Mackay road trips: Distances and times

Mackay in Queensland is often seen as a staging post on drives up the east coast. It is the largest city in the Whitsundays region, although Airlie Beach tends to hog the attention.

There are a few things to do in Mackay that make it worth an overnight stay, however. These include the Wildcat snorkelling cruise to the South Cumberland Islands, swimming at Bluewater Lagoon and sunbathing at 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.

Australia Travel Questions is busy putting together guides to road trips throughout Queensland. Those that start or finish in Mackay are listed below.

Mackay road trip distances and driving times

Mackay to Airlie Beach: Distance 151km, driving time 1h52m. (More Airlie Beach road trips).

Mackay to Ayr: Distance 301km, driving time 3h26m.

Mackay to Bowen: Distance 192km, driving time 2h14m.

Brisbane to Mackay: Distance 968km, driving time 11h2m. (More Brisbane road trips).

Bundaberg to Mackay: Distance 623km, driving time 7h. (More Bundaberg road trips).

Mackay to Cairns: Distance 733km, driving time 8h35m. (More Cairns road trips).

Mackay to Darwin: Distance 2,830km, driving time 30h. (More Darwin road trips).

Emerald to Mackay: Distance 383km, driving time 4h10m.

Gladstone to Mackay: Distance 443km, driving time 4h53m. (More Gladstone road trips).

Gold Coast to Mackay: Distance 1,046km, driving time 11h20m.

Hervey Bay to Mackay: Distance 718km, driving time 8h8m. (More Hervey Bay road trips).

Moranbah to Mackay: Distance 193km, driving time 2h8m.

Mackay to Mount Isa: Distance 1,230km, driving time 13h30m. (More driving times to Mount Isa).

Mackay to Proserpine: Distance 126km, driving time 1h27m.

Melbourne to Mackay: Distance 2,267km, driving time 25h. (More road trips from Melbourne).

Newcastle to Mackay: Distance 1,618km, driving time 18h23m. (More Newcastle road trips).

Rockhampton to Mackay: Distance 336km, driving time 3h35m. (More Rockhampton road trips).

Sydney to Mackay: Distance 1,743km, driving time 19h14m. (More road trips from Sydney).

Mackay to Townsville: Distance 386km, driving time 4h32m. (More Townsville driving times).

Yeppoon to Mackay: Distance 360km, driving time 4h. (More Yeppoon road trips).

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.