New wildcat catamaran tours for Mackay Islands needs deckhand
A custom catamaran with a built-in bar will unlock access to coral reefs, jurassic-park areas and ‘awesome sandbars’. Are you the right person for the job?
Mackay
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If spending every day in balmy tropical weather touring islands on the Great Barrier Reef sounds ideal to you, Mackay is your destination.
Red Cat Adventures co-director Asher Telford said they needed another deckhand on the Wildcat crew, a new specialised 17m catamaran touring Cockermouth, Brampton Keswick, St Bees and Scawfell Islands.
Find out more about the tours and how to book below.
Mr Telford said the island trips to begin on December 1 this year would create about 16 jobs from catering to check-in to maintenance.
He said an ideal deckhand candidate for the “dream job” was someone with local knowledge of the islands who could “pump up” tourists.
Mr Telford and partner Julie Telford were at the Mackay Marina on Wednesday to unveil the location of the new Wildcat booking office at the former Toscani’s Italian restaurant.
He said it was “really exciting” to showcase the islands to Mackay’s 140,000 residents and beyond with a $1.5 million “amazing machine” scientifically designed to handle rougher waters.
“The aluminium fabrication’s all complete, the engines’ all delivered, we’re just looking at interior fit out now, putting the seats in, making it look pretty,” Mr Telford said.
And the fit out features a “pay-as-you-go” bar for the tours with all-inclusive food and snorkelling gear.
As for the secrets to be uncovered away from the mainland, Mr Telford said there were “awesome sandbars”, jurassic-park areas and impressive coral formations.
Mackay MP Julieanne Gilbert said the island tours would become a signature tourism experience.
“This will add to our little wallabies on the beach, going up to see a platypus at Eungella, and it’ll just keep rolling on,” Mrs Gilbert said.
“There are so many exciting things happening in our region.
“People will be just clamouring to get to Mackay.”
Mrs Gilbert said she still remembered adventuring to the islands as a child and looked forward to today’s youth enjoying the same.
Mackay Isaac Tourism CEO Tas Webber said launching tour bookings was a culmination of 18 months behind-the-scenes work.
“Mackay’s islands are just as beautiful as Airlie Beach islands so it‘s really good to see we can now access them,” Mr Webber said, adding growing demand over the past five years had unlocked the opportunity.
“It‘s just important for our economy and for diversification of our economy to move forward.”
Wildcat offers escape to pristine islands’ ‘unexplored’ secrets
A specially-built 17m catamaran is set to unlock the heydays of Mackay tourism by offering escapes to island secrets.
Red Cat Adventures directors Asher and Julie Telford said they were ecstatic to launch their Wildcat tours from the Mackay Marina out to pristine destinations including Cockermouth, Brampton, Keswick, St Bees and Scawfell Islands.
“Guests will get to discover untouched beaches at a variety of locations to suit the winds and tides of the day,” Mrs Telford said.
“Snorkel at coral-encrusted reefs and swim with diverse marine life — all while fully catered and crewed on our newly built custom-designed catamaran.”
With tours starting by Christmas, Mr Telford said no two days aboard the fast Wildcat vessel would be the same.
He said tours were customised to make the most of the “spectacular region” including access to “secret, hitherto unexplored spots”.
“Mackay’s new fast cat (is) available for day tours, private functions, corporate hire, edu-tourism and eco-initiatives,” Mr Telford said.
“We’re incredibly grateful to all the Mackay locals who have helped shape this new product with their invaluable feedback and insights into the offshore Mackay region we’re so proud to be making accessible again.”
The Queensland Government’s Growing Tourism Infrastructure fund contributed $950,000 towards building the one-of-a-kind vessel.
Mackay MP Julieanne Gilbert said the Wildcat would make a fierce competitor on the ocean with the capacity to carry up to 40 passengers.
“There are predictions of up to 5600 passengers and almost $2 million per year for our visitor economy, making Wildcat a game changer for Mackay,” Mrs Gilbert said.
Tourism Minister Stirling Hinchliffe, who recently inspected the vessel under construction at Lumark on the Gold Coast, said it was “very impressive” and “poised to pounce” as a tourism experience.
Mackay Isaac Tourism CEO Tas Webber said they were delighted to secure better access to Mackay’s incredible islands, beaches and snorkelling.
“We encourage as many locals and visitors to the region to go online and pre book their tours from today,” Mr Webber said.
All-inclusive day tour packages start from $149 per child, $170 per adult and $599 for a family (two adults and two children).
To find our more or book a tour, head to wildcatmackay.com.au and follow Wildcat Mackay on Facebook and Instagram.
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