Plane Creek Mill and Sarina Distillery

Sarina (including Sarina Beach)
Sugar industry township surrounded by interesting environmental parks.
It seems that one of the truisms about the Queensland coast is that if a town, by luck or good fortune, is located on the coast it has become a major tourist attraction. If, however, it is located in the coastal hinterland it remains underdeveloped and very much driven by the sugar industry which created it. Sarina is a perfect case of this. Located 13 km from Sarina Beach (990 km north of Brisbane, 32 km south of Mackay and 15 m above sea level) it is a small sugar town. Consequently the attractions of the region tend to be around the town rather than within it. The main attraction in the town is the alcohol distillery at the local sugar mill - and this is industrial alcohol, not the sort of stuff which can be imbibed at the local pub.

The town is split by the Bruce Highway which runs down the main street. There is a pleasant median strip with tropical flowers, trees and bushes. At the northern end is a rock commemorating the fact that John Atherton (after whom the Atherton Tablelands were named) was the first European to reach this area travelling overland from Rockhampton. When he was only 20 Atherton and his brother James overlanded sheep to Rockhampton from the New England district of New South Wales.

Sarina Inlet was named by a Greek surveyor in the early 1860s and by the 1870s sugar cane plantations had been established in the area. At this time the early township was known as Plain Creek and was located a little further north than the site of the present town.

Things to see:  

Sarina Distillery
Today the heart of the town's economy is Plane Creek Mill and the Australian National Power Alcohol Company Pty Ltd (Sarina Distillery), which opened in 1927 and processes molasses which it buys from the sugar mills in the area. It was the first alcohol distillery in Australia and is now one of the biggest. Tours are held at 7.00 a.m. and 4.00 p.m. but are by appointment only. Contact: (07) 4956 1411.

Environmental Parks in the area
The town is surrounded by a number of interesting parks and reserves including Mount Blarney Environmental Park (west of the town), Mount Hector Environmental Park (northeast of the town) and Cape Palmerston (southeast of the town). Cape Palmerston is of particular interest as it covers 32 km of coastline and has areas ranging from mangrove swamps to thickly vegetated sand dunes and the volcanic Mount Funnel Range.

Other Things to Do
Sarina is the main town in an area which stretches across to the coast and includes Sarina Beach - a rapidly developing holiday destination. Like most thriving country towns Sarina has golf, bowls, tennis and squash facilities. While staying in the town it is possible to visit the rainforests in the hinterland, the Great Barrier Reef, Greenmount Homestead (see Mackay) and, by asking the locals, you can check out a site where it is claimed the Phoenicians landed some 3,500 years ago. The water temperature throughout the year remains between 20°C and 22°C. Fishing is good. Dinghys can be hired or fishing cruises chartered. Inevitably there is a problem in the summer months with the deadly stingers.

Seeing Turtles
Nesting sea turtles come ashore at night within a few hours of high tide from November through to January to lay their eggs while the hatching turtles usually leave their nests between January and March. Talk to the locals about the best places to view them.

	Tourist Information
	Sarina Shire Council 65 Broad St Sarina QLD 4737 Telephone: (07) 4956 1444 Facsimile: (07) 4956 1508
	Motels
	Sandpiper Motel Owen Henkins Dve Sarina QLD 4737 Telephone: (07) 4956 6130 Facsimile: (07) 4956 6197 Rating: ***
	Sarina Beach Motel The Esplanade Sarina Beach Sarina QLD 4737 Telephone: (07) 4956 6266 Facsimile: (07) 4956 6197 Rating: ***
	Sarina Motor Inn Bruce Hwy Sarina QLD 4737 Telephone: (07) 4943 1431 Facsimile: (07) 4943 1431 Rating: ***
	Tramway Motel 110 Broad St Sarina QLD 4737 Telephone: (07) 4956 2244 Facsimile: (07) 4943 1262 Rating: ***
	Hotels
	Carlons Hotel Broad St Sarina QLD 4737 Telephone: (07) 4956 1616
	Grand Central Central St Sarina QLD 4737 Telephone: (07) 4956 1627
	Sarina Hotel Broad St Sarina QLD 4737 Telephone: (07) 4956 1686
	Tandara Hotel/Motel Bruce Hwy Sarina QLD 4737 Telephone: (07) 4956 1323 Facsimile: (07) 4943 1027 Rating: **
	Caravan Parks
	Sarina Palms Caravan Village 11 Heron St Sarina QLD 4737 Telephone: (07) 4956 1892 Rating: ***
	Tropicanna Caravan Park Range Rd Sarina QLD 4737 Telephone: (07) 4956 1480 Rating: ***
	Restaurants
	Hideaway Restaurant 22 Broad St Sarina QLD 4737 Telephone: (07) 4943 1234
	Jade Garden 9c Broad St Sarina QLD 4737 Telephone: (07) 4956 2221
	Palms Restaurant The Esplanade Sarina Beach Sarina QLD 4737 Telephone: (07) 4956 6266