Pacific Coast Touring Route - Bundaberg to Mackay
From Bundaberg to Mackay

Trip Length: 3 days  Total Distance: 656 km  Road Conditions: All sealed roads
Bundaberg			Gladstone			Rockhampton			Mackay

From Bundaberg, home of the famous bear and his Bundy Rum, through Gladstone and Rockhampton, to the tropical city of Mackay, the Pacific Coast Touring Route is a drive filled with unique opportunities and exciting adventures.

As part of the nation's Highway One, you'll journey to the World Heritage Listed Great Barrier Reef - the largest living structure on earth - and its array of colourful aquatic life and islands. Become mesmerised watching vibrant reef fish swim amongst multi-coloured coral.

Soak in the ambience of the islands scattered offshore. There is an activity to suit all from snorkelling and diving to coffee cruises. Maybe just sit on the beach and watch the sunset over the mainland then hundreds of stars fill the balmy night sky with the scent of the tropics heavy in the air. Onshore numerous beaches and picturesque bays framed by rocky headlands provide isolated locations to unwind - this is life!

Visit the numerous natural and manmade wonders of this drive; Mt Etna Caves, Eungella National Park, Lady Musgrave Island, the extensive tropical plant collection at Rockhampton's Botanic Gardens are just a few. Inspect the modern industrial city of Gladstone - a city so clean and green it's hard to comprehend the extent of the big business going on here - for confirmation check out the free tours. Get to know the locals - sit up at a bar and chat with cane farmers or maybe hear tales from fishermen who ply the legendary Swain Reef.

Watch whales breaching as they migrate along the coastline, sit in awe as turtles struggle up white sandy beaches to lay their eggs in protected rookeries. Surround yourself in cool rainforests; wander trails and tracks through marvellous conservation and national parks.

This 656 kilometre section of the fully sealed Pacific Coast Touring Route crosses the Tropic of Capricorn with the National Heritage Walking Trail criss-crossing the route. The climate is sub tropical to tropical and as the route takes you further north the need for winter woollies will soon be forgotten.

It's hard to imagine there could be any nasties on such an idyllic route however marine 'stingers' such as the box jelly fish do inhabit the northern warmer waters between November and May. Many beaches have stinger enclosures so you won't miss out on the chance to frolic in the Coral Sea. Grab a copy of the Stinger Awareness Brochure from a Tourist Information.

Listed as one of Queensland's 'must do' drives, the diversity of attractions is so remarkable you may need to add a day or two to your original itinerary. Don't forget your camera, sunscreen and hat and check out some of the coastal and hinterland communities along the way - there are some wonderful hidden secrets among them.