Hay Point 

The Port of Hay Point is located 40km south of Mackay and is in one of the world's greatest sugar growing areas. However, that is not what the town is famous for. Hay Point houses the largest coal exporting facility in the Southern Hemisphere. The beaches of Hay Point are also great spots for fishing.

The lookout at Hay Point offers spectacular views of the area, it also features a viewing platform and informational video. two lengthy jetties have nothing to do with the sugar industry, rather it's from here that the efforts of coal miners in the Bowen Basin have their results shipped out. One of the jetties is 4 kilometres, making it the longest coal loading jetty in the Southern Hemisphere and the second largest in the world. The second jetty is only a small one; it's 3 kilometres in length. You can see coal ships enter the bay to load their cargoes, just 38 km south of the city. Due to the popularity of this attraction, a public viewing area has been erected in the Port Administration Building, offering fantastic 180 degree views of the terminals and surrounding coastline.

You'll get a good view of Hay Point and Dalrymple Bay at the lookout just past the Louisa Creek turnoff. You'll probably catch some of the action as workers are at it, creating a third jetty.

Things to do

• Visit the public viewing area at the Port Administration Building
• Watch the information video on the exporting facilities
• Go to the lookouts and see the working port
• See the longest jetties in the southern hemisphere