Middlemount

Travelling inland and south from Mackay, the small mining town of Middlemount has all the facilities of a well-maintained country town. These include a shopping centre, swimming pool, golf course, hotel, cafe, sports facilities, a community school and well maintained parks and gardens including family-friendly playgrounds. It is nicknamed the "Giant Peanut" by some locals due to its peanut-shaped road layout.

Be sure to visit Middlemount Blue Mountain Park, featuring stunning views, the best vantage point to view an open cut mine in operation, and free barbecue facilities and picnic tables. It's also the perfect spot for bird watchers and photographers to spot some classic Australian fauna such as galahs, kookaburras, Blue Mountain parrots and rainbow lorikeets. Middlemount is also a stones' throw to majestic Bundoora Dam, which is great for water skiing and swimming.

Middlemount is one and a half hours drive from Emerald, three hours from Rockhampton and three hours from Mackay.