Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
TRAIN
Brisbane ($260, 13 hours), Townsville ($125, 5½ hours) and Cairns ($200, 12 hours). The
slower
Sunlander
does the same: Brisbane (economy seat/sleeper $140/240, 17 hours).
The train station is at Paget, 5km south of the city centre.
Getting Around
Major car-rental firms have desks at the Mackay Airport: see
www.mackayairport.com.au/
travel/car-hire
for listings.
Mackay Transit Coaches
( 07-4957 3330;
www.mackaytransit.com.au
)
has several services around
the city, and connects the city with the harbour and northern beaches; pick up a timetable
from one of the visitor centres or look online.
Ocean Breeze Transfers
(
www.ocean-breeze-trans-
fers.com.au
)
run between the city and airport: book in advance.
For a taxi, call
Mackay Taxis
(
13 10 08)
.
TOP OF CHAPTER
Mackay's Northern Beaches
The coastline north of Mackay is made up of a series of headlands and bays sheltering
small residential communities with holiday accommodation.
At
Blacks Beach
, the beach extends for 6km, so stretch those legs and claim a piece of
Coral Sea coast for a day. Of the several accommodation options,
Blue Pacific Resort
(
07-4954 9090;
www.bluepacificresort.com.au
;
26 Bourke St, Blacks Beach; studio $165-180, 1-2br unit $180-265;
)
has bright, cheerful units directly on the beach. All rooms have self-catering facilit-
ies.
Close by is
Blacks Beach Holiday Park
( 07-4954 9334;
www.mackayblacksbeachholidaypark.com.au
;
16
Bourke St, Blacks Beach; unpowered/powered site $30/35, villa $140-180;
)
, with tent sites over-
looking a gloriously long stretch of beach.
At the north end of Blacks Beach, the four-star
Dolphin Heads Resort
(
07-4944 4777;
)
has 80 comfortable,
www.dolphinheadsresort.com.au
;
Beach Rd, Dolphin Heads; d $160-220;
motel-style units overlooking an attractive (but rocky) bay.
