salonika Beach for sightings of echidnas and, on occasion, loggerhead turtles, whales and dolphins. For those eager to explore Salonika and other great regional beaches, Sandpiper Motel offers family accommodation, along with an inviting outdoor pool in neighbouring Sarina, also home to the Sarina Sugar Shed – a miniature sugar mill with a big tale to tell.