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 2 miles from the city center. The shortest flight to Mackay from the United States departs from San Francisco and takes around 30h 07m.

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 Turo 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 30h 07m.

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 Turo and Budget, among others, in Airlie Beach.

Airports near Mackay

PPPProserpine Whitsunday Coast
MKYMackay
HTIHamilton Island

Airlines serving Mackay

United Airlines
Good (10,025 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,747 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,634 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (11,377 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,423 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (1,425 reviews)
Singapore Airlines
Excellent (1,578 reviews)
China Eastern
Good (229 reviews)
Air India
Okay (2,955 reviews)
China Southern
Good (164 reviews)
Qantas Airways
Good (1,067 reviews)
Air New Zealand
Excellent (654 reviews)
Jetstar
Good (557 reviews)
Virgin Australia
Good (464 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 Resort Motel
4 stars
Excellent (8.6, 1096 reviews)
$84+
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Coral Cay Resort
4 stars
Excellent (8.5, 1073 reviews)
$86+
View
Mackay Oceanside Central Hotel
4 stars
Excellent (8.1, 1528 reviews)
$78+
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The Marco Polo
4 stars
Excellent (8.1, 1320 reviews)
$89+
View
Ibis Mackay
4 stars
Good (7.9, 1579 reviews)
$92+
View
Mid City Motor Inn
3 stars
Good (7.3, 1704 reviews)
$67+
View

Renting a car in Mackay

Renting a car in Mackay costs $67 per day, on average, or $202 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 12% cheaper than airport locations in Mackay.

Expect to pay $4.54 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 $54.51 and $72.68. Supplier choice (Class Special Car or similar) is the most popular car type to rent in Mackay, while also 58% cheaper than other types, on average.

Renting a car in Mackay costs $67 per day, on average, or $202 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 12% cheaper than airport locations in Mackay.

Expect to pay $4.54 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 $54.51 and $72.68. Supplier choice (Class Special Car or similar) is the most popular car type to rent in Mackay, while also 58% cheaper than other types, on average.

Find car rentals in Mackay