Community, culture and sport

Mackay offers a strong, supportive community with abundant sporting, social, special interest and recreational groups. If you can name it, you can find it in the Mackay region. From fishing to surf lifesaving, bushwalking to fossicking, arts and crafts to performing arts and cultural groups, you are sure to find a smiling face to welcome you.

The arts are well catered for with the Mackay Entertainment and Convention Centre (MECC) offering a strong calendar of events from music and dance to theatre and comedy as well as a number of major annual festivals. Artspace Mackay is a purpose-built gallery in the civic precinct with regular local and touring exhibitions.

The Mackay Waterfront encompasses the city centre, along the pioneer river to historical Queens Park and the ocean at Binnington Esplanade. It is where local businesses thrive; people wander on foot through attractive shaded streets to visit boutique shops, pop into independent cafes spilling out onto the street and stay in town for evening drinks and food from around the world.

Outdoor stadium facilities include the 12,000 capacity BB Print Stadium and the newly expanded Great Barrier Reef Arena providing ideal venues for major sporting events and music festivals. Mackay Regional Council’s partnership with the Gold Coast Suns sees games of the AFLW played in Mackay each year along with games of the WBBL through a partnership with the Brisbane Heat’s women’s team.

Other sports are well catered for with excellent facilities including the Mackay Aquatic and Recreation Centre, the McDonald's Mackay Multi-Sports Stadium and the Finch Hatton MTB (Mountain Bike) trails.

Community, culture and sport

Community directory

Sport directory

Major events

Community events

MECC

Artspace Mackay