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 Santa Rosa and takes around 38h 43m.

Car

Another option to get to Mackay is to pick up a car rental from Proserpine, which is about 103 km from Mackay. You’ll find branches of Dollar and Hertz, among others, in Proserpine.

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 Santa Rosa and takes around 38h 43m.

Car

Another option to get to Mackay is to pick up a car rental from Proserpine, which is about 103 km from Mackay. You’ll find branches of Dollar and Hertz, among others, in Proserpine.

Airports near Mackay

PPPProserpine Whitsunday Coast
MKYMackay
HTIHamilton Island

Airlines serving Mackay

Emirates
Excellent (3,655 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,731 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (10,174 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (11,586 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,429 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (1,471 reviews)
Singapore Airlines
Excellent (1,593 reviews)
China Eastern
Good (236 reviews)
Air India
Okay (2,939 reviews)
China Southern
Good (172 reviews)
Qantas Airways
Good (1,090 reviews)
Air New Zealand
Excellent (668 reviews)
Jetstar
Good (568 reviews)
Virgin Australia
Good (474 reviews)
Air Niugini
Okay (4 reviews)
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Find flights to Mackay

Where to stay in popular areas of Mackay

Most booked hotels in Mackay

See all
Coral Cay Resort
4 stars
Excellent (8.5, 1101 reviews)
$94+
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Mackay Oceanside Central Hotel
4 stars
Excellent (8, 1570 reviews)
$77+
View
Ibis Mackay
4 stars
Good (7.9, 1612 reviews)
$111+
View
Mackay Seabreeze Apartments
0 stars
Good (7.5, 975 reviews)
$98+
View

Renting a car in Mackay

Renting a car in Mackay costs $72 per day, on average, or $217 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 23% cheaper than airport locations in Mackay.

Expect to pay $5.49 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 $65.87 and $87.82. Compact (Hyundai Kona or similar) is the most popular car type to rent in Mackay, while also 42% cheaper than other types, on average.

Renting a car in Mackay costs $72 per day, on average, or $217 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 23% cheaper than airport locations in Mackay.

Expect to pay $5.49 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 $65.87 and $87.82. Compact (Hyundai Kona or similar) is the most popular car type to rent in Mackay, while also 42% cheaper than other types, on average.

Find car rentals in Mackay