5 Days Road Tripping Queensland’s Mackay Isaac Region

We Are Explorers acknowledges the Yuwibara, Koinjmal, Widi, Birriah, Barada Kabalbara Yetimarala, Jangga, Barada Barna, Western Kangoulu and Wirdi peoples, as the Traditional Custodians of the Countries on which these adventures take place. We recognise that these Traditional Custodians have occupied and cared for these lands, waters, and their inhabitants for thousands of years. We pay our respects to them and recognise that sovereignty was never ceded.

Day One: Eungella National Park

8am – Drive to Finch Hatton

Whether you’re coming from the hub of Mackay or one of the Nebo’s many events, turn up the tunes and enjoy your car ride with views of blue skies, mountains, and sugar cane fields.

9:45am – Arrive in Finch Hatton and Head to Corry Cycles

Finch Hatton is a mountain biker’s dream. Corry Cycles hooked us up with some E-bikes so we could scoot-and-toot around town. Plus, a swell guy named Rob has a shuttle service (Off Camber Mountain Biking) to take you and your bikes to where the action starts.

They have fresh tracks up in the hills (only three months old when I visited) that you can zip down free of charge. Each track is titled with a nod to the Finch Hatton region or Australian culture at large. As an unseasoned mountain biker, I found the ‘No Wukkas’ track to be in fact, full of wukkas. If you’re new to mountain biking like I am, make smart choices and stick to the green trails.

1pm – Lunch at Criterion Hotel

On Finch Hatton’s main strip lives the local’s favourite haunt, the Criterion Hotel. My pick of the day was their beef and chilli jam housemade Criterion pie (I predict many pies to be eaten in this region).

3pm– Arrive at Fern Flat Campground, Eungella National Park

Set up camp in the rainforest and at sunset follow the boardwalk for 500m to spot the platypuses. They’re pretty darn cute if I do say so myself.

Day Two: Cape Hillsborough

9pm – Explore Eungella National Park

Candidly, there’s so much to do in Eungella National Park. There should be an article giving you the play-by-play on all the go-to spots, like my personal favourite, Finch Hatton Gorge (waterfalls are my soft spot). Luckily, I wrote one. Go on, add an extra day to your trip!

12pm – Drive from Fern Flat Campground to Smalleys Beach, Cape Hillsborough

As you head towards Mirani, stop for lunch at the Pinnacle Café established in 1930. True to this area, the staff are so friendly, and the food is undeniably Aussie (pies!).

1:30pm – Enjoy an Arvo in the Sunshine

While Eungella was sheltered, Cape Hillsborough’s Smalleys Beach is a spot that rightfully earns Queensland’s nickname, the Sunshine State. I spent a dreamy afternoon, stretched out with a book, and wandering the shoreline spying shells and nature’s artistry.

4pm – Say Hello to the Wildlife

We saw an echidna! The little guy was so friendly and personable – what a treat.

5pm – Watch the Sunset on the Beach

Whether you drag down a camp chair or lay out a rug, the sunset here is one not to miss. If you’re a saltwater fanatic like me, resist the urge to take a dip, as a meeting with a marine stinger or crocodile is simply not worth it. To satiate your ocean interests, I recommend observing the cape’s tides as it’s a truly fascinating watch.

Read more: How To Stay Safe Around Crocodiles

Day Three: Cape Palmerston

5:45am – Drive from Smalleys Beach to Casuarina Beach

6am – Watch the Sunrise with the Wallabies and Kangaroos at Casuarina Beach, Cape Hillsborough

This is an attraction Cape Hillsborough is known for. 30 minutes on either side of sunrise, wallabies and kangaroos mosey along Casuarina Beach. If you’re still half asleep at this time of the morning (relatable), keep your eyes peeled for the white markers and stay behind them to give the little guys some room. Also, while it may be tempting to feed the wildlife, this is a big no-no.

7am – Walk to Andrews Point Lookout

After a morning of wallabies, go for a wander along Andrews Point track. I feel like I didn’t even miss my run club as the track involved steep stairs, so the legs were burning! Allow two hours to complete this trail. From Andrews Point Lookout, it’s possible to walk down to the beach and take the sandy route home, however, this method is entirely dependent on tide times. You’ll likely have to trek back the way you came unless you intend to scale rocks over water in croc country.

9am – Drive from Cape Hillsborough to Cape Palmerston

I’ve joked about being in the sticks, but in Cape Palmerston you truly are, so stock up while you can. Organic and Natural Store at 60 Yakapari-Seaforth Rd is the perfect place to do so. It has all the produce you could dream of, plus, the no-nasties essentials needed for camping life like soaps, shampoos, and oils. Oh, and do yourself a favour and fill a paper bag with their chocolate freeze-dried strawberries.

10:30am – Relish in a Beach Drive

Driving on Cape Palmerston’s Beach is for experienced 4WDers. Your car will need good clearance and low-range capabilities as the sand on the beach is unpredictable. Off sand, where access to the campground is, the Cape Track has steep rocky areas. Don’t be a hero as this area is extremely isolated.

12pm – Explore Cape Palmerston

It’s like something out of an epic, gothic Australian novel. I turned my head one way and saw vast ocean views, and then to the other, I saw mangroves and marshland. We both know what that means … mozzies. The water here is deliciously inviting, but this is croc country, so look but don’t touch.

4pm – Set Up at Windmill Bay Camping Area

Ah yes, the moment I was waiting for. Flambé time! Select your marshmallow stick and roast them on some flames, because at Windmill Bay you can make a campfire (provided you bring a firepit). We relaxed with ocean views, and enjoyed pinky hues from the sunset before an evening under the stars. For me, that’s not a bad day at the office.

Day Four: Clermont

6am – Catch the Sunrise at the Top of Cape Palmerston

Now this is something to write home about (or rather, to all of you). Drive up to the top of the cape in your 4WD, watch the sunrise, and see it light up Northumberland Island and Mount Funnel. This place is still a bit of a secret (not for long, whoops!), so if you’re lucky like we were, you’ll have the cape all to yourself.

8am – Head to Clermont

Again, this is dependent on tide times. This is such a solitary location, so you’re better off waiting until low tide instead of trying to beat the clock. If you’re not used to beach driving (like beloved Troopy, Wombat), do extra due diligence and ideally travel in a convoy. 

1pm – Grab a Feed in Clermont

Bluemac Bakehouse on Capella St is the perfect place to carb load after a few busy days on the road. I went for the iconic primary school combo of a meat pie (see! a trend!) with tomato sauce, followed by a lamington, and had not a single complaint. 

4:pm – Take a Helicopter Ride

On the 15-minute drive out of town to Bush-Heli Services, I saw four emus on the run, so we were off to a good start. There, we met the gorgeous team and their new golden retriever, Russell, who made me fall in love and broke my heart in one foul swoop. They offer a variety of different flight lengths to accommodate for everyone’s budget with flights starting at 10 minutes. Truly, this is a must-do.

We flew over the fields the region’s known for: cotton; sorghum; barley; and sunflowers. And our jaws were on the floor as we marvelled at the mountainscapes, including the Gemini Peaks, this time from the sky. All of this, plus a sunset, and we were feeling golden! 

6pm– Return to Clermont for Dinner

After our busy day, we’d well and truly earned a pub feed. The Leo Hotel Motel and the Commercial Hotel offer scrumptious Aussie classics like schnitty and parmy. Clermont’s a small town, but the locals made us feel like one of the crew, and fat chats were had indeed. 

Day Five: Clermont to Home

7am – Drive to Gemini Peaks and Hike

The Gemini Peaks – Mount Castor and Mount Pollux – are ancient volcanic formations with eucalypt woodland. If you don’t know already, let me be the one to tell you … the Australian sun is very hot, so start this walk early because the peaks are exposed. From the car park to the base of Mount Pollux it’s a 10.6km return walk that made me say, ‘Yep, this is Australia alright’, with the red dirt, hot sun, blue skies, and mystery animal tracks.

Be mindful the tracks are steep, and the terrain is rough. Allow about four hours if you intend to walk to the base of both mountains. Climbing the peaks is not recommended without advice from the local Queensland Parks and Wildlife Office.

1pm– Head Home

And that’s that! There’s nothing better than venturing somewhere new and finding unsuspecting joys. The Mackay Isaac Region is bursting at the seams with natural wonders and wholesome communities. What a pleasure it was to be a part of it all, if only for a little while.