1 - T1 - Saltwater
2 - T2 - Crystalbrook Cairns
3 - T3 - Darwin
3 - T3 - Darwin

Why Mackay: A must-see destination to complement your event

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The Mackay region of Queensland continues to punch well above its weight in the highly competitive Australian business events marketplace, offering generous local support and delivering impressive off-site venue locations.

Produced in partnership with the Mackay Entertainment and Convention Centre

The wide-open spaces and places on offer have never been more appealing.

The high instance of repeat clients provides a clear indication that conference planners are delighted to discover a convention centre of the calibre of the Mackay Entertainment and Convention Centre (MECC), conveniently located midway between Brisbane and Cairns.

Mackay sits on the Queensland coast, between Brisbane and Cairns. This makes it ideal for conferences and events attracting state-wide attendance.

  • As a relaxed, nature-based destination, it encourages inspiration, with limited distractions.
  • An impressive array of affordable, quality accommodation, a purpose-built convention centre, hotel conference and meeting facilities, plus unique off-site dining venues tick all the business event decision-making boxes.
  • A population of more than 120,000 ensures ‘big city’ technical, production and professional support services are available.

Looking for some pre or post touring options for your team or delegates? Check these out.

Cape Hillsborough: Share a beach sunrise with the wallabies.

Sarina Sugar Shed: An award-winning local attraction located half an hour south of Mackay. It features Australia’s only miniature sugar mill and distillery specialising in delicious rums and liqueurs, sauces, chutneys and home-made fudge confectionary.

Pioneer Valley and Eungella National Park: The park’s ancient rainforest is one of the best places in the world to see the remarkable and very shy platypus in the wild. It is just one hour’s drive from the Mackay CBD and offers a range of dining and activity options, including the chance to scuba dive with the platypus.

The huge 66,484km2 Mackay region offers diverse destination experiences, complemented by an enviable climate. Average daily temperatures range from just over 22oC in the winter months of June to August, and over 30oC during the summer months of December to February.

Why Mackay: A must-see destination to complement your event
A platypus in Broken River, Mackay | Credit: Tourism and Events Queensland

Supportive funding for business events

The Mackay Regional Council’s Invest Mackay Events and Conference Attraction Programs continue to provide generous support for conferences, offering up to a maximum of $75,000 per event per annum for events which meet the program criteria.

Take a VR tour

The virtual reality tour on the MECC website enables planners to take a sneak-peek at the wide range of venues available at the MECC, ranging from the 1000+ seat auditorium through to plenary halls, meeting rooms and exhibition spaces.

Discover more about the MECC

Why Mackay: A must-see destination to complement your event
The exterior of the Mackay Entertainment and Convention Centre