Frost covers the Pioneer Valley as temperatures go sub zero

Move aside palm trees and white sandy beaches. Winter is here and the colour of the day is white as the Pioneer Valley transforms into a frosty wonderland. Some might grumble about the cold but one Eungella business owner is thrilled.

The Mackay region is renowned for its palm trees and warm weather but a sudden cold snap has cast a blanket of white frost over its interior fields and hills as temperatures dip below zero.

For Eungella Cabins manager Vee Stonehouse, the “winter wonderland” is a boon for business.

“It’s probably our busiest season of the year,” she said.

“People like to come up and enjoy the novelty of it.

“We’ve had all of our guests and they’re enjoying the fireplaces.

“Everyone can just come in and relax by the fire.”

Though frost is common in the winter months, Mrs Stonehouse said the past couple of days had been “freezing”.

“We normally do get frost, but the one today was quite heavy, it’s not as normal as most times,” she said.

Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Shane Kennedy said conditions in the Pioneer Valley were “comparable” to the coldest parts of Queensland and Mackay airport had registered its coldest temperature since 2018, at 3.4 degrees on Saturday morning.

“I’m not surprised to hear there has been extensive frost in the area,” he said.

“The cooler conditions about the central coast happens when we get cold and dry south-westerly winds.

“They push cold air from the Southern Ocean across Australia and by the time it reaches Queensland it has really dried out.

“If the winds are strong enough it can push that cold dry air right to the coast.

“That’s what really allows it to cool down.”

Mr Kennedy said it was unusual for these conditions to enter Central and North Queensland so early in June and added they would likely last for “at least another couple of days”.

He expects temperatures to recover “quite a bit” from Wednesday.

Cloudbreak Lowlines Cattle and Eungella Beef, meanwhile, recorded -6 degrees celsius at its Crediton Creek flats.