Yeppoon to Mackay road trip: Distance, drive time & attractions
The Yeppoon to Mackay drive in Queensland is 360km in distance, with a driving time of around four hours. Top road trip attractions to add to a Yeppoon to Mackay road trip itinerary include Baga National Park, the Capricorn Caves and Sarina Beach.
The Yeppoon to Mackay drive is one many people travelling up the Queensland coast will undertake. Yeppoon is a more attractive place to stop than nearby Rockhampton, and Mackay is the next logical stop along the Brisbane to Cairns road trip.
Choose Yeppoon for Great Keppel Island day tours from the Keppel Bay Marina and Mackay for good value Whitsunday Island snorkelling cruises.
To choose from the best Mackay tours and experiences, head this way. To select the right Mackay accommodation for you, book here.
The best thing to do in Mackay is a snorkelling cruise around the South Cumberland Islands.
This guide aims to help travellers plan their perfect Yeppoon to Mackay road trip itinerary.
Yeppoon to Mackay distance and driving time
The distance from Yeppoon to Mackay by car is 360km. This makes for a Yeppoon to Mackay driving time of about four hours.
Where to stay in Yeppoon
The top Yeppoon accommodation options are:
- For a dependable motel with a pool: Coast Motel.
- For high quality apartments near Yeppoon Lagoon: Salt Yeppoon.
- For Mediterranean-style villas: Villa Mar Colina.
- For a centrally-located boutique resort: Coral Inn Boutique Resort.
The Yeppoon to Rockhampton leg of the Yeppoon to Mackay drive is short. It’ll take you about half an hour. The most worthwhile attraction along the way is Baga National Park. The obvious highlight here is the 221-high volcanic plug known as Baga and formerly called Mount Jim Crow. The waterlily-filled lagoons around Hedlow Creek will be of more interest to birdwatchers, however.
Yeppoon to Mackay drive: Rockhampton attractions
The Yeppoon to Mackay drive doesn’t actually stop in Rockhampton. Yeppoon Road meets the Bruce Highway north of the city. But two of Rockhampton’s best attractions are north of the city, too.
The Dreamtime Cultural Centre explores the culture of Central Queensland’s Indigenous people. The Capricorn Caves, meanwhile, are open for tours and have hugely impressive cave decorations.
The best places to stay in Rockhampton, Queensland
The best Rockhampton accommodation choices are:
- For character and charm: Denison Boutique Hotel.
- For heritage: Quality Hotel Regent.
- For well-equipped apartments: Quest Rockhampton.
- For really good value: Rockhampton Serviced Apartments.
- For a great pool: Korte’s Resort.
Yeppoon to Mackay road trip: Clairview and Sarina
The Rockhampton to Mackay leg of the drive is not the most exciting. It rejoins the coast at Clairview, but cuts across Cape Palmerston on the way to Sarina. Fishing and bush camping are available at Cape Palmerston, but you’ll need a 4WD to get there.
Sarina is the biggest town on the Yeppoon to Mackay drive. The Sarina Sugar Shed runs tours exploring the sugar industry, although you might prefer to enjoy the sun on Sarina Beach or Grasstree Beach.
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.
If you’d like to stop overnight in Sarina, accommodation options include the Tramway Motel and the beachfront Sandpiper Motel.
Mackay is about half an hour north of Sarina, with Blacks Beach and Bluewater Lagoon being the top attractions.
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.
More Mackay road trips
Mackay to Airlie Beach: Distance 151km, driving time 1h52m.
Mackay to Bowen: Distance 192km, driving time 2h14m.
Mackay to Cairns: Distance 733km, driving time 8h35m.
Gladstone to Mackay: Distance 443km, driving time 4h53m.
Mackay to Proserpine: Distance 126km, driving time 1h27m.
Mackay to Townsville: Distance 386km, driving time 4h32m.
Rockhampton to Mackay: Distance 336km, driving time 3h35m.