Need recommendations for good coffee spots around town.

Not Jamaica Blue please, the coffee is good there but I hate waiting for 30 mins just for a cup of coffee.

Hi! I recently moved to Mackay and am not Australian, but was told I should try a few different things and go a few different places for good views, etc. I was hoping some of you all could recommend some places to go, where to find certain things/who does it best in town, etc.

Here’s what I’m looking for!

1. I was told I should try a vanilla slice, which is apparently not a slice of vanilla cake lol. Where can I find a good vanilla slice in Mackay?

2. Are the weekend markets good? Would love more info on these, if possible!

3. Why are there so many roundabouts here oh my god. This one isn’t a question, just an observation.

4. Good cafes? I like matcha more than coffee. If coffee, ideally somewhere with dairy alternatives (lack toast and intolerant 😔)

5. I was told I could see whales migrating in some places! Any places that I should check out that you’ve had luck before? What is a good time of day for this?

6. Where can I find a Dr. Pepper around here 🫩 this is probably a dead giveaway on where I’m from but, I’m down bad for a visit to the doctor.

7. Any good places to go to make friends? What do people do around here for fun? I’m mid-twenties and have genuinely no friends here at all.

8. Best beach? Not necessarily for getting in the water. I went to Blacks Beach two days ago and it was, and I cannot stress this enough, quite underwhelming. Certainly there’s better ones?!

9. Any general recs on places to check out in Mackay is very much welcomed! Or, if there’s any classic Australian things I need to do or try that I can do in Mackay, I’d love to hear those too!

just wanted to drop a quick post to appreciate some good old-fashioned local service.

had a massive pipe burst in the garage around midnight, water spraying absolutely everywhere and i couldn't get the main valve to budge. total panic mode. ended up calling a few places expecting to get ghosted or charged an absolute fortune just for a midnight callout.

finally got onto a bloke who was a total lifesaver. came out within like half an hour, sorted the pipe, and was actually a really decent, honest guy about the whole thing. didn't try to rip me off just because it was after hours.

honestly, finding a reliable emergency plumber around mackay who doesn't charge like a wounded bull the second it's dark is pretty rare these days. keeping that number on the fridge for sure.

hope everyone else managed to stay dry last night with that weird weather!

We’re moving to Mackay in October and ideally looking to enrol our kids in a P-12 school. MCC looks alright but the more we read about it, the more highly religious it seems. My wife was raised Christian and I’m non-practicing Jewish. I’m not against the kids learning Christian values but it sounds like MCC are pretty hardcore. ‘The bible is the infallible word of God’ etc. Any thoughts or recommendations?

Comments about applying to Christian schools whilst not being religious really aren’t helpful - we’re just trying to find the best fit for our kids without having religion take the place of a proper education, nor impeding them from learning a holistic view of the world

https://preview.redd.it/fm3uxkasrbah1.png?width=1080&format=png&auto=webp&s=8e284c1a0ce6adc79793f6fb7c8c5393987bcb4e

ABC Tropical North

Can you afford an extra $5.26 a week in council rates?

Mackay residential rates will increase by 7.16% - one of the steepest rises announced by a Queensland council for 2026-27.

Council’s $514 million budget was passed, with councillors Ash-Lee Johnson, Peter Sheedy and Nathanea MacRae opposing.

The budget has a forecast surplus of $1.67 million and allocates $127 million for capital projects.

Mayor Greg Williamson said the budget was “no frills” and described the rate rise as responsible, with no reduction in services despite rapidly escalating costs.

Concessions for pensioners and eligible groups are unchanged.

Cr Williamson said the budget reflected the same cost-of-living pressures being felt by households across the region.

“We know families are tightening their belts right now and council is doing the same,” Cr Williamson said

Yes I know a broad questions as I’m looking at changing from Telstra but my concerns are coverage around the Mackay Region. Has anyone changed from Telstra to a wholesale network providers(aldi etc)?
What was your experience like?

I’m moving to Mackay late next week and curious what the job market looks like for hospitality jobs (restaurants/cafes/etc) - does it feel like fighting a losing battle when looking for jobs?

Also, how do people make friends in Mackay? Asking as a mid-20s girl who has 0 connections in Mackay.

Really anything I should know about the area, places to go, restaurants to try (although based off other posts, apparently there aren’t many good ones), etc. would all be welcomed!