Sarina Amongst the foothills of the Connors Range you’ll find Sarina, a town of sweet country hospitality just 30 minutes’ drive south of Mackay. The Field of Dreams Parkland is the perfect place to start your exploration. Here you’ll find the Visitor Information Centre housed in the old Sarina Court House. Imagine how many stories these walls have heard since they were built in 1906. In the same parkland you’ll also find the Sarina Tourist Art and Craft Centre. Pick out a hand-crafted souvenir of your trip. The kids will love the hand-made wooden toys. The phrase, ‘They don’t make them like they used to,’ comes to mind. A short walk will find you stepping back in time at the Sarina Historical Centre or contemplating brushstrokes at the Yukan Art Gallery. The next stop is sweet indeed and, again, a short walk away. The Sarina Sugar Shed is Australia’s only miniature sugar mill and distillery. Take in displays of how the sugar process works or join the tour and taste some of the team’s award-winning products. Whether you just choose to visit one of the above attractions or all, there is plenty to do and see at the Field of Dreams Parklands. You’ll know you’ve reached the centre of town when you meet Buffy. The giant cane toad statue pays homage to the animal that was introduced to help protect surrounding sugarcane fields from the sugarcane bug, only to become a pest itself. If fairy floss at the Sugar Shed isn’t enough to satisfy the hunger cravings, stop in at Third Ground Coffee House, a boutique café, community garden, homesteading school and community marketplace right in the heart of town. If you’re interested in the region’s mining sector, head to Dalrymple Bay Coal Terminal at Hay Point. Follow the interpretive signage and see the impressive 3.8km jetty - one of the largest in the world!
Short Drives Mackay
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