Mackay travel guide

Mackay Tourism | Mackay Guide

You're Going to Love Mackay

With a population of 74,219, Mackay is a must-see destination in Queensland, Australia. It is one of the most popular cities to visit in the country. We recommend you stay at least 3 days in order to fully appreciate everything Mackay has to offer.

Where to Eat in Mackay

If you’re looking for affordable options, Marque Bar & Grill (55/63 River St) and The Andergrove Tavern (64 Andergrove Rd) are great picks.

When to visit Mackay

Mackay in March
Estimated hotel price
$56
1 night at 3-star hotel
Mackay in March
Estimated hotel price
$56
1 night at 3-star hotel

Looking for warm weather? Then head to Mackay in January, when the average temperature is 78.8 °F, and the highest can go up to 86 °F. The coldest month, on the other hand, is July, when it can get as cold as 53.6 °F, with an average temperature of 60.8 °F. You’re likely to see more rain in February, when precipitation is around 12.2″. In contrast, September is usually the driest month of the year in Mackay, with an average rainfall of 0.4″.

Data provided by weatherbase
Temperatures
Temperatures
Data provided by weatherbase

How to Get to Mackay

Plane

When flying to Mackay, you’ll arrive at Mackay (MKY), which is located 2 miles from the city center. The shortest flight to Mackay from the United States departs from San Francisco and takes around 24h.

Car

Another option to get to Mackay is to pick up a car rental from Airlie Beach, which is about 68 miles from Mackay. You’ll find branches of Hertz and Budget, among others, in Airlie Beach.

Plane

When flying to Mackay, you’ll arrive at Mackay (MKY), which is located 2 miles from the city center. The shortest flight to Mackay from the United States departs from San Francisco and takes around 24h.

Car

Another option to get to Mackay is to pick up a car rental from Airlie Beach, which is about 68 miles from Mackay. You’ll find branches of Hertz and Budget, among others, in Airlie Beach.

Airlines serving Mackay

Emirates
Excellent (2,108 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (2,420 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (4,994 reviews)
Singapore Airlines
Excellent (933 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (840 reviews)
China Eastern
Good (61 reviews)
Qantas Airways
Good (553 reviews)
Air New Zealand
Excellent (316 reviews)
Virgin Australia
Good (268 reviews)
Jetstar
Good (321 reviews)
Show more

Where to stay in popular areas of Mackay

Most booked hotels in Mackay

Motel Northview Mackay
3 stars
Excellent (8.6, 261 reviews)
$85+
Ibis Mackay
4 stars
Excellent (8.2, 1532 reviews)
$79+
White Lace Motor Inn
4 stars
Excellent (8, 1494 reviews)
$73+
Coral Cay Resort
4 stars
Excellent (8, 775 reviews)
$88+
Sun Plaza Motel - Mackay
3 stars
Good (7.1, 754 reviews)
$61+
Paradise Motel
2 stars
Okay (5.4, 344 reviews)
$75+

Renting a car in Mackay

Renting a car in Mackay costs $69 per day, on average, or $206 if you want to rent if for 3 days.

It’s generally cheaper to rent your vehicle outside the airport: locations in the city are around 40% cheaper than airport locations in Mackay.

Expect to pay $4.39 per gallon in Mackay (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between $52.69 and $70.26.

Renting a car in Mackay costs $69 per day, on average, or $206 if you want to rent if for 3 days.

It’s generally cheaper to rent your vehicle outside the airport: locations in the city are around 40% cheaper than airport locations in Mackay.

Expect to pay $4.39 per gallon in Mackay (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between $52.69 and $70.26.