The best traffic-free bike rides in Queensland

The Mackay Harbour Entrance Light stands at the very end of the southern breakwall, marking the entrance to the Port of Mackay where the harbour meets the Coral Sea. Surrounded by ocean views and crashing swell during rougher weather, the small beacon has become one of the recognisable landmarks along the breakwall walk. It’s also one of the best spots to pause for views back towards the marina, harbour walls, and Mackay coastline stretching along the bay.

Bagley Point sits at the end of the Mackay Harbour breakwall, where the protected harbour meets the open Coral Sea. The rocky point is popular for fishing, seabird watching, and spotting marine life, with dolphins, turtles, and baitfish often seen in the water around the wall. From the end of the point, you get wide views back across the marina, harbour entrance, and coastline stretching north and south along Mackay’s shore.

Southern Breakwater Access Road follows the narrow route out towards Mackay’s southern breakwall, with open ocean on one side and the harbour entrance on the other. The exposed road is popular with walkers, cyclists, anglers, and photographers thanks to the uninterrupted coastal views and regular marine life sightings offshore. With very little shade or shelter along the wall, conditions can become hot and windy, especially through the middle of the day.

South Bank Parklands combines riverfront paths, landscaped gardens, and public spaces across a large stretch of the city’s foreshore. The area includes the Streets Beach lagoon, shaded walkways like the Arbour, and open lawns with views across to the CBD. It connects directly into the riverside path network and forms one of the main public spaces along the river.

A short, steep walk up the hill at Mick Schamburg Park leads to a lookout that offers reaching views both north towards Surfers Paradise and south towards Burleigh Heads and Coolangatta. One of the lookouts even has a telescope. This park is an excellent place for a stroll along the Gold Coast Oceanway, beach day, or a relaxing picnic. Parking for Mick Schamburg Park is in the Kelly Avenue car park.

This long sandy beach is a great pick on a summer day for sunbathing, swimming, and surfing, and it has lifeguards on duty with a nearby park. It is a well-patrolled area due to dangerous riptides and rough, open-ocean waves. Keep in mind that swimmers should always stay between the red and yellow flags for their safety. The sand is white, soft, and clean, making walks along the shore enjoyable.

This viewpoint looks across the Brisbane River toward the modern towers that define the city’s central business district, along with landmarks including the Story Bridge and South Bank. The skyline rises in clean lines of glass and steel, often reflected in the water, with green riverbank parklands softening the urban edge. It’s a popular place to pause for photos, especially in the evening, when the changing light makes the buildings glow across the river.

Kangaroo Point Bikeway is a riverside shared path that runs along the Brisbane River at Kangaroo Point, linking the Story Bridge area with South Bank and the city’s broader cycling network. The paved route follows the waterfront, offering continuous views of the river and Brisbane’s skyline, and is a popular route with cyclists and walkers as a scenic connection between several inner-city parks and riverfront attractions.