48 Hours in Cape Hillsborough and the Hibiscus Coast

For a regional city, Mackay has the accessibility of one of Queensland’s majors. In fact, more than 65 flights arrive into the city each week from metropolitan centres.

Travellers more comfortable with four wheels on the ground will find The Hibiscus Coast in the middle of the Queensland coastline, nearly the exact same drive distance from Brisbane or Cairns (about 1,000km).

Regardless of how you get here,, start this itinerary with a lay of the land, or at very least check out the Pioneer River, the Bluewater Lagoon and popular breakfast haunt, 9th Lane Grind.

If you have more time to explore the city, be sure check out these things to see and do and this local’s guide before hitting the road.

11am: Hit the Hibiscus highway

There are 20 sugar cane-filled kilometres between the city centre and your first stop on this itinerary, The Leap.

This drive is undoubtedly one of the most picturesque stretches of the Bruce Highway, with verdant sugar cane country on either side of the bitumen. Towering cane fields somehow manage to make this drive feel more like a rural country drive than a national highway, which is good news for people who prefer the road less travelled.

When you see signs for The Leap Hotel, head east to sate your appetite for good stories and a menu that caters to a chicken-lovers palette. This is a pub turned mini-museum and is the best place to hear how the area got its name.

1pm: Pick up supplies

Following lunch, check out the jewellery and trinkets at That Sapphire Place for the ultimate keepsake souvenir like a pendant necklace, ring or bracelet dripping in precious stones. If you’re not literate in all things gemstones, a quick chat to owners Peter and Josephine will teach you the difference between “sapphires” and “Sapphires”, the latter of which are stocked aplenty at this store.

Before leaving The Leap, pay a visit to organic heaven, The Organic & Natural Store, to pick up supplies to self-cater tonight, which is a must if you choose to stay at Cape Hillsborough Nature Tourist Park. The cabins come with a full kitchen, plus there's BBQs and a camp kitchen, so don’t be shy when picking ingredients.

2pm: Onwards and further north upwards to Cape Hillsborough

Jump back on the highway and put Cape Hillsborough in your sights. 

Accommodation comes in a few forms near Cape Hillsborough National Park, from camping through to cabins. Make Cape Hillsborough Nature Tourist Park your base to afford you the best chance of a sleep-in tomorrow – with mere steps between your campsite/cabin and Casuarina Beach.

4pm: Hike the headland

Cape Hillsborough National Park is the second-largest national park in The Mackay Region at 1012ha (losing out only to Eungella National Park, which you can read about here).

The best way to discover it is one of the four short walks through the park, which take you through dense native bushland and rainforest. Walks range from 1.2 – 5.2kms so you have a choice, depending on your appetite for the great outdoors - but Andrews Point Track is one of the most popular. Keep your eyes peeled for the 140 birds, 22 mammals and 500 plant species that make this national park such a diverse ecosystem and popular with researchers all over the world.

If you've still got gas left in your tank after the walk, consider staying out a little longer. It takes just 40 minutes to walk from the Cape Hillsborough Nature Tourist Park to the last bay, Hidden Valley – where you’re promised a secluded sunset, with an amber glow that makes the sand glisten like someone spilt a bag of gold glitter all over the beach.

Every now and then you’ll see a flash of bright blue dotted against the golden sands – from the wings of Ulysses butterflies who add a pop of colour to this rugged setting.

7pm: Cook up a storm

With self-catered dinner waiting for you back at your cabin or campsite, spend your evening enjoying the surroundings. Get to bed early, though – the headline act of your 48 hours in Cape Hillsborough only rewards early birds.

Day 2

5:30am: Sunrise with the wallabies

This famous mob of macropods are quickly becoming the most famous animal encounter in Queensland, right here on Casuarina Beach. 

For reasons unknown, the mob of eastern grey and agile wallabies gather on the beach to fossick for seaweed and seed pods that have washed ashore. Mystery aside, you’ll be glad they choose to take their breakfast buffet here.

The wallabies create the perfect silhouette against the rising sun and don’t mind their photo being taken (just don’t get too close because these shy mammals don’t do encore appearances once scared off by tourists going in for the selfie).

Looking for more photogenic spots in Mackay? Check out this post.

9am: Walk to Wedge Island

How would you like to visit the most accessible island of the Great Barrier Reef? The commute time is 15 minutes and you can get there on foot (tides permitting) via sand and rock flats.

Strap on your reef shoes for a day of rock walking and reef exploration with a visit to Wedge Island, which you can see from the national park.

Once you grow weary of spotting crustaceans hiding in rock pools, visit the western side of the island to discover Wedge Beach, with 150m of sand to sunbathe upon. Fishermen would be mad not to bring a line over to the island: the rock fishing is some of Australia’s best.

If you return early to the mainland, walk to the epicentre of the ancient volcano which created the landscape here, found at Pinnacle Rock just north of Cape Hillsborough beach. The owners at Cape Hillsborough Nature Tourist Park, Ben and Renae, will be all too happy to help guests find it on a map.

1pm: Take lunch at The Old Station Teahouse

Best known for their four different scone recipes, The Old Station Teahouse Devonshire Tea is what afternoon tea dreams are made of. If it’s a fine day, sit back, relax and take it in the gardens, which have been transformed from the old Marian railway station into Royal-Show worthy lawns.

If you’re looking for something more substantial, their wood-fired pizzas will hit the spot too.

3pm: Tour the coast

Round out your 48 hours in Cape Hillsborough and head 11km north-east to discover a few quaint seaside villages.

The Hibiscus Coast can thank years of volcanic activity for dividing the once endless stretch of beach into secluded beaches and bays. Spend the afternoon driving the loop between Ball Bay Beach, Seaforth and Halliday Bay, which each have their own community by the bay.

Finish your self-guided town tour with a few coldies at the Seaforth Bowls Club, then, with your ions positively charged from natural encounters, make tracks back to Mackay.