Mackay/Whitsundays OK…Cyclone Cleanup Info

PWF is happy to pass on this Special Bulletin from Tourism Queensland about the Category 3 Cyclone Ului that crossed the Queensland Coast in the Mackay/Whitsundays region in the early hours of Sunday morning, 21 March.

Limited Damage

Fortunately damage in the region has been limited. Most roads are now open, ferry services have resumed and power is back for most areas including the Mackay and Airlie Beach CBDs. Most hotels, resorts and shops are open or should re-open within a day or two. Most tour operators will also be up and running in the next 24-48 hours.

Effects to tourism operations in the region have included minor infrastructure damage, downed trees, debris, power outages and minor flooding. No major structural damage has been reported.

Tourism Queensland would like to ensure anyone planning to visit the Mackay and Whitsundays region in the coming days and weeks, particularly over Easter, that everything possible is being done to restore the landscape, beaches and tourism operations to normal.

Tourism Queensland urges anyone with a query about a particular operator or booking to contact that operator directly for the latest information, and to visit the Tourism Whitsundays or Mackay Tourism websites for updates.

As of 5pm AEST on Tuesday March 23, Tourism Queensland had received the following updates to tourism operations in the Mackay/Whitsundays region:

OPEN AND OPERATING AS NORMAL:
Mackay:
Limited impacts on tourism infrastructure
Mackay CBD Hotels operating as normal
Shores Holiday Apartments (Blacks Beach) operating normally
Laguna Quays Resort – minor debris and infrastructure damage but operating as normal.
Mackay Airport operating normally
Mackay CBD shops and restaurants – all open

Whitsundays:
Island resorts:
Hamilton Island
Hayman
Daydream Island
Long Island Resort

Mainland resorts and accommodation providers:
Most backpackers, resorts, hotels and apartments

Airports:
Hamilton Island
Whitsunday Airport (Proserpine)

Tour operators:
Cruise Whitsundays – ferry transfers
Fantasea Adventure Cruising – ferry transfers and Whitehaven Beach day tours
Most bareboat companies
Most overnight charter boat companies including Explore Whitsundays and Whitsunday Sailing Adventures
Aviation and scenic flight operators

Shopping:
Airlie Beach Main Street – including restaurants, shops and pharmacy
All major supermarkets

CLOSED:
Island resorts:
Hook Island Resort – scheduled to reopen this week
Adventure Island Resort (South Molle) – scheduled to reopen this week
Paradise Bay Eco Escape – scheduled to reopen Wednesday March 24
Peppers Palm Bay – scheduled to reopen Monday March 29

Mainland resorts and accommodation providers:
Coral Sea Resort – rescheduled to open once power has resumed

National parks:
All national park walks and camping sites on islands and mainland are currently closed. Crews are currently working on clean up and repairs with walks scheduled to reopen later this week.

Tour Operators:
Fantasea Great Barrier Reef Cruises – scheduled to reopen Thursday
Ragamuffin day cruises – closed for repairs until further notice