I am able to spend one week on the Queensland Coast between May and August, arriving and departing from Mackay (not changeable). I would appreciate any suggestions on how this time might best be spent, principally from the standpoints of (beach/reef) walking and sightseeing. In particular, please share any experience on how to manage car hire issues when travelling to the Whitsundays and island-hopping once there.<BR><BR>Thanks<BR><BR>Paul

G'day Mr Worthington. <BR>I am not quite sure what you mean about "managing hire car when Island hopping" but presume that you mean you don't know what to do with the car while you are island hopping??? <BR>Must you have a car when you arrive in Mackay? If not then get the train to Prosepine and catch one of the buses out to Airlie Beach OR get a cab out to Airlie. You would not need a car there at all at any rate but if you had to have a car then you could probably negotiate something with one of the local mechanic's garage or alternatively at the little airstrip at Airlie Beach. So before I can go on with this perhaps you can clarify the situation a bit.

Thank you for responding. I didn't give enough information. I always think people head out to islands without taking the time to see the mainland. Tentatively, I plan to take a couple of days from Mackay seeing the mainland to the north as far as a stepping off point for the Whitsundays, then allow say three days on the islands which might include a boat trip out to the reef (but I am nor a diver)then return to Mackay by road. My key question concerned the best and most cost-effective way of keeping mobile&gt; I love trains but it probably wouldn't work here. Any further thoughts gratefully received. Thanks

The drive from Mackay to Airlie beach is only about 1 hour so I was thinking more of the cost of renting a car for that short trip. Aside from Eungulla Gorge which you could do from Mackay there is nothing but cane fields until you get to Airlie. It would be a shame then to leave a car ( which you would not have a need for) for the time you are on the islands.

There are plenty of hire cars available at Airlie Beach. But as the previous<BR>entry said there is nothing but cane fields back to Mackie. You can do a lot of Island visits out o Airlie Beach.

There is security parking at the ferry terminal for people departing for the Whitsunday islands. You should also check at the tourist office for stand-by rates as you can get some good bargains.