Mackay is known as the sugar capital of Australia, with the region producing more than a third of the nations sugar output. Take a drive in any direction from the city, and you across an ageing sugar refinery belching smoke in the air, surrounded by endless fields of sugar cane. Mackay is also the gateway to the Bowen Basin coal mines, which has the largest output of any coal region in Australia. There are currently thirty four operational coal mines from the Bowen Basin feeding China and Japans appetite for coal. It is reasonable to categorise Mackay as an industrial city, with much of the foreshore geared for export and associated industries.
Whilst not our first choice as a destination for its attractions, it was the location where our daughter and family flew into for a catch up holiday. We had been looking forward to meeting up in Mackay for some months, and our granddaughter was constantly texting us with the countdown in days. We checked into the caravan park a few days early, awaiting their arrival, where they had booked a cabin. Their plane flew in to Mackay Airport on Saturday, and it wasnt long before we
Todd took the opportunity to go out fishing on the reef with a few mates on the Sunday we were there, and we headed off to explore Cape Hillsborough National Park. We were fortunate it was low tide when we were there, and we were able to walk out on the tidal isthmus to Wedge Island, where we saw a large turtle surface. In walking out to the island, we were walking along a slightly submerged sand bank. On arriving back at the beach, we then walked to the top of Wedge Island Lookout where we looked down where we had crossed over the isthmus, at the tide starting to cover the rocks and sand. Although we were high up, we could clearly see a large shark patrolling up and down the shallow water along the beach, right where we were planning to have a swim after our humid walk to the lookout. No swim that day.
Monday was Maias birthday, and after presents, we headed out to Finch Hatton Gorge to do some walks. We took our swimmers, as the gorge is known for its swimming
Karina, Todd and Kaden headed off the next day to Airlie Beach to do a cruise to Hook and Whitsunday Islands, similar to what we had done a week earlier. They had a great day. Kim and I minded Archer, with Kim taking Maia clothes shopping with her birthday money. Archer and I stayed in the caravan park and enjoyed the water park. As good as our caravan adventure has been, it was great to be around family again. Next stop is Emu Park, near Yeppoon, where we are all staying in an Air BnB House overlooking the beach.
