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 Detroit and takes around 27h 11m.

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 Hertz and Budget, 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 Detroit and takes around 27h 11m.

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 Hertz and Budget, among others, in Proserpine.

Airlines serving Mackay

United Airlines
Good (9,945 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,743 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,607 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (11,319 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (1,404 reviews)
Singapore Airlines
Excellent (1,563 reviews)
China Eastern
Good (226 reviews)
Air India
Okay (2,957 reviews)
China Southern
Good (157 reviews)
Qantas Airways
Good (1,057 reviews)
Air New Zealand
Excellent (649 reviews)
Jetstar
Good (551 reviews)
Virgin Australia
Good (463 reviews)
Air Niugini
Okay (3 reviews)
Show more

Where to stay in popular areas of Mackay

Most booked hotels in Mackay

The Marco Polo
4 stars
Excellent (8.2, 1313 reviews)
$89+
Mackay Oceanside Central Hotel
4 stars
Excellent (8, 1518 reviews)
$76+
Rydges Mackay Suites
4 stars
Excellent (8, 1280 reviews)
$118+
Ibis Mackay
4 stars
Good (7.9, 1573 reviews)
$93+
Mid City Motor Inn
3 stars
Good (7.2, 1698 reviews)
$67+

Renting a car in Mackay

Renting a car in Mackay costs $64 per day, on average, or $192 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 24% cheaper than airport locations in Mackay.

Expect to pay $4.28 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 $51.33 and $68.44. The most frequently booked car type in Mackay is Compact (Hyundai Kona 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, 61% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.

Renting a car in Mackay costs $64 per day, on average, or $192 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 24% cheaper than airport locations in Mackay.

Expect to pay $4.28 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 $51.33 and $68.44. The most frequently booked car type in Mackay is Compact (Hyundai Kona 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, 61% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.