HOTEL REVIEW - Windmill Motel and Events Centre - Mackay

I’ve stayed at the Windmill Motel and Events Centre part of the Southern Cross Motel Group before both individually and then when I got married, but this was the first time that I’d actually stayed in a family room with a wife and child.

As usual, it was a fantastic stay. 

The staff were always professional and friendly.   The large family room - including 3 beds and a bath in the bathroom - was clean and tidy throughout - as you can see. 

And the onsite restaurant was open and allowed for fantastic dinner and breakfast the next morning, which was quite handy given we had a toddler with us on this occasion.

We stayed downstairs but there are two levels throughout the premises.

As an added bonus being a plane spotter the airplanes that were flying into Mackay Airport flew over at fairly regular intervals - so that was nice.

All up, a peaceful location, a large and tidy room, fantastic facilities and a wonderful restaurant made forget another great stay at the windmill Motel. I highly recommend recommended place to stay when you’re traveling through Mackay.

HOTEL REVIEW - Miner's Lodge Motor Inn - Mackay

Needing a cheap family room fairly quickly due to a medical appointment we decided to stay at the Miner's Lodge Motor Inn on Nebo Road in Mackay as I have stayed there before a couple of times both for work and for sporting commitments and found the place to be quite nice.

This was the first time staying in a family room out the back of the property and like a lot of the other rooms at the Motor Inn, they are quite old. The linen looks quite old. The room is fairly tired, but it’s still a half decent place to stay.

This family room has two big rooms and an ensuite attached to one of the rooms. The ensuite has a very low roof and is quite cramped and the décor in the ensuite is somewhat worse off than the rest of the room.

The beds were comfortable. The facilities were pretty good - although we didn’t test the fairly basic kitchenette that is in the second room.

Car parking can be tricky, particularly with a bigger car and limited parking in some sections of the Motor Inn.

Overall, the Miner's Lodge Motor Inn did the job for our one night stay. I wouldn’t recommend staying longer-term due to the tiredness of the rooms and some facilities, and I would recommend that the people that run the Motor Inn that it’s time to invest in a little bit of an update to some of the rooms.

It’s also definitely worth mentioning that as a plane spotter The Miners Lodge Motor Inn is a great place to stay with the airplanes on finals to Mackay Airport passing low over the place.

HOTEL REVIEW - Accor Hotels - IBIS Mackay Hotel - Mackay Airport

An awesomely convenient hotel for travellers and aviation enthusiasts alike has opened in Central Queensland with Accor Hotels launching the IBIS Mackay Hotel at Mackay Airport - and I couldn't wait to give it a try!

The IBIS Mackay Hotel is a mere four minute walk from the Mackay Airport terminal and offers a premium experience with comfort and convenience at an economy price.  Despite being located beside the Mackay Airport terminal, each window is double glazed and core filled block walls ensure rooms are very quiet.

The Hotel also has a 24-hour reception and friendly team members, all at a reasonable price.

The IBIS Mackay Hotel advertises that every room features 'IBIS Sweet Beds' - they have a multi-density mattress and 7cm topper to ensure comfort.  Top floor rooms offer a mix of Queen and King bed configurations - our room on the Northern side of the top floor was a King room.

The view out of the room was over the Mackay Airport carpark, terminal building, Northern parking apron, Western General Aviation Apron (WGA) and further to the runway and Eastern side of the Airport.  There are also nice views towards the Mackay CBD.

Queen rooms on the top floor with a Southern view have more limited views towards Paget and further to the coal loading terminals at Hay Point.

The hallway on the top floor also has a nice view window with more views over Mackay Airport terminal building, parking apron and runway.

For guests, rooms have an in-room safe, and tea and coffee making facilities, plus there is complimentary car parking, complimentary WiFi, a fully equipped gymnasium and modern restaurant/tavern named 'TurBARlence' which offers gastro pub food and craft beverage offerings with a great outdoor beer garden.  'TurBARlence' is also open during the week for all-day dining and coffees.

We really enjoyed staying here - I especially enjoyed the plane spotting opportunities from the conveniently located hotel - and my wife enjoyed the comfort of the 'Sweet Bed'.

HOTEL REVIEW - Clarion Hotel Mackay Marina

The Clarion Hotel Mackay Marina is regarded as Mackay’s premier accommodation, dining and conference destination. It is located at the Mackay Marina Village - around 7km from the Mackay CBD - and overlooks the tropical waters of the Coral Sea and Southern Whitsunday Islands.

The Clarion Hotel Mackay Marina provides self rated 4.5 star luxury Hotel facilities with 79 accommodation suites - from Deluxe Studio Suites through to Executive Suites and the luxurious Spa Suites complete with spa baths overlooking the marina.  The suites are quite spacious and fully appointed, including a kitchenette and coffee machine, and are designed so each room has an ocean view and a private balcony to enjoy the cooling sea breezes.

On two stays fairly close together, my wife and I stayed in one of the Deluxe Studio Suites.  During our first stay (pictured) our suite was one of those which was undergoing a 'revamp'.

During our second stay, we were given a room which had been 'revamped' with new decor and carpet.

The Hotel also boasts large function and event facilities, a large resort style pool and Latitude 21 Bar and Restaurant which hosts a sumptuous Seafood Buffet Dinner each Friday and Saturday night.

The Clarion Hotel Mackay Marina is truly a luxury place to stay - and given the views over the beautiful Mackay Marina and the Coral Sea (including migrating whales during the year) - it is a highly recommended option for one night or a weekend away from the weekday grind!