28 days in Mackay & Airlie Beach Itinerary

Mackay is a city and its centre suburb in the Mackay Region on the eastern coast of Queensland, Australia. Your day by day itinerary now includes Illusions Whitsundays. Explore Mackay's surroundings by going to Airlie Beach (Kayaking & Canoeing, Speed Boats Tours, &more), Proserpine (Cedar Creek Falls, Colour Me Crazy, &more) and Eungella (Broken River, Eungella National Park, &more). There's still lots to do: cool off at Bluewater Lagoon, kick back and relax at Lamberts Beach, look for all kinds of wild species at Finch Hatton Gorge, and find something for the whole family at Forest Flying.

To see other places to visit, maps, photos, and other tourist information, read our Mackay road trip planner.

In December in Mackay, expect temperatures between 36°C during the day and 26°C at night. Finish your sightseeing early on the 22nd (Wed) to allow enough time to drive to Airlie Beach.

Very much a town with an emphasis on the tropical lifestyle, Airlie Beach offers exotic surroundings with palm trees and charming, sandy beaches.

Start off your visit on the 23rd (Thu): relax and rejuvenate at some of the best spas, then kick back and relax at Airlie Beach Lagoon, and then discover the deep blue sea with a scuba or snorkeling tour. Get ready for a full day of sightseeing on the next day: stop by Into The Blue Gallery, get some thrills out on the water with a waterskiing or jet-skiing adventure, and then take a memorable tour with Tours.

To find reviews, more things to do, and other tourist information, you can read our Airlie Beach trip itinerary planning site.

Traveling by car from Mackay to Airlie Beach takes 2 hours. Alternatively, you can take a bus. January in Airlie Beach sees daily highs of 34°C and lows of 28°C at night. Wrap up your sightseeing by early afternoon on the 25th (Sat) to allow enough time to drive back home.