Emerald to Mackay road trip: Best stops, distance & driving time

The Emerald to Mackay drive covers a distance of 383km in a driving time of around 4h10m. The road trip route passes through coal mining country and the Great Dividing Range.

The drive from Emerald to Mackay connects a surprisingly interesting inland town near the Tropic of Capricorn to the biggest city on the Whitsundays coast of Queensland.

The best thing to do in Mackay is a snorkelling cruise around the South Cumberland Islands.

Emerald offers a good botanic garden and the Outback Exploratorium. For Emerald accommodation, book here.

Mackay brings Whitsundays snorkelling cruises. To choose from the best Mackay tours and experiences, head this way. To select the right Mackay accommodation for you, book here.

Emerald to Mackay distance and driving time

By car, the distance from Emerald to Mackay is 383km. This makes for a driving time of around four hours and 10 minutes. It is, alas, not one of Australia’s most exciting drives.

Where to stay in Emerald

The best Emerald accommodations options are:

For central location: Motel 707.
For a more stylish motel: Abode37.
For a good quality motel with cheap rates: A&A Lodge Motel.
For families: Discovery Parks Emerald.

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.

The quickest route starts out along the Gregory Highway. You branch off in Capella, small town with a golf course, race course and Dooley’s Tavern – which serves up pub classics and a decent laksa.

Turn right along Crinum Road, and head towards Tieri, which has a golf course, a few simple accommodation options and a Foodworks supermarket.

Emerald to Mackay road trip: Middlemount and Nebo

It’s the last worthwhile stop for a long time, as the drive heads through unglamorous mining country. Continue along Tieri Road, which merges into Dysart Middlemount Road. This takes you to Middlemount, which has tennis courts, a hotel-motel and a gold and country club. It is essentially a coal mine service town, however.

Shortly afterwards, you’ll turn left along State Route 67 – the Fitzroy Developmental Road. This is a dull slog for through coal country until you turn right along the Peak Downs Highway.

Nebo is the first settlement of any size here, with a racecourse, showground and petrol station. But, again, it’s 99% miners and 1% tourists.

Emerald to Mackay drive: Peak Downs Highway

Around Epsom, the route starts to get prettier and more forested as it enters the Great Dividing Range.

The Peak Downs Highway then passes between the Ben Mohr State Forest and Spencer Gap State Forest. Alas, neither is particularly well set up for visitors. Don’t expect interpretive walking trails, now.

On the way into Mackay, you’ll pass the Mackay Aquatic and Recreation Complex, which has a 50 metre pool, plus the Mackay Botanic Gardens.

Highlights of Mackay include the crocodile-free Bluewater Lagoon pool and Blacks Beach.

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.