Sarina Beach
Beach Information
Beach Information
- 🏖️ Best Time to Visit: May to October for mild, dry weather.
- 🐠 Marine Stingers: Present November–May; no stinger nets.
- 🚩 Lifeguard Patrol: Patrolled seasonally with limited patrol coverage (weekends/holidays) Sept–May.
- 🐕 Dog Friendly: Yes (see Dog-Friendly Rules below)
- 🛠️ Facilities: Picnic areas, BBQs, parking, amenities.
- ♿ Accessibility: Good wheelchair access to foreshore.
- 🐊 Wildlife Awareness: Crocodiles possible in nearby waterways/estuaries. Be Crocwise. Deadly snakes extremely rare.
- 📍 Distance to Brisbane: Approx. 940–970 km (about 11–12 hours drive).
- 🏘️ Closest Town: Sarina — Distance: 10 km
- ✈️ Closest Airport: Mackay Airport — Distance: 37 km
- 🌦️ Typical Weather: Tropical; hot, humid summers, warm dry winters.
For the latest official beach conditions and safety information, check Beachsafe.
Sarina Beach Mackay sits about 36 km south of the city and 10 km east of Sarina township, with seasonal flags at Sarina SLSC, Owen Jenkins Drive Park on the foreshore, Sarina Beach fishing off the sand and rocks, and Sarina Beach turtles nesting on the dunes in the warmer months.
🏝️Why Visit Sarina Beach?
Sarina Beach Mackay is the quieter patrolled stretch about 36 km south of the city, with Owen Jenkins Drive Park on the foreshore, Sarina Beach fishing from the sand and northern rocks, and Sarina Beach turtles nesting on the dunes in the warmer months. Use it for a family park day, a line in the water, and a short add-on to Sarina township.
🏖️Things to Do at Sarina Beach
🏊 Swimming — Seasonal flags at Sarina SLSC. Best inside the flags, not on a dropping low tide
🎣 Sarina Beach fishing — Sand gutters plus the northern rocks toward Campwin
🚶 Beach walks — About 1.3 km of sand, then the rocks of Perpetua Point
🐢 Sarina Beach turtles — Tracks and nests on the dunes in the warmer months. Do not touch
📸 Photos — East-facing sunrise, Perpetua Point and the wide low-tide flat
🧺 Park day — Shade, BBQs and playground at Owen Jenkins Drive Park
🎣 Sarina Beach Fishing
🎣 From the sand — Work the gutters and bars on the outgoing tide for whiting, bream and dart
🪨 Northern rocks — Popular land-based edge toward Campwin. Watch slippery rock and the tide
🚤 If you launch — Nearest ramps are Campwin, Grasstree and Freshwater Point, not on this bathing beach
⚖️ Rules — Size and bag limits apply. Beachsafe lists no removing shellfish
⚠️ Safety — Huge tide range. Do not turn your back on a rising tide around the rocks
🐢Sarina Beach Turtles
🌙 Nesting window — Warmer months, typically October to January, with hatchlings running into March
🚫 Stay off the dunes at night — Nesting turtles use this dune line
🔦 No white light on the sand — Phones and torches send hatchlings the wrong way
🐕 Dogs on-leash and off the nests — No digging, no chasing
👀 Watch only — Do not touch turtles or hatchlings. This is not a ticketed Mon Repos-style tour
🌳Owen Jenkins Drive Park
🛝 Playground — Main family lawn behind the southern sand
🍖 BBQs and shelters — Picnic tables, shade and free barbecues
🚻 Toilets and showers — Public amenities on the park
🅿️ Main parking — Formal bays and coach parking for the beach day
🚶 Beach access — Short walk from the park to the flags and SLSC end
🚫 Lookout is separate — Perpetua Point / Captain Blackwood Drive Reserve sits on the southern headland
🏊♂️ Sarina Beach Swimming & Safety
🚩 Seasonal patrol — Sarina SLSC weekends and public holidays September to May, 9am to 5pm. ALSQ school holidays 8am to 5pm.
📏 Beachsafe — About 1.3 km, hazard 2/10
🌊 Huge tide — Range up to about 8 m. Low tide leaves a 200 to 300 m flat
⚠️ Northern rocks and sandbars — Intertidal rock flats toward Campwin
🪼 Stinger season — November to May. No nets. Full suit if you swim
🐊 Crocodiles — Listed on Beachsafe. Stay alert at creeks and at dawn or dusk
🐕 Dog Friendly Sarina Beach
🦮 On-leash only — Sarina Beach sand, paths and Owen Jenkins Drive Park
🚫 Not an off-leash beach — Signed off-leash sand is the southern end of Campwin Beach, 5am to 8am and 5pm to 8pm
🌳 Town dog park — Fenced Apex Park, Sichter Street, Sarina
🗑️ Pick up — Mackay Regional Council rules apply
🏕️ Camping Near Sarina Beach
🚫 No free sand camping — Beachsafe lists camping prohibited on this beach
🏨 On the esplanade — Sarina Beach Motel and other rooms on Owen Jenkins Drive
🚐 Town parks — Sarina Palms Caravan Village and Tropicana in Sarina township, about 10 km west
🏖️ Nearby beach parks — Armstrong Beach is the next paid beach-side option south
🛠️ Facilities at Sarina Beach
🅿️ Parking — Owen Jenkins Drive Park, the esplanade and beside Sarina SLSC
🍖 BBQs, shade and playground — All at Owen Jenkins Drive Park
🚻 Toilets, showers and change rooms — On the park
⛽ Sarina Beach Store — Fuel, groceries and takeaway at 2 Sarina Coast Road
🍽️ The Palms — Licensed restaurant and bar at Sarina Beach Motel, Owen Jenkins Drive
🌤️Best Time to Visit
🎣 May to October — Drier weather for walks and Sarina Beach fishing
🐢 October to March — Nesting and hatchling window for Sarina Beach turtles. Stay off the dunes at night
🪼 November to May — Stinger season. Flags only on rostered days
🏊 Swim window — Inside the flags on patrol days, not on a big low tide
🗺️ Getting There and Parking
🚗 Drive — About 36 km south of Mackay via the Bruce Highway and Sarina Beach Road. Sealed all the way
🅿️ Park at Owen Jenkins Drive Park — Toilets, BBQs, playground and the main beach access
🅿️ SLSC end — Extra parks beside Sarina SLSC and toward Perpetua Point
🚌 No regular bus to the sand — Self-drive
🚫 No 4WD — Sealed suburban access only
🚫 No beach camping — No overnight vehicles on the sand
💡 Local Tips
🌳 Start at Owen Jenkins Drive Park — That is the toilets, shade and playground base
🎣 Fish the northern rocks on a making tide — Then walk back before the flat floods
🐢 If you see tracks at dawn — Photograph from the path. Do not follow them up the dune
🍽️ Eat at The Palms or the Store — Ocean-view meals at the motel, fuel and takeaway at Sarina Beach Store
🚶 Perpetua Point — Short headland walk south of the SLSC for the wider view
📍Nearby Attractions
🏖️ Campwin Beach — Next sand north. Off-leash at the southern end only, time restricted
🏖️ Grasstree Beach — Short drive north with a lookout
🏖️ Armstrong Beach and Freshwater Point — Next beaches south
🏭 Sarina Sugar Shed and Field of Dreams — In Sarina township
🐦 Lake Barfield — Birdwatching near Salonika Beach
📅 Events & Markets Nearby
🥥 Sarina Beach Coconut Festival — Local beach-community event when it runs. Confirm dates
🛍️ Mackay Riverside Markets — Thursdays
🌿 Greater Whitsunday Farmers Market — Wednesdays
🍯 Mackay Showgrounds Markets — Most Saturdays
For a full list of what’s on in the region, visit the
👉 Mackay Attractions | Best Things to Do Near Mackay Beaches
🏕️Accommodation
🏨 Sarina Beach Motel — Beachfront on Owen Jenkins Drive with The Palms and a pool
🏡 Holiday houses — Esplanade and Owen Jenkins Drive rentals
🚐 Sarina Palms and Tropicana — Paid parks in Sarina town
🚫 No camping on this sand
📖 Read Accommodation Reviews
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💡 Please note: Full names and emails are kept private — only your chosen Display Name will appear publicly with your review.
🍴 Places to Eat & Drink
🍽️ The Palms — Licensed beach bar and restaurant at Sarina Beach Motel, Owen Jenkins Drive. Breakfast, lunch and dinner. Confirm hours
🍟 Sarina Beach Store — Fuel, groceries and takeaway at 2 Sarina Coast Road
🍺 Sarina SLSC — Club at the southern end. Check member and visitor meal times before you go
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💡 Please note: Full names and emails are kept private — only your chosen Display Name will appear publicly with your review.
🧭Plan Your Trip
Park at Owen Jenkins Drive Park, swim only when the flags are up, then walk north for Sarina Beach fishing or south to Perpetua Point. From October to March treat the dune line as a Sarina Beach turtles zone after dark. Campwin is the off-leash sibling, not this beach. No 4WD and no free camping on the sand.
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📸 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:
Bucasia Beach ➜ | Eimeo Beach ➜ | Blacks Beach ➜ | Lamberts 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.
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Last updated: June 2026
Sarina Beach FAQs
Is the beach patrolled?
Seasonally. Sarina SLSC covers weekends and public holidays from September to May, 9am to 5pm. ALSQ covers school holidays, 8am to 5pm. Check Beachsafe on the day. Beachsafe lists it 1.3 km and hazard 2/10.
Is there camping at the beach?
No free or beach camping is permitted on the foreshore. The nearest options are caravan parks in Sarina town (Sarina Palms Caravan Village and Tropicana Caravan Park) plus Armstrong Beach Caravan Park a short drive south. Private farm stays are also available in the wider Sarina area.
When are marine stingers present?
Tropical marine stingers (including box jellyfish and Irukandji) can occur from November to May. Bluebottles are possible year-round. Wear a stinger suit in season and swim only in patrolled areas when available.
Can you see turtles at Sarina Beach?
Yes. Flatback and other marine turtles nest along this coastline. Nesting activity is typically November to February, with hatchlings emerging later. Look for tracks in the dunes early morning and never disturb nesting turtles or hatchlings.
How do you get to Sarina Beach?
From the Bruce Highway take the Sarina exit, then follow Sarina Beach Road / Owen Jenkins Drive (sealed, approximately 10 km). It is about 36 km (30–40 minutes) south of Mackay and well signed.
Is Sarina Beach fishing any good?
Yes. Land-based fishing from the sand and the northern rocks is a main reason people come. Target the bars and rock edges. Nearby ramps at Campwin, Grasstree and Freshwater Point if you launch.
Where do I park?
Owen Jenkins Drive Park at the southern foreshore for toilets, BBQs, playground and beach access. Extra parks along the esplanade toward Sarina SLSC and Perpetua Point.