Slade Point
Named by Captain James Cook as he sailed north on the HMS Endeavour in 1770, Slade Point juts into the Coral Sea along this varied coastline. A beachside suburb of Mackay, it is nine kilometres or a 15 minute drive from this bustling regional city. And yet it feels like a long way away from the fast pace of modern life.
The lookout at Lamberts Beach gives magnificent views across to the Cumberland Islands. Along the mainland you can see for miles from Mackay Harbour to the south and Dolphin Heads to the north.
View to the south of Lamberts Beach from lookout at Slade Point
This beach suburb has a population of around 4000 people.
Slade Point has claims to fame as the home of the late snake man Ram Chandra and the sports ground where Sydney Olympic 400 metre track gold medallist Cathy Freeman competed as a child.
Activities
McCready's Creek is great for fishing and a beautiful spot. You can catch bream, whiting, flathead, barramundi and mud crabs. Driving from Mackay take a left turn off Slade Point Road onto Tern or Swan Street and keep going left following the coastline and creek inlet to the car parking area. The original streets of this suburb were named after birds, reflecting the natural environment here.
Rock climbing, exploring rock pools and building sandcastles are favourite holiday pastimes for kids. Parkland and a playground provide space for active play on the foreshore of Lamberts Beach.
McCready's Creek at Slade Point is a great fishing spot
Be careful swimming in the ocean due to possible deadly irukandji, box jellyfish and other bities in the sea. Stinger suits are a good option. Seek local advice on times and conditions to avoid before going in.
A huge melaleuca forest with walkways stretches from the southern end of Lamberts Beach to the manmade Mackay Harbour.
At the end of a relaxing day you can enjoy the gorgeous sunsets over the bay.
Accommodation
Holiday accommodation is not plentiful in Slade Point itself. This is more of a residential suburb and a day trip destination than a major tourist area.
Beachfront Bed and Breakfast on Ocean Avenue with double rooms and fabulous views has rates from $100 per night depending on the number of nights booked. See more information
here.
Seabreeze Motel at Lamberts Beach has studio units that sleep two people from around $115 per night. It also has a restaurant. Details are
here.
View north from the lookout at Slade Point
Clarion Marina Hotel at nearby Mackay Harbour overlooks the marina just four kilometres away from around $280 per night for two people.
Facilities
Near the beachfront is the RSL Memorial Bowls club which serves some meals.
Other services include local shops and takeaways and a service station on Slade Point Road.
The Surf Lifesaving Club at Mackay Harbour is just a short drive away. Its bistro is next to a great park for the kids to kick a ball and a fenced playground.
The beach at Slade Point near McCready's Creek at low tide
Major shopping centres are Caneland in Mackay and Mount Pleasant Shopping Centre at North Mackay. With Mackay's prosperity as a hub servicing the coal mining industry in the Bowen Basin to the west, these centres are as large and well stocked as many in capital cities, with Woolworths and Coles supermarkets and many chain stores.
Winter, spring and autumn are generally very pleasant here. Summer is the wet season and gets hot and humid, with the possibility of tropical cyclones.
