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Mackay
Mackay is a city and its centre suburb in the Mackay Region on the eastern coast of Queensland, Australia. It is located about 970km north of Brisbane, on the Pioneer River. Mackay is nicknamed the sugar capital of Australia because its region produces more than a third of Australia's cane sugar.There is controversy about the location of the region for administrative purposes, with most people referring to it as a part of either Central Queensland or North Queensland. Indeed, much confusion lies within the Queensland Government, with government services being provided through both Townsville (North Queensland) and Rockhampton (Central Queensland). Generally, the area is known as the Mackay–Whitsunday Region.NameThe city was named after John Mackay. In 1860, he was the leader of an expedition into the Pioneer Valley. Initially Mackay proposed to name the river Mackay River after his father George Mackay. Thomas Henry Fitzgerald surveyed the township and proposed it was called Alexandra after Princess Alexandra of Denmark, who married Prince Edward (later King Edward VII). However, in 1862 the river was renamed to be the Pioneer River, after the HMS Pioneer in which Queensland Governor George Bowen travelled to the area, and the township name was changed to be Mackay in honour of John Mackay. Fitzgerald then decided to use the name Alexandra for his sugar cane plantation and sugar mill, which eventually provided the name to the Mackay suburb of Alexandra today.Mackay is in Queensland. Explore the family-friendly attractions of Mackay and add them to your vacation plans using our Australia travel route planner .
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Bluewater Lagoon
Mackay
Visit for: 4h
Bluewater Trail
Mackay
Visit for: 3h
Mackay Aqua Park
Mackay
Visit for: 1h 30min
Side Trips
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Bredl's Wild Farm
Bloomsbury
Visit for: 4h
Eungella National Park
Eungella
Visit for: 8h
Cape Hillsborough National Park
Queensland
Visit for: 8h
Kid Friendly Attractions
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Nature & Wildlife Tours
Mackay
Visit for: 3h 30min
Harbour Beach
Mackay
Visit for: 2h 30min
Lamberts Beach
Mackay
Visit for: 2h 30min
Hidden Gems
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Bucasia Beach
Bucasia
Visit for: 2h 30min
Town Beach
Mackay
Visit for: 30min
Greenmount Homestead
Mackay
Visit for: 1h 30min
Places to visit with Mackay
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