Mackay, Queensland - Local Attractions - Gateway To The Pioneer Valley

Gateway To The Pioneer Valley

The scenic Pioneer Valley spreads out to the west of Mackay, with the Pioneer River meandering through it 120 km to the mouth at the port of Mackay. Nearly all of the sugar cane grown in the Mackay region comes from the Pioneer Valley, and it is synonymous with the rich soils and irrigation with which the sugar industry in Mackay has thrived over the past century.

Lush canefields line the road east along Eungella Road from Mackay. Historic townships established along the banks of the Pioneer River include Pleystowe, Marian, Mirani, Pinnacle, Gargett, Finch Hatton and Eungella, at the top of the range. Other townships away from the river include Eton and Farleigh, where tours of working sugar mills and cane farms are available nearby. Many of these townships feature history centres and Queensland country-style pubs.

Perhaps most notable are the natural assets of the Pioneer Valley. These include the walking tracks and swimming holes of Finch Hatton Gorge. The Eungella National Park, located at the very top of the range, is the longest and oldest stretch of subtropical rainforest in Australia, covering more than 51,700 hectares. It is one of the few places where platypus can be seen swimming in the wild, while more than 225 species of bird have been recorded in the surrounding forests.