The first major centre on the Whitsundays Coast, Mackay is a progressive tropical city. Surrounded by sugar cane, the town itself has some nice beaches, gardens and buildings, and makes the ideal base from which to visit the nearby Eungella National Park and Illawong Wildlife Sanctuary. With plenty of places to stay and eat, it's a great place to stop before heading up to the islands or out into the wilderness.

Heading north, the sugar town of Proserpine marks the turn from the main highway to Airlie Beach. The nearby Conway National Park offers vantage points allowing superb views over the Whitsunday Passage. In town the World Championship of Cane Cutting is held during the annual Harvest Festival in October.

Airlie Beach is the small but thriving gateway to the Whitsunday Islands. The centre revolves around tourism and has an excellent range of accommodation, restaurants and cafes, accompanied by a thumping nightlife. The nearby crystal waters of the Islands and Great Barrier Reef have an overwhelming array of activities available, all very reasonably priced. If you're considering learning to scuba dive, this is the place to go. With so much to offer combined with a relaxing, laid back atmosphere, make sure Airlie Beach is on your travel agenda.

Further up the main highway towards Townsville is Ayr, yet another sugar town north side of the Burdekin Delta. There's the Ayr Nature Display and Burdekin Cultural Complex in town, and the close by Alva Beach is popular for swimming, boating and fishing. Also worth visiting is the newly renovated town cinema, funded by popular Queensland golfer Carrie Webb.