Page 252 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Australia

250  QUEENSLAND

Many companies at Airlie Beach
on the mainland offer sailing
packages, which include diving
or snorkelling and a night or two
moored on the Great Barrier Reef.

rAyr
* 8,000. £ @ n Plantation Park,
Bruce Hwy (07) 4783 5988.
The busy town of Ayr, at the
heart of the Burdekin River
Delta, is the major sugar cane-
growing area in Australia.
Within the town itself is the
Stunning estuary at Whitehaven Beach, the highlight of the Whitsundays modern Burdekin Cultural
Complex, which includes a 530-
wEungella The second-largest coal-loader seat theatre, a library and an art
National Park in the world is at Hay Point, gallery. Among its art collection
where trains more than 2 km are the renowned “Living Lagoon”
£ Mackay. @ Mackay. n Mackay
(07) 4944 5888. ∑ npsr.qld.gov.au/ (1 mile) long haul coal from sculptures by the contemporary
the western mines for
Australian sculptor Stephen
parks/eungella
shipping overseas. Walker. The Ayr Nature Display
Eungella National Park is consists of an impressive rock
the main wilderness area on the eWhitsunday wall made from 2,600 pieces
central Queensland coast and of North Queensland rock,
encompasses some 50,000 ha Islands intricate pictures made from
(125,000 acres) of the rugged £ Proserpine. @ Airlie Beach. preserved insects and a display
Clarke Ranges. Volcanic rock ~ Hamilton Island; Proserpine. of Australian reptiles, shells,
covered with rainforest and g Port of Airlie, Airlie Beach. fossils and Aboriginal artifacts.
subtropical flora is cut by steep n (07) 4945 3967. In Plantation Park is the Juru
gorges, crystal clear pools and ∑ tourismwhitsundays.com.au walking trail and Gubulla
impressive waterfalls tumbling Munda, a giant snake sculpture
down the mountainside. The Whitsunday Islands 15 m (50 ft) long.
Finch Hatton Gorge is the main are an archipelago of 74 islands,
destination for tourists, where situated within the Great Barrier Environs
indigenous wildlife includes Reef Marine Park, approximately Approximately 55 km (35 miles)
gliders, ring-tailed possums, 1,140 km (700 miles) north of north of Ayr is Alligator Creek,
bandicoots and pademelons (a Brisbane and 640 km (400 miles) which is the access point for
kind of wallaby). Broken River is south of Cairns. These beautiful Bowling Green Bay National
one of the few places in Australia islands and sandy atolls are Park. Here you will find geckos
where platypuses can be spotted among the most stunning and chirping cicadas living
at dusk and dawn. holiday destinations in Australia. alongside each other in this lush
The main access point for Whitehaven Beach on Whitsunday landscape. Within the park are
Eungella is the prosperous sugar Island is recognized as one rock pools, perfect for swimming,
town of Mackay. Somewhat of the world’s best beaches, and plunging waterfalls.
low-key from a tourist point of with 9 km (6 miles) of pure
view, Mackay boasts a balmy white silica sand and
climate by way of the turquoise sea.
surrounding mountains Only a few of the islands
trapping the warm coastal air offer accommodation, including
even in winter. Thirty beautiful Hamilton, Daydream, Hayman,
white sand beaches are lined South Molle and Long, while
with casuarinas. All around the some 66 islands remain
town sugar cane can be seen uninhabited. A wide range
blowing in the wind in the of accommodation is available
many sugar cane fields. including luxury hotels,
The town centre of Mackay hostels, guesthouses and
has a number of historic self-catering apartments.
buildings worth visiting, There are many activities on
including the Commonwealth offer including scuba diving,
Bank and Customs House, both whale watching, seaplane “Living Lagoon” sculpture at the Burdekin
classified by the National Trust. flights and charter sailing. Complex, Ayr
For hotels and restaurants in this area see pp486–8 and pp514–15