Sarina, Cape Palmerston and Clairview

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!

Time to cool off under the shade of a palm tree, sink your toes in the sand and dive into the ocean. In Sarina, the first decision on beach day is which beach to start with.

Sarina Beach

Golden sands and calm waters on one side, an esplanade with barbeque facilities and restaurants on the other. This is an easy beach to love. Just ask the turtles that continue to return to lay their eggs each year.

Grasstree Beach

This shallow bay of inviting water is fringed by sweeping trees, giving it a postcard effect. The end of the bay wraps around the point, making for interesting beachcombing.

Salonika Beach

There’s plenty to see at Salonika Beach with two kilometres of sand and views of Victor Island beyond. Float on your back in the ocean and cast your eyes skywards in search of the black cockatoos and sea eagles that call this beach home. The adjoining Lake Barfield is a thriving bird sanctuary and great place to watch the elegant dance of black swans, white herons and egrets.

Campwin Beach

You’d be forgiven for thinking Campwin Beach is actually Sarina Beach. The two beaches share the same stretch of coast, however Leeper Reef and the rock flats separate them at low tide. Campwin is a great spot for fishing or searching for oysters and mussels in the rocks.

Armstrong Beach

Another popular swimming beach, Armstrong Beach sits on a stretch of coastline that includes Freshwater Point. It was named by Captain Cook when he came to shore on his 1770 expedition in search of fresh water.

Cape Palmerston

Dust the sand off your feet and drive 40 minutes south to Cape Palmerston to discover a stretch of coastline that remains seemingly unchanged since Captain Cook sailed pass in 1770. Cape Palmerston celebrates its untouched rugged beauty with nature-based campsites, boat ramps and a celebrated National Park. If you’re keen to hammer in some tent pegs or bring the caravan, we recommend campsites at Cape Creek, Clarke Bay and Windmill Bay. Explore the surrounding landscape of the Windmill Bay campsite to find traces of Aboriginal inhabitants of the past or the hidden bush windmill which inspired the Bay’s name. Four wheel drive enthusiasts will love driving along the beach at Clarke Bay or heading into Cape Palmerston National Park. The park is an adventure with tidal changes that can be tricky. Make sure to check tide times so you don’t get caught. Once in the massive 7,200ha park, there is plenty to explore with windswept headlands, rainforest, swamp, sand dunes and beaches comprising ecosystems that thrive in their environment.

Climb the 344 metre high Mount Funnel and be rewarded with views towards Northumberland Islands. Or bring along your boat and use the park’s ramp to access sheltered offshore fishing locations.

Clairview

Clairview is a 45-minute drive from Cape Palmerston or 123 kilometres south of Mackay. As you drive in, you’ll feel the laid-back, natural warmth of this rustic beachside community. Capture that feeling of paradise as you walk along soft golden sands, sit under the palm trees to read or build sandcastles while you watch the fishermen casting lines into the ocean. If you can’t pull yourself away from Clairview’s coastline, take advantage of beachfront campsites that will have you waking up to the sun rising over the ocean, as rainbow lorikeets sing their good mornings in the trees.

So untouched in its beauty, Clairview attracts many turtles that can be seen surfacing for air or laying eggs on the beach during season. But it was another very unique marine animal that caused authorities to establish an official sanctuary here in 1997. Dugongs are an endangered marine mammal that can grow up to 3.5m in length and weigh up to a whopping 230kg. These gentle giants can often be seen using their paddle-like forelimbs and broad flat tail to forage for sea grass and surface for breath. For the best chance of spotting dugongs, grab a kayak, paddle out and have the camera ready. Retire the kayak, spread out a picnic blanket and relive the old-fashioned fun of childhood beach holidays. Clairview is a reminder of how joyful the simple life can really be.

PIONEER VALLEY, FINCH HATTON AND EUNGELLA (VIA MIRANI)

On this itinerary, the journey is just as memorable as the destination. Welcome to the home of picturesque drives, clear waterfalls, operatic heritage and famous pies.