Camping in Mackay

Mackay sits on the Pioneer River, 803 km north of Brisbane, and has long been known as Australia's sugar capital. Around it, the choice is a beach park on the northern beaches, the rainforest and beaches of Cape Hillsborough, the sugar-cane coast south towards Sarina, or the hills of the Pioneer Valley inland.

Where is the best place to camp in Mackay?

North of the city, parks such as BIG 4 Mackay Blacks Beach Holiday Park are on the beach, and about 40 km out, Cape Hillsborough Nature Tourist Park sits beside the national park. South of the city, Sarina's beaches have caravan parks, and inland, Broken River Bush Camp is up in the hills at Broken River.

What is there to do in Mackay with kids?

In Mackay, the Blue Water Lagoon is in the city, the Botanic Gardens are in West Mackay, and the Bluewater Trail runs more than 20 km of walking and cycling paths along the river and coast. In Sarina, Railway Square has the Sarina Museum and the Sugar Shed, and the Field of Dreams Museum is close to the caravan parks. In the Pioneer Valley, the Pioneer Valley Museum is at Mirani.

• Mackay Regional Botanic Gardens – Gardens and outdoors, West Mackay. Closest campground: Premier Caravan Park, 1 km
• Historic Nebo Museum – Museums and history, Nebo. Closest campground: Nebo Caravan Park, under 1 km
• Field of Dreams Museum – Museums and history, Sarina. Closest campground: Sarina Palms Caravan Village, under 1 km
• Artspace Mackay – Museums and history, Mackay. Closest campground: Central Tourist Park, 2 km
• The Clermont Historical Centre – Museums and history, Clermont. Closest campground: Clermomt Caravan Park, 4 km
• Pioneer Valley Museum – Museums and history, Mirani. Closest campground: Kinchant Waters Holiday Park, 7 km
• Proserpine Museum – Museums and history, Proserpine. Closest campground: O'connell River Whitsunday Tourist Park, 18 km
• Proserpine Water Park – Swimming, Proserpine. Closest campground: O'connell River Whitsunday Tourist Park, 19 km
• Sarina State High Swimming Pool – Swimming, Sarina. Closest campground: Sarina Palms Caravan Village, under 1 km
• Pioneer Swim Centre – Swimming, North Mackay. Closest campground: Hilltop Caravan Park, under 1 km
• Greg Cruickshank Aquatic Centre – Swimming, Moranbah. Closest campground: Moranbah Village Caravan Park, under 1 km
• Blue Water Lagoon – Swimming, Mackay. Closest campground: Central Tourist Park, 2 km
• Mackay Aquatic and Recreation Complex – Swimming, Ooralea. Closest campground: The Park Mackay, 2 km
• Memorial Swim Centre – Swimming, Mackay. Closest campground: Premier Caravan Park, 2 km
• Mirani Swim Centre – Swimming, Mirani. Closest campground: Kinchant Waters Holiday Park, 7 km

What are the best walks and waterfalls in Mackay?

Cape Hillsborough National Park is a small volcanic peninsula covered mostly in rainforest, home to about 140 bird species, and at low tide the sand bubbler crabs leave patterns across the beach; the park has the Andrews Point and Twin Beach lookouts. At Broken River, there are platypus viewing platforms by the water.

• Twin Beach Lookout – Lookout. Closest campground: Cape Hillsborough Nature Tourist Park, under 1 km
• Andrews Point Lookout – Lookout. Closest campground: Cape Hillsborough Nature Tourist Park, 1 km
• Leura Falls – Waterfall. Closest campground: Broken River Bush Camp, 10 km
• Platypus viewing platform – Lookout. Closest campground: Broken River Bush Camp, under 1 km
• CD McKie Lookout – Lookout. Closest campground: Sarina Palms Caravan Village, under 1 km
• Platypus Lake Viewpoint – Lookout. Closest campground: Broken River Bush Camp, under 1 km
• Diwaia Lookout (Turtle Lookout) – Lookout. Closest campground: Cape Hillsborough Nature Tourist Park, under 1 km

When is the best time to go camping in Mackay?

Winter is mild and dry, while summers are hot and rainy, and Mackay has a history of serious cyclones and floods.

Is it safe to swim in Mackay?

Swim at patrolled beaches, between the flags, and wear a stinger suit. Marine stingers such as box jellyfish and Irukandji are in tropical Queensland waters all year, with the higher-risk season from November to May, and saltwater crocodiles live in rivers, estuaries and coastal waters across northern Queensland, so obey warning signs and swim only where it is marked as safe.

Are there powered sites in Mackay?

Yes. 4 campgrounds here have powered sites confirmed, including The Homestead @ Lotus Creek, Cape Hillsborough Nature Tourist Park and Mycow Accommodation. For the rest we are still confirming, so check with the park or holiday park before you book a powered site.

How far is Cape Hillsborough from Mackay?

Cape Hillsborough National Park is about 40 km north-east of Mackay, with Seaforth nearby. Sarina is about 34 km south, and out west, Moranbah is about 195 km and Clermont about 274 km from Mackay.

Facts from Wikipedia, "Mackay, Queensland" (CC BY-SA 4.0), Wikipedia, "Cape Hillsborough National Park" (CC BY-SA 4.0), Wikipedia, "Sarina, Queensland" (CC BY-SA 4.0), Wikipedia, "Seaforth, Queensland" (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Queensland Government, dangerous marine animals.

Map of campgrounds in Mackay

35 campgrounds

• The Homestead @ Lotus Creek — Lotus Creek, QLD. camp kitchen, caravan sites, dump point, laundry, powered sites, showers, tent sites, toilets, wifi
• Cape Hillsborough Nature Tourist Park — Cape Hillsborough, QLD. dump point, powered sites, tent sites
• Mycow Accommodation — Bakers Creek, QLD. dump point, powered sites, wifi
• Barracrab Caravan Park — Clairview, QLD. powered sites
• Central Tourist Park — North Mackay, QLD. tent sites
• Mycow Freedom Campground — Bakers Creek, QLD. wifi
• Armstrong Beach Caravan Park — Armstrong Beach, QLD
• Big 4 - Mackay Marine Tourist Park — Mackay Harbour, QLD
• BIG 4 Mackay Blacks Beach Holiday Park — Blacks Beach, QLD
• Broken River Bush Camp — Broken River, QLD
• Bucasia Beachfront Caravan Resort — Bucasia, QLD
• Carmila Caravan Park — Carmila, QLD
• Clermomt Caravan Park — Clermont, QLD
• Coal Country Caravan Park — Moranbah, QLD
• Hilltop Caravan Park — North Mackay, QLD
• Jollimont Caravan Park — Kuttabul, QLD
• Kinchant Waters Holiday Park — Kinchant Dam, QLD
• Koumala Caravan Park — Koumala, QLD
• Kuttabul Hotel & Caravan Park — Kuttabul, QLD
• Mackay Caravan Park — Andergrove, QLD
• Moana Caravan Park — Alligator Creek, QLD
• Moranbah Village Caravan Park — Moranbah, QLD
• Nebo Caravan Park — Nebo, QLD
• Notch Point Campground — Ilbilbie, QLD
• O'connell River Whitsunday Tourist Park — Bloomsbury, QLD
• Premier Caravan Park — West Mackay, QLD
• Sarina Palms Caravan Village — Sarina, QLD
• Seaforth Caravan and Camping Reserve — Seaforth, QLD
• Smalleys Beach Camping Reserve — Cape Hillsborough, QLD
• St Helens Gardens Caravan Park — Calen, QLD
• The Park Mackay — Paget, QLD
• Theresa Dam Campground — Clermont, QLD
• Therese Dam Caravan Park — Clermont, QLD
• Travellers Rest Caravan & Camping Park — Midge Point, QLD
• Tropicana Caravan Park — Sarina, QLD

Region boundary: ABS ASGS Edition 3 Tourism Regions 2021 (Tourism Research Australia), CC BY 4.0.