Gold Coast to Airlie Beach road trip: Best stops, distance & time
Sarina and Mackay
Otherwise carry on up the Bruce Highway, stopping for the impressive cave tours at the Capricorn Caves.
The highway hits the coast at Clairview, then cuts across Cape Palmerston. You require a 4WD to go camping and fishing here.
Sarina, where the Sarina Sugar Shed tells the tale of the local sugar industry, is the next town along. Sarina Beach or Grasstree Beach are pretty options if you’d prefer some sunbathing time.
Top Sarina experiences worth booking in advance
- Learn how sugar is grown and processed on a sugar mill tour – with sweet treat tastings.
- Find out how rum is made on a rum distillery tour – with rum sampling.
Best Sarina accommodation options.
The best places to stay in Sarina, Queensland, are:
- For beachside location with an outdoor pool: Sandpiper Motel.
- For air-conditioned caravans and cabins: Sarina Palms Cabins & Caravans.
- For palm trees and beach holiday vibe: Sarina Beach Motel.
From Sarina, it’s about half an hour’s drive to Mackay, the biggest city between Rockhampton and Townsville.
Things to do in Mackay include the Wildcat snorkelling cruise to the South Cumberland Islands, crocodile-free swimming at Bluewater Lagoon and playing in the sand on Blacks Beach.
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.
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.
Click through for the next section: Mackay to Airlie Beach.