Mackay Hotels

Mackay is a city on the eastern coast of Queensland, Australia, about 970 kilometres 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 geographic location of the region, with most people referring it as a part of North Queensland, with some, even the Bureau of Meteorology, calling it the far north end of Central Queensland.[citation needed] Equally, there has always been much contention over the pronunciation of the name Mackay. Correspondence received by Mackay City Library in 2007 from descendants of John Mackay, confirms that the correct pronunciation is Mackay. The largest metropolitan area in the Whitsundays region is a lush, palm-lined city with streets that hum with a relaxed cafe and bar scene. Across the Pioneer River the constantly transforming marina has added a new dimension to the city, with a bevy of stylish residential, tourism and dining developments. Mackay itself will likely bore you after a night, but the attractions to the west of town are phenomenal. The place is an excellent base for visiting Eungella National Park with its famous platypuses and the wilds of Finch Hatton Gorge. Mackay is situated on the 21st parallel south on the banks of the Pioneer River. The Range lies on the eastern side of the city, with the Athelstane Range to the west. The city is expanding to accommodate for growth with most of the expansion happening in the Beachside, Southern, Central and Pioneer Valley suburbs.