Blacks Beach, Mackay
The longest beach in Mackay, Blacks Beach, offers 6km of sand and family-friendly facilities. Forget about surfing, though.
Where is Blacks Beach?
Blacks Beach, Queensland, is one of Mackay’s Northern Beaches.
As it happens, Blacks Beach is the longest beach in Mackay, stretching for around 6km. You’re not going to struggle to find a place to lay down a towel here, although you may prefer to head out on a snorkelling cruise to the South Cumberland Islands instead.
On the western side of Slade Bay, Blacks Beach has a quiet, natural feel to it. That said, there are several accommodation options here, including holiday apartments and the Big 4 Holiday Park.
Blacks Beach Park is the focal point of what passes for action here. It offers public toilets, a picnic area, barbecue facilities and a children’s playground.
Three great Mackay experiences to book in advance
- (Highly recommended ✅) Whitsunday Islands boat cruise – with snorkelling and paddleboarding.
- Cape Hillsborough sunrise tour – meet wallabies on the beach.
- ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Finch Hatton Gorge waterfalls tour.
Swimming at Blacks Beach, Queensland
It is possible to swim at Blacks Beach, but getting in the water is at your own risk. This Mackay Beach is far enough north to attract potentially deadly marine stingers. It is also in crocodile territory, although, in practice, crocodiles are rarely spotted nearby.
Blacks Beach, Mackay, is not patrolled by lifeguards, although in terms of rips and dangerous currents, this is a relatively safe beach for swimming.
Surfing at Blacks Beach, Mackay
Surfers, however, won’t get too much joy. The Great Barrier Reef out to the east prevents sizable waves from reaching the mainland. Blacks Beach isn’t always a duckpond, but it’s very rare for it to be in any way surfable.
If fishing is your thing, it’s possible to catch whiting and bream off the beach, while other species are found near the mouth of McCready’s Creek.
Best Mackay accommodation options
The top places to stay in Mackay are:
- For attractive apartments by Blacks Beach: The Shores Holiday Apartments.
- For a cheap, but surprisingly good, motel: Cool Palms Motel.
- For apartments with kitchenettes by the marina: Mantra Mackay.
- For a holiday park with lot of family-friendly facilities: Big4 Mackay Blacks Beach Holiday Park.
- For fully furnished apartments in prime position next to Bluewater Lagoon: Riviera Mackay.
More Queensland travel
How long is the drive from Maryborough to Hervey Bay?
Drive from Ipswich to Goondiwindi along the Cunningham Highway.
Visit the Blackdown Tablelands National Park on the Rockhampton to Emerald drive.
Learn about ginger at the Ginger Factory in Yandina.
Indulge at the Mungalli Creek Dairy in the Atherton Tableland.