Mackay and Eungulla National Park - See a platypus in the wild!

Just before reaching Mackay make sure to visit Nebo township where you can eat at the Historic Nebo Hotel. Don't forget to visit the Nebo museum for $4/person which showcases early pioneering and farm life in the region and showcases a broad range of items on display from these earlier eras. Really interesting place to visit!

We stopped in the Mackay area for a total of 3 nights - all 3 nights free accommodation (once again thanks to Wikicamps and our Prado set-up). Mackay area has a lot of sugar cane crops - nearly everywhere you look you'll see cane!

It is located on the coast which means there are several beaches really accessible, and also has quite a lot of greenery and hills around, as well as the Eungulla National Park. Our camp spots were amongst cane fields during our time in Mackay and 1 of the spots was right next to a railway line so we got to watch a cane train in action fist hand.

Make sure to check out the numerous beaches that fringe Mackay! We did a beach hop the day before leaving. (I'll have to forgive the Magpie for tainting my walk along the harbour foreshore -It's officially Mapgie swopping season in Australia. Peak season runs between Sep-Oct, so make sure you're alert and wearing protective items like sunnies and a hat outdoors during these months.

Eungulla (pronounced 'Yung-gulla') National Park

We really wanted to go to Eungulla N.P as it is one of the few places you can see a platypus in the wild! The park offers more than just platypus viewing though; you can walk amongst the rainforest, visit a stylish art gallery, take a dip in one of many waterfall pools and enjoy a meal at one of many eateries. We did a bit of each of these things and have a compiled a list of our top 6 Eungulla N.P must-dos:

1. Visit Broken River and watch patiently for a platypus. Make sure to walk upstream a little further than the lookout point - that's where we managed to find our own private viewing area away from the crowds.

2. Drink some local cider, wine, or beer while you go on a locally-run tour around the Ceder art gallery. For $15/person you get a tour of the gallery, a beverage (or two), and a cheese board to share (between 2)! Learn about local art and artists (using several different mediums) and admire the timber art on view (and on sale). The gallery building itself is worth a visit (it is a 5-year work of art) and the land on which the gallery is on is breathtaking.

3. Stop for lunch at The historic Eungella Chalet for a lunch with a view.

4. Visit Finch Hatton Gorge and walk through rainforest landscapes to waterfalls and swimming holes. The main track is 3km (one way) if you go to both waterfall pools. The first pool, Araluen Pool, is 1.6 km in, and the second, Wheel of Fire pool, is a further 1.4 km. It is definitely worth walking the further 1.4km to reach the Wheel of Fire pools; these pools are quieter and you feel like you are truly in the middle of nowhere. The cascading falls are also pretty cool from this pool (but don't try climbing them). The 1.4 km walk to Wheel of Fire follows the gorge upstream so its a beautiful, scenic walk the whole way!

5. Go for a walk (super short!) around the Skywindow circuit where you can look down on the windy road you drove up and admire the view over the valley from the lookout.

6. Visit Cape Hillsborough about an hour north of Mackay to see Kangaroos on the beach. Not only can you spot roos on the beach (visit at sunrise or sunset to see these guys), but its also a really gorgeous bay surrounded by green hills and lush foliage along its shores.