Our trip to Australia from the US will primarily be centered around Mackay, QLD and Townsville to visit relatives in August/September 2009. Does anyone have particular suggestions of places to see and things to do? Thanks.

Well, been some robust and more discussion on the gbr previously you are aware of elnap29, viz http://www.fodors.com/community/aust...ons-needed.cfm

Near McKay itself is Eungella NP and Cape Hillsborough just north, a rugged peaceful area with NP/caves - http://www.150mustdos.com.au/must_do..._result_page=4

North of Whitsundays is a peaceful smaller town of Bowen, where some of the recent Nicole Kidman/Hugh Jackman Australia film was shot, then Ayr and Burdekin Valley rich in agriculture, a few more national parks and Townsville having the GBR Marine Park HQ and walk through Aquarium and then Magnetic Island offshore via a ferry service.

If you're going to go as far as Townsville you might as well go as far as Cairns region if you have the time, it only being a few hours extra drive and plenty of places to consider breaking the trip into at least a couple of days.

Mission Beach is south of Townsville - a pretty little village with a lovely beach and a great spot to chill out for a few days. You could also visit nearby Paronella Park - quite unique. Cardwell is a good place to take a boat trip to Hinchinbrook Island.

Marg, am sure you meant to say that Mission Beach is north of Townsville (and south of Cairns). Lovely spot, with access to Dunk Island. Good suggestion about Hinchinbrook Island off Cardwell, shouldn't be missed.

Thanks for all the suggestions. I'm anticipating taking the train from Mackay to Townsville. And we do plan to spend some time on one of the islands. I will check further on Paronella Park, Mission Beach as well as all GBR-related info.
Eungella is on my list to visit. Will be travelling with my elderly mother to visit relatives. Suggestions where to stay overnight at Dunk, Hinchinbrook, Magnetic or others?

I am quite familiar with Mackay and Townsville having visited relatives who live in the area several times over the years.

Mackay is the gateway to Brampton Island, one of the more southerly Whitsunday Islands - a lovely place, definitely worth looking into. Just the one low-key resort, quiet, no roads. There are few hikes more beautiful than the fairly level walk that goes right around Brampton.

Eungella and Cape Hillsborough are good suggestions, the former being a place where platypuses can be seen in the wild.

Agreed, once you get north of Townsville, there are more and more attractions. I like the sugar town of Ingham, where my wife's aunt lives now. I loved having drinks at the Railway Hotel, a classic old fashioned Australian pub. The drive from Ingham inland to Wallaman Falls should not be missed - the highest waterfall in Australia. Excellent playtpus spotting there too. The coastal scenery just north of Ingham is spectacular - with views over rugged Hinchinbrook island.

If you can, I would consider driving yourself as opposed to using public transportation. You'll see a lot more that way.