Blacks Beach Mackay is the region’s longest northern strip, about 6 km of sand 15 minutes north of town. Come for Blacks Beach camping at the beachfront holiday park, Blacks Beach fishing toward McCreadys Creek, and Blacks Beach parking off Coral Drive and Bourke Street. Dogs stay on-leash. There is no free sand camping and no beach 4WD.

🏝️Why Visit Blacks Beach Mackay?

Blacks Beach Mackay is the region’s longest strip, about 6 km of sand 15 minutes north of town. Come for Blacks Beach camping at the beachfront holiday park, Blacks Beach fishing toward McCreadys Creek, and Blacks Beach parking at Bourke Street, Pacific Drive and Coral Drive. Dogs stay on-leash. There is no free sand camping and no beach 4WD.

👙Things to Do at Blacks Beach

🎣 Fishing — Bream, whiting and flathead off the sand. Best mark is McCreadys Creek. Full details below.
🚶 Beach walks — Firm low-tide sand for a long out-and-back.
🌅 Sunrise — East-facing Coral Sea light along the full strip.
🧺 Picnics and BBQs — Foreshore parks with free electric BBQs.
🏊 Swim with caution — Unpatrolled. No net. Full rules below.

🎣Blacks Beach Fishing

🎣 Blacks Beach fishing — Cast off the sand for bream, whiting and flathead.
📍 McCreadys Creek — Southern end. The local mark. Incoming and outgoing tide.
🦐 Bait — Yabbies, prawns and worms. Keep a licence current.
🐊 Crocwise — Fish the creek mouth from the sand. Do not wade the creek at dawn, dusk or night.

🏊‍♀️Swimming at Blacks Beach

🌊 Unpatrolled — No flags. No stinger net. No daily lifeguard.
🪼 Stingers — November to May. Wear a suit if you enter the water.
🐊 Crocwise — McCreadys Creek and the waterline at dawn, dusk and night.
🚩 If you swim — Stay in clear, shallow water on a calm day. Get out if the water looks off.

🐕 Dog Friendly Blacks Beach

🐕 On-leash only — Sand, paths and parks.
🚫 Not off-leash — No declared off-leash zone on this beach.
📍 Off-leash nearby — Bucasia Beach, Williams Avenue to Symons Avenue, 5am to 8am and 5pm to 8pm only.
🚫 Holiday park — BIG4 Mackay Blacks Beach Holiday Park does not take pets.

🏕️ Blacks Beach Camping

🏕️ Blacks Beach camping — BIG4 Mackay Blacks Beach Holiday Park on the foreshore. Powered sites, cabins, safari tent, pool, splash pad and camp kitchen.
🚫 No free sand camping
🚫 No pets in the park
🚿 Stay amenities — Toilets, showers, laundry and dump point are inside the park, not as free beach camping.

🛠️Facilities

🅿️ Blacks Beach parking — Free bays at Bourke Street, Pacific Drive, Coral Drive and near Blacks Beach Tavern.
🚽 Toilets and picnic lawns — Foreshore parks.
🍳 Electric BBQs — Free.
♿ Access — Limited wheelchair access to the foreshore.
🚫 No patrol, no net, no 4WD

🗺️ Blacks Beach Parking and Getting There

🚗 Drive — 15 minutes north of Mackay on Mackay–Bucasia Road. Turn in at Bourke Street, Pacific Drive or Coral Drive. Sealed the whole way. |
🚌 Bus — Mackay Northern Beaches buses. Check Translink for the current Blacks Beach and Bucasia stops.
🅿️ Blacks Beach parking — Free at Bourke Street, Pacific Drive, Coral Drive and the tavern. Read the signs.
🚗 No 4WD — Zero beach driving.
⛺ No free sand camping
💡 Check before you go — Mackay Regional Council for parking. Translink for buses.

💡 Local Tips

🌴 Longest Mackay strip — About 6 km. Walk it at low tide.
🎣 Fish south — McCreadys Creek beats a random mid-beach cast.
☕ Eat at the tavern — Blacks Beach Tavern is the local room. Eimeo Pacific Hotel is the next beach north.
🐊 Creek mouth is not a swim
🐕 Leash on this sand — Drive to Bucasia if you need the timed off-leash window.
🦘 Early mornings often bring kangaroos onto the beach, and turtles occasionally nest along the northern dunes during breeding season.

📍Nearby Attractions

🔭 Slade Point Lookout (5 km): Panoramic ocean views and seasonal whale watching
🏙️ Mackay City & Marina (10–12 km): Shopping, dining and departure point for Great Barrier Reef tours
🦘 Cape Hillsborough (40 km): Famous for wallabies and kangaroos on the beach at sunrise
🐠 Great Barrier Reef Tours: Day trips and reef experiences depart from Mackay Marina

📅 Events & Markets Nearby

🛍️ Mackay city markets — Riverside, showgrounds and farmers markets run in town. Check Mackay Regional Council for the live day.
🎭 Mackay Festival of Arts — July in the city.
💡 Confirm dates — Markets skip weeks. Check before you drive.

For a full list of what’s on in the region, visit the
👉 Mackay Attractions | Best Things to Do Near Mackay Beaches

🏕️Accommodation Near Blacks Beach

🏕️ Holiday park — BIG4 Mackay Blacks Beach Holiday Park. The beachfront stay. No pets.
🏡 Holiday houses — Streets behind the sand.
🏨 Mackay motels — 15 minutes south if the park is full.

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🍴 Places to Eat & Drink

Blacks Beach offers a relaxed coastal atmosphere with a selection of local cafés, pubs, and restaurants nearby in the northern beaches area of Mackay. Enjoy breakfast with sea views, fish and chips by the water, or sunset drinks at a local bar — then share your favourite food and drink experiences below!

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🧭Plan Your Trip

Blacks Beach combines natural beauty with convenience, making it a versatile destination for families, dog owners, and nature lovers. Whether you’re fishing at dawn, enjoying a picnic with ocean views, or strolling along kilometres of golden sand, it offers a truly tropical Queensland escape just minutes from Mackay.

💬 Share Your Blacks Beach Photos & Reviews

📸 We’d love to see your favourite moments from the Mackay Region! Upload your photos, share your experiences, and leave a review to help other visitors discover the pristine coastline, tropical islands, and hidden gems that make Mackay so special.

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💙 Explore More Beaches Nearby

Discover more of the Mackay Region:
Eimeo Beach ➜ | Bucasia Beach ➜ | Shoal Point ➜ | Harbour Beach ➜

🌊 About This Beach Directory

🌴 Note: This directory doesn’t include every beach in Queensland — there are simply too many! We’ve selected the most significant and unique beaches based on a range of factors including natural beauty, accessibility, and local popularity.

💌 If you think we’ve missed one that deserves to be featured, we’d love to hear from you!

📧 Email us at Admin@QldBeach.com with your photos and tell us why your favourite beach should be added.

☀️ Happy surfing, swimming and sunning from the Queensland Beach Guide team!

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_{Last updated: June 2026}

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