Bluewater Trail

I have recently walked the Bluewater Trail in Mackay, Queensland.
The trail is ten years old with initial construction beginning in May 2003. This is the first visit I've had where I've been in a position to walk it.

The Bluewater Trail is a mixed bag. When it's good...it's great. When it's ordinary it is truly ordinary. The great parts are the eastern and western ends. The ordinary bit is the middle which is along Bridge Rd. Mind you, even here it can be interesting as Bridge Rd is on the northern border of Mackay Airport and the planes here come in very low. I watched  a Cessna land and it was so low I felt I could have shaken hands with the pilot.

The Bluewater Trail begins and ends on the corner of River and Sydney Streets, which is right on the Pioneer River. So it is one big loop around the CBD of Mackay. There is some very nice public art works by local artists here.

The trail heads east along the river until it becomes Sandfly Creek Environmental Walk, which is in the mangroves which the locals have sensibly retained. A distinctly positive attribute is the many information boards on this walk. And they begin here. A number of local bird, plant and invertebrate species are listed.

 

As is the importance of the mangroves as a nursery for many species of fish. By now you are well away from the CBD and at the time of writing Mackay lacked buildings high enough to be seen over the mangroves.

It then turns south to follow the beaches for about 2 km. This is very scenic due to the very high tidal bore...when the tide is out, it's a long way out and there is easily a couple of hundred metres of beaches and unobstructed views to the south-east. The coal loading terminal of Hay Point is clearly visible....and uber pretty at night.

The ordinary bits begin when the trail departs the beaches and follows suburban streets. There is a reason for this...apparently it isn't finished and the work of putting a path completely along the beach hasn't been done.

However struggle through this and you will be rewarded with the Mackay Botanic Gardens (http://www.mackayregionalbotanicgardens.com.au/). These gardens, like the Bluewater Trail were commenced in 2003. I've visited Mackay any number of times in the last 10 years and never visited them before. They are by any means great gardens with all plants labelled properly using scientific and common names. They are also located right beside the Lagoons, which are a paleo bed of the Pioneer River. It has both water and wild birds year round. There is a cafe and a basic bookshop on the grounds of the MBG.bI didn't sample the goods on sale in the cafe. The bookshop I did look at and it seems very good. There has been a lot of work on the indigenous flora of the Mackay Region and some much needed and very belated research into Aboriginal uses of the indigenous flora.

I was amazed at the sheer number and exquisiteness of local Hibiscus.

Head west out of the MBG and along a path towards some sheltered playgrounds and much appreciated public toilets. Off to the west you can see Racecourse Mill. Follow the concrete path as it turns right and crossing under two bridges makes its way to the Pioneer River and the local Base Hospital.

When I was young, the bridge here was across the Pioneer. Apparently on building a flood prove replacement they were going to remove the old bridge entirely. Local people mounted a successful campaign to keep it as a fishing platform. On the winters day I visited it was certainly being put to good use. Although I didn't do this, I imagine it is entirely feasible to pick yourself up a meal of fresh fish for cash here.

The walk here is pretty. The local council has made an attempt to plant local trees. Once you reach Canelands Shoppingtown the walk is pretty well over. Take care near here. The local wino's drink by the path.