Explore Mackay
Things to do
Hotels

Top things to do in Mackay

Green Island Snorkelling & Glass Bottom Boat Day Tour
Tours • From Cairns

Green Island Snorkelling & Glass Bottom Boat Day Tour

Free cancellation
Instant confirmation
4.4 / 5
(162) • 7K+ booked
RON 413.55
Great Barrier Reef Full Day Snorkel or Dive Tour from Cairns
Klook's choice
Cruises • From Cairns

Great Barrier Reef Full Day Snorkel or Dive Tour from Cairns

Hotel pick-up
English guided
Free cancellation
4.7 / 5
(250) • 6K+ booked
RON 830.29
Great Barrier Reef Snorkel, Dive & Helicopter Full Day Tour
Klook's choice
Cruises • From Cairns

Great Barrier Reef Snorkel, Dive & Helicopter Full Day Tour

Hotel pick-up
English guided
Free cancellation
4.6 / 5
(189) • 4K+ booked
RON 1,367.55
Scenic Flight Heart Reef, Whitehaven beach  from Airlie Beach
Tours • Whitsundays

Scenic Flight Heart Reef, Whitehaven beach from Airlie Beach

English guided
Morning departure
Up to 3 hrs
4.6 / 5
(21) • 1K+ booked
RON 1,155.89
Outer Reef Pontoon Full Day Tour at Moore Reef
Cruises • From Cairns

Outer Reef Pontoon Full Day Tour at Moore Reef

English guided
Free cancellation
Instant confirmation
4.4 / 5
(36) • 1K+ booked
RON 999.59
Cairns Great Barrier Reef Snorkel Experience
Water activities • Cairns

Cairns Great Barrier Reef Snorkel Experience

English guided
Morning departure
7+ hrs
4.8 / 5
(14) • 300+ booked
From
RON 745.65
10% off select options
Great Barrier Reef Classic Scenic Flight from Cairns
Tours • From Cairns

Great Barrier Reef Classic Scenic Flight from Cairns

Book now for tomorrow
English guided
Up to 3 hrs
4.6 / 5
(36) • 1K+ booked
RON 940.99
Fitzroy Island Day Trip from Cairns
Cruises • From Cairns

Fitzroy Island Day Trip from Cairns

Free cancellation
Instant confirmation
4.3 / 5
(31) • 1K+ booked
From
RON 371.19
Half Day Green Island Reef Cruise from Cairns
Cruises • From Cairns

Half Day Green Island Reef Cruise from Cairns

Book now for tomorrow
English guided
Free cancellation
4.2 / 5
(36) • 3K+ booked
RON 358.19
Reef Magic Pontoon Cruise Tour from Cairns
Cruises • From Cairns

Reef Magic Pontoon Cruise Tour from Cairns

English guided
Free cancellation
Instant confirmation
4.4 / 5
(15) • 900+ booked
From
RON 1,058.20
Half or Full Day Fitzroy Island Transfers & Optional Activities
Water activities • From Cairns

Half or Full Day Fitzroy Island Transfers & Optional Activities

English guided
Morning departure
7+ hrs
4.5 / 5
(128) • 4K+ booked
RON 351.65
Green Island Reef Cruise Full Day Guided Tour from Cairns
Cruises • From Cairns

Green Island Reef Cruise Full Day Guided Tour from Cairns

Book now for tomorrow
English guided
Free cancellation
4.5 / 5
(126) • 7K+ booked
RON 527.49

Hotels in Mackay

Coral Cay Resort
Hotels • Mackay

Coral Cay Resort

Instant confirmation
4.3 / 5
(983)
From
RON 454.52
Heron Island Resort
Hotels • Mackay

Heron Island Resort

Instant confirmation
4.2 / 5
(258)
From
RON 728.46
White Lace Motor Inn
Hotels • Mackay

White Lace Motor Inn

Instant confirmation
4.2 / 5
(1.0K)
From
RON 396.8
Windmill Motel and Events Centre
Hotels • Mackay

Windmill Motel and Events Centre

Instant confirmation
4.3 / 5
(765)
From
RON 493.71
Mackay Seabreeze Apartments
Hotels • Mackay

Mackay Seabreeze Apartments

Instant confirmation
4.1 / 5
(519)
From
RON 533.11
Mantra Mackay
Hotels • Mackay

Mantra Mackay

Instant confirmation
4.4 / 5
(872)
From
RON 542.78
The Resort @ Dolphin Heads
Hotels • Mackay

The Resort @ Dolphin Heads

Instant confirmation
3.7 / 5
(511)
From
RON 483.47
The Metropolitan Hotel
Hotels • Mackay

The Metropolitan Hotel

Instant confirmation
3.9 / 5
(119)
From
RON 445.13
Mackay Resort Motel
Hotels • Mackay

Mackay Resort Motel

Instant confirmation
4.5 / 5
(1.0K)
From
RON 421.25
The Marco Polo
Hotels • Mackay

The Marco Polo

Instant confirmation
4.3 / 5
(717)
From
RON 455.3
Eungella Cabins
Hotels • Mackay

Eungella Cabins

Instant confirmation
4.2 / 5
(13)
From
RON 787.55
Cape Hillsborough Nature Tourist Park
Hotels • Mackay

Cape Hillsborough Nature Tourist Park

Instant confirmation
4.3 / 5
(26)
From
RON 603.57

Reviews of Mackay activities

Klook User
2026-01-20 06:39:03
Fantastic 5.0
Bradley, Marie and Renee from Reef Adventure looked after our family of four, including two young children (age 9 and 6) during the snorkelling tour. They are incredibly patient, friendly and helpful. We had an amazing time snorkelling in the Great Barrier Reef, and saw abundant sea life and beutiful corals. Highly recommended.
Klook User
2026-04-21 08:24:59
Fantastic 5.0
The scenic flight was the best choice for this tour. We traveled from Sydney for it, and it was the best hour. It's truly so beautiful. The boat tour was also long, and the route was enjoyable. However, we did the boat tour on a cloudy day, so the views for snorkeling and the walking trail were a bit disappointing. If it's raining or cloudy on your booked date, I recommend quickly changing your reservation date two days in advance. We had requested a date change in advance because we thought the scenic flight tour would be difficult due to strong winds and rain, but we received no response. Ultimately, we were notified on the day of the tour that the scenic flight was canceled. However, we were surprised to be told that neither a schedule change nor a refund was possible. I definitely recommend doing this on a clear day. Somehow, we managed to do both, and the tour was truly excellent. After the tour, if you relax on a mat or swim at Airlie Beach and then have dinner and drinks at a beachside bar, you'll have an absolutely perfect day.
Klook用戶
2026-05-07 01:08:56
Fantastic 5.0
Being able to lie on the boat, on the deck all day! Listening to music, enjoying delicious food, relaxing on the boat, and also snorkeling on a beautiful island where we saw sea turtles! Most importantly, our guides Claudia and Natalia kept everyone's spirits high throughout the entire trip!
Judy **
2026-02-16 04:59:09
Fantastic 5.0
It was an enjoyable experience, and spending a day at the Barrier Reef is truly worthwhile. The staff were very helpful and polite, and all equipment was provided. Lunch was served midday, followed by wine and snacks at tea time.
Klook用戶
2026-05-24 08:49:02
Fantastic 5.0
Wonderful experience! Well ogranized for over 100 passsengers, from safety, seating, equipment to lunch and afternoon tea. Great for our first time snorkelling, and staff were friendly. unfortunately, the helicopter was cancelled due to the weather but everything else was good. Even though we got really seasick (although we took tablets), it was totally worth it!
Klook User
2026-04-26 06:05:20
Fantastic 5.0
I had to take this moment to give the best possible review to Sun Lover and the team. The entire experience has been so amazing. All the crew members were so respectful and ensured we all had calm and funful experience! I must mention Joseph specially! He made my snorkelling experience as a non-swimmer and first timer so memorable. Gave a 15 mins direction, very calm and helped me throughout the experience! Can’t thank all the members enough! The food was amazing too.
Klook用戶
2026-01-14 07:49:15
Fantastic 5.0
It was definitely worth to spend a leisurely day on Green island of the Great Barrier Reef. With nice weather, it’s possible to see abundant reef fish and coral reefs during snokeling. If u are lucky, sea turtle can also be found and swim with them!
Bug ***
2026-01-01 03:21:19
Great 4.0
Overall this was a pleasant experience, for snorkelers the water near shore is less clear than a guided tour in the reef center, lunch is provided and filling!
Klook会員
2025-12-29 21:43:35
Fantastic 5.0
Since our children were small, we didn't go snorkeling, but we experienced the glass-bottom boat and the semi-submarine. On the half-day course, we immediately experienced the semi-submarine after the glass-bottom boat, and then we had about an hour of free time. It was satisfying enough for the children's physical strength, but it feels like a full-day course is necessary to have enough time to swim with coral reefs, tropical fish, and sea turtles. All the explanations were in English, and there were no staff who could speak Japanese, but the crew was kind and tried hard to listen and convey my clumsy English, so I felt reassured. There's only water and potato chips on the boat, so I recommend bringing bread or snacks!! The Cairns coast is murky, so it's worth going to Green Island for the experience!!

Mackay at a glance

When is the busiest time to visit Mackay?

Based on what travelers booked on Klook

Busier than usual Quieter than usual
+200%
+100%
Typical
-100%
Busiest +144%
Jan
-24%
Feb
-71% Quietest
Mar
-46%
Apr
-28%
May
-38%
Jun
-71%
Jul
-49%
Aug
-57%
Sep
-3%
Oct
+130%
Nov
+116%
Dec

Demand peaks in January (about +144% vs a typical month) while March is much quieter (about 71% below a typical month); travellers from the United States should book early for January and expect easier availability and fewer crowds in March. Based on Klook historical booking data.

When is Mackay cheapest?

Find months that fit your budget.

$1000
$800
$600
$400
$200
$0
Avg $538 Cheapest $106 Priciest $802
Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun

Activities are typically cheapest in July (around USD 106), roughly 87% below February’s peak prices; July also aligns with the quieter demand shown above, so you may find both lower prices and fewer crowds. Based on Klook booking data, July 2025 – June 2026.

How far ahead should you book?

Plan ahead so you don’t miss out

4 daysLast-minute
14 daysTypical
31 daysEarly

Most travellers book around 14 days ahead, with many last‑minute bookings about 4 days out and early planners booking ~31 days ahead — this flexibility helps, but during January’s peak book earlier. Based on Klook booking data, February 2026 – July 2026.

Quick facts about Mackay

General info
  • Time zone

    No time difference

  • Currency

    1RON = 0.31AUD

  • Official languages

  • Best time to visit

    Dry season offers sunny days and ideal beach conditions.

  • Recommended trip duration

What to know before visiting Mackay

Quick snapshot of Mackay’s visitor rhythm

Mackay’s busiest bookings on Klook are for Cruises, Tours and Water activities, and demand swings sharply through the year. Activity bookings peak in January and dip around March and July, so the city alternates between crowded peak windows and much quieter months.

Best months to visit and how prices behave

Klook data shows January as the peak month for bookings, with demand much higher, while March and July sit near the low points for visitor numbers. Prices on Klook trend independently at times: they hit historic lows in July, rise through late winter and spring, and reach their priciest point in February. For lower prices and smaller crowds, consider travel in July or other trough months; for a peak-season atmosphere and the busiest activity choices, aim for January.

Tips for travellers from the United States

Most travellers from the United States book about two weeks ahead on average, with many locking in plans up to a month early and some last-minute bookings about four days out. If you prefer flexibility, shorter stays and spontaneous plans work because many experiences are available close to travel dates; if you’re traveling in January’s high season, plan and secure popular cruises and tours earlier on Klook to avoid limited availability.

FAQs about Mackay

When is the best time to visit Mackay?

When is the cheapest time to visit Mackay?

How far ahead should I book activities in Mackay?

How much do activities in Mackay typically cost?

What is Mackay best known for on Klook?