We were definitely feeling the tropical vibes as we headed further north along the Queensland coast.

BIG4 Mackay Blacks Beach Holiday Park is set on 5 acres of land, with a choice of ocean view, park view and drive through sites. Perfectly positioned on absolute beachfront. This is a beautiful destination to enjoy a chilled tropical holiday.

Fishing off the beach was a popular activity with many of the locals and travelers wetting their line. Our camp neighbour was out kite surfing while others, like us, were out on beach walks soaking up the sunshine and sea breeze. The pool area is also a popular spot for cooling off and relaxing, with a water splashpad for the kids.

As the sun begins to set, the beachfront is the place to be, with the southern islands of the Whitsundays creating the perfect backdrop.

Fresh Coconut Curry was on the menu our first night!

We tried our luck and went ‘shopping’ for coconuts on the beach in front of the Holiday Park and VOILA! We were surprised to see quite a few actually and collected a few of them so that we could add some fresh coconut meat and water to our chicken curry dinner.

Did you know that coconuts grow in bunches of 5-20 drupes and a new bunch begins to grow every month. A coconut palm can produce an average of 70-100 nuts per year!

After collecting our coconuts off the beach we headed back to camp. It was our first time hacking into fresh coconuts so Russ had a bit of fun experimenting with the machete…. the first coconut was a cusualty, with all its water being spilt, so Russ altered his technique and didn’t cut as deep into the rest.... Success! Fresh Coconut meat and water to add to the chicken curry for dinner….

Check out the video below to see how it's done. Or should I say, how we THINK it's done.

We took a drive to out to the Kommo Toera Trail in Mackay, 13km from BIG4 Mackay Blacks Beach Holiday Park. What a great place to visit.

This walk takes you through a melaleuca wetland ecosystem on a series of boardwalks and walking tracks. Keep your eyes peeled for some of its inhabitants.

We missed seeing any of the bright blue Ulysses butterflies that have proven to be elusive to us, but are apparently abundant here (must have been the wrong time of year). We did however discover a few other surprises.

Whilst we had read that insect repellent is apparently required much of the time, today was quite good as there was a cool wind - luckily for Russ as he gets eaten alive by them!

We also took a drive up to the North Mackay Rotary Lookout which offered spectacular views of Mackay City. If you visit the lookout at night, the roof structure apparently has an in-built light show. It would be the perfect location to enjoy the sunset as well.

We loved exploring this region and had a very enjoyable, relaxing, tropical stay here at BIG4 Mackay Blacks Beach Holiday Park!

https://www.big4.com.au/caravan-parks/qld/mackay/mackay-blacks-beach-holiday-park