Introduction
Where to eat
When to visit
How to get there
Where to stay
Renting a car

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, The Andergrove Tavern (64 Andergrove Rd) and Rare Bar and Grill (65 Victoria St) are great picks.

When to visit Mackay

Mackay in May
Estimated hotel price
$48
1 night at 3-star hotel
Mackay in May
Estimated hotel price
$48
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 3 km from the city center. The shortest flight to Mackay from the United States departs from San Francisco and takes around 28h.

Car

Another option to get to Mackay is to pick up a car rental from Airlie Beach, which is about 109 km from Mackay. You’ll find branches of Dollar and Turo, among others, in Airlie Beach.

Plane

When flying to Mackay, you’ll arrive at Mackay (MKY), which is located 3 km from the city center. The shortest flight to Mackay from the United States departs from San Francisco and takes around 28h.

Car

Another option to get to Mackay is to pick up a car rental from Airlie Beach, which is about 109 km from Mackay. You’ll find branches of Dollar and Turo, among others, in Airlie Beach.

Airports near Mackay

PPPProserpine Whitsunday Coast
MKYMackay
HTIHamilton Island

Airlines serving Mackay

United Airlines
Good (9,893 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,731 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,600 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (11,260 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (1,394 reviews)
Singapore Airlines
Excellent (1,555 reviews)
China Eastern
Good (226 reviews)
Air India
Okay (2,958 reviews)
China Southern
Good (154 reviews)
Qantas Airways
Good (1,050 reviews)
Air New Zealand
Excellent (646 reviews)
Jetstar
Good (549 reviews)
Virgin Australia
Good (462 reviews)
Air Niugini
Okay (3 reviews)
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Find flights to Mackay

Where to stay in popular areas of Mackay

Most booked hotels in Mackay

See all
Mackay Oceanside Central Hotel
4 stars
Excellent (8, 1507 reviews)
$76+
View
Ibis Mackay
4 stars
Good (7.9, 1567 reviews)
$90+
View
Rydges Mackay Suites
4 stars
Good (7.9, 1273 reviews)
$106+
View
Alara Motor Inn
3 stars
Good (7.7, 1352 reviews)
$81+
View
White Lace Motor Inn
4 stars
Good (7.1, 1673 reviews)
$70+
View

Renting a car in Mackay

Renting a car in Mackay costs $53 per day, on average, or $160 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 39% cheaper than airport locations in Mackay.

Expect to pay $4.62 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 $55.42 and $73.89. The most frequently booked car type in Mackay is Compact (Toyota RAV4 or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Supplier choice rental cars (Class Special Car or similar) are, on average, 44% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.

Renting a car in Mackay costs $53 per day, on average, or $160 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 39% cheaper than airport locations in Mackay.

Expect to pay $4.62 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 $55.42 and $73.89. The most frequently booked car type in Mackay is Compact (Toyota RAV4 or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Supplier choice rental cars (Class Special Car or similar) are, on average, 44% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.

Find car rentals in Mackay