Mackay has taken out the top spot for the 'Australian Town of the Year' award, surpassing hotspots like the Gold Coast and Byron Bay.
Travel website, Wotif based the inaugural award on demand, affordability, year-on-year interest, and the number of properties available.
The town’s highlights included watching the wallabies and kangaroos at sunrise on Cape Hillsborough, the nearby Eungella National Park, uncrowded beaches, and the Great Barrier Reef.