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 March
Estimated hotel price
$72
1 night at 3-star hotel
Mackay in March
Estimated hotel price
$72
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 Chicago and takes around 33h 21m.

Car

Another option to get to Mackay is to pick up a car rental from Proserpine, which is about 64 miles from Mackay. You’ll find branches of Thrifty and Dollar, among others, in Proserpine.

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 Chicago and takes around 33h 21m.

Car

Another option to get to Mackay is to pick up a car rental from Proserpine, which is about 64 miles from Mackay. You’ll find branches of Thrifty and Dollar, among others, in Proserpine.

Airports near Mackay

PPPProserpine Whitsunday Coast
MKYMackay
HTIHamilton Island

Airlines serving Mackay

United Airlines
Good (8,696 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,215 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,563 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (1,203 reviews)
Singapore Airlines
Excellent (1,292 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (852 reviews)
China Eastern
Good (148 reviews)
Air India
Okay (2,899 reviews)
Qantas Airways
Good (829 reviews)
Air New Zealand
Excellent (472 reviews)
Jetstar
Good (439 reviews)
Virgin Australia
Good (400 reviews)
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Find flights to Mackay

Where to stay in popular areas of Mackay

Most booked hotels in Mackay

See all
Motel Northview Mackay
3 stars
Excellent (8.5, 431 reviews)
$81+
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Coral Cay Resort
4 stars
Excellent (8.4, 873 reviews)
$85+
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Ibis Mackay
4 stars
Excellent (8.1, 1340 reviews)
$85+
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Mid City Motor Inn
3 stars
Good (7.7, 1504 reviews)
$72+
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White Lace Motor Inn
4 stars
Good (7.4, 1440 reviews)
$70+
View
Paradise Motel
3 stars
Good (6.8, 729 reviews)
$69+
View

Renting a car in Mackay

Renting a car in Mackay costs $78 per day, on average, or $233 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 1% cheaper than airport locations in Mackay.

Expect to pay $4.01 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 $48.15 and $64.20. Compact (Nissan Juke or similar) is the most popular car type to rent in Mackay, while also 56% cheaper than other types, on average.

Renting a car in Mackay costs $78 per day, on average, or $233 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 1% cheaper than airport locations in Mackay.

Expect to pay $4.01 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 $48.15 and $64.20. Compact (Nissan Juke or similar) is the most popular car type to rent in Mackay, while also 56% cheaper than other types, on average.

Find car rentals in Mackay

Mackay Travel Guide - View the KAYAK Mackay city guide for the best Mackay travel tips. To help you organize your Mackay trip ideas, this Mackay visitors guide provides travel information and trip tips about how to get there, where to stay, what to do, where to eat and more.