Mackay Isaac region in top 10% of global fishing, conference destinations

More people are discovering the secrets of a vast region that stretches from the reef to rocky mountains, and they’re singing its praises as a must-do for all intrepid travellers.

The growing number of tourists who are just beginning to explore the incredible diversity of the Mackay and Isaac area are signing the regions’ praises to the world.

The Tourism Sentiment Index – which ranks how people feel about a destination – is being ranked each calendar quarter and the secret that has been Mackay and Isaac for so long is now out there.

The two diverse regions ranked in the top 10 per cent of global destinations for fishing and conference and conventions.

It is a boon for Mackay Isaac Tourism and the region’s operators as the rankings mean those who have explored the area have had positive experiences from January to March this year.

MIT interim CEO Tash Wheeler said the Mackay Isaac region had slowly been gaining its reputation among visitors and travellers from not only across Australia but globally as a popular tourism destination spot because of our natural assets and also first-class convention/event facilities.

“To run an event, convention or conference against a beautiful backdrop like the Mackay Isaac region is a major drawcard for any organiser,” she said.

“Good things come in small packages and the Mackay Isaac region has a lot to offer and showcase.”

The TSI formed the 100 Most Loved Destinations which analyses more than 1.6 billion online conversations and content pieces on about 21,330 destinations.

While snaring enviable rankings for fishing, and conference and conventions, it is the emerging categories of nature photography and snorkelling and diving that expose future opportunities.

Experienced nature photographer Mark Fitz is in love with the diverse landscapes he captures through the lens.

While his is a unique and sometimes bird’s eye view of the sprawling land, from reef to rock face, mountains tops to valley lows and into space, his images powerfully convey what the Mackay region is just beginning to shout to the world.

“I love the amount of diversity we have got here,” he said.

“We’ve got kangaroos, phenomenal reefs – a couple of weeks ago I was out at Cockermouth and the amount of Humpback whales cruising past was incredible – and inland there’s the platypus.

“As a nature photographer, it doesn’t get much better.”

Mr Fitz said it was all within an hour of Mackay which made it unique in the sense the landscape could change so dramatically, and the perfect shot or thing to capture could appear anywhere along the way.

And it steadily became more known as Covid kept people closer to home and excited to explore what was right on their doorstep, and Aussies in their greater backyards.

“They can’t go overseas anymore so they travel domestically and we’re hearing reports of people coming through the region and spending a few days here and they are just blown away by the amazing diversity,” he said.

Mr Fitz has captured the glory of Clermont’s rugged terrain with Bush Heli-Services that has branched out into scenic flights over the region’s spectacular Wolfgang Peak and Lords Table Mountain among others, and is something he believed was helping elevate the area’s tourism allure.

Bush Heli Services also do scenic flights around the Lords Table Mountain, Wolfang Peak and the Gemini Peaks and there's nothing quite like flying past these peaks when they're bathed in that golden afternoon light. Mark Fitz loves shooting the Milky Way out around these peaks at night, the clear skies out there are perfect for it. Picture: Mark Fitz

“It is just out of this world, to have that just a couple of hours west of (Mackay), and there are great camping spots at Theresa Creek,” he said.

“I’ve done astro photography and shooting the Milky Way around Lords Table Mountain, Gemini Peaks and Wolfgang Peak – it reminds me of the photos of Monument Valley in the US.

“The Peak Range, the amount of volcanic plugs that are out there … I think it’s amazing.

“Social media has exploded over the years.”

It has proved inspirational to photographers and travellers, to dare to venture where once they had not thought of and to explore the natural assets that dot the landscape.

“It encourages you to get off the couch and once you experience these places, you want to conserve those places so more can experience it,” Mr Fitz said.

“I think it will continue to grow and I would love to see that.

“We really are a hidden gem here in Mackay, we just need to make people aware, to come here.”

Mark Fitz says the coral gardens at Cockermouth Island and Keswick Island are full of marine life and it's easy to spend hours snorkelling and soaking up the views. Picture: Mark Fitz

Once overlooked as simply the gateway to the Whitsundays – an incredible destination in its own right for the pristine waters and beaches – Mackay is unlocking its ocean assets and simultaneously boosting its inland drawcards.

Wildcat Mackay has been the key to that, and owner Julie Telford understands not only what it is to run a successful business, but a sustainable one that keeps people coming back.

Mackay has the same sentiment score for diving and snorkelling as Cancun and Zanzibar, but there remains too few online conversations to definitively rank it.

Cape Hillsborough at sunrise. Picture: Mark Fitz

Mrs Telford hopes to change that, and is forging ahead with the relatively newly launched venture that explores Keswick, Cockermouth and Scawfell islands, all off Mackay’s coast.

“It has got to be a lot to do with our marketing, our exposure and everything we have done over the past year with launching Wildcat and also showcasing and promoting the Mackay region,” she said.

“Wildcat is very successful with only five-star reviews across TripAdvisor and Google and we have a 64 per cent occupancy rate which is pretty good, we’re happy with that for the first seven months.”

Mrs Telford, who also owns and runs the award-winning Thundercat in the Whitsundays, said the Mackay operation had also targeted private charters, as well as education and corporate groups.

It has helped fill the red boat during the slower days.

“We’re really promoting corporate groups and getting ready for the Christmas rush, and we will be launching our sunset tour which people can start booking,” she said

“(Mackay) is a different market. It’s pretty up and down; we are really busy on weekends but the midweek doesn't really exist and that is why we focus on the school groups and team building to fill the midweek days.”

A loyalty club exists for Mackay and region residents with discounted tours and already about 500 had signed up.

“We just need to get the locals behind us to support this product,” Mrs Telford said.

“We know there is a gap in the market in Mackay, especially for marine tourism.”