Mackay Surf Life Saving Supporters Club Inc

The supporters club sits right on the sand at Mackay Harbour, at Lot 67 E Point Drive, and its drawcard for dog owners is the open-air deck: uninterrupted ocean views, the beach a few steps from the car park, and a leashed dog welcome to settle in beside your table. It runs as a proper community club, so the mood is relaxed and the menu is club-style rather than fine dining.

The dog setup

Dogs are welcome on the outdoor deck and balcony area, which is where the views are anyway. The main dining room indoors is off limits, which is standard for Queensland clubs. Keep your dog leashed and under control for the whole visit, and bring your own water bowl because one is not guaranteed at the table. This matters most on a warm afternoon when the breeze off the water is doing its job and your dog has been walking.

The vibe

The kitchen turns out the classics people come for: a seafood basket, calamari and honest club fare, with a function room and regular community events in the mix. Hours split across the week, with lunch service Monday to Friday from 10am to 2pm, Saturday running long from 8am to 8:30pm and Sunday from 8am to 3pm, so weekend breakfast and brunch are on the table too. In whale watching season the deck doubles as a vantage point, which gives a lunchtime visit a bit of theatre. Confirm current pet rules with the club before a busy weekend visit, since deck tables fill quickly.

Getting there and parking

E Point Drive runs out along the harbour breakwater, with free parking around the club. It is an easy walk up from the sand, so a beach session before or after your meal takes no planning at all.

Close by with the dogs

The beach in front of the club and the paved walkway along the marina make the natural pre- and post-meal loop, all on-lead under Mackay Regional Council rules unless you find a signed off-leash area. If you are making a weekend of it, Discovery Parks - Mackay welcomes dogs in the same suburb, and Woodman's Axe Espresso Bar in the city centre is a solid coffee stop on the drive in.

Pepsi: A deck table with the ocean breeze coming in after a beach walk is about as good as club lunch gets.