A few kilometres east of Ingham, Macknade nestles in the midst of thousands of acres of sugar cane country in the shadow of Hinchinbrook Island.

Hinchinbrook Island has been protected as a National Park since 1932, and at 39 900ha Hinchinbrook Island is Australia's largest island national park.  The island is within the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area and is separated from the mainland by the scenic Hinchinbrook Channel. Hinchinbrook Island has extensive mangrove forests which are important breeding grounds for many marine animals. Adult green turtles frequent the Hinchinbrook area.

Hinchinbrook Cottages was formerly the Macknade Hotel established in 1925. It is steeped in history regarding the Kanakas that worked & died here in the early 30’s & 40’s. We are converting our old cellar into an artifact room to show all the relics and history snippets - there is enough room in the cellar for two or three people to sit and feel the aura and perhaps have wine & cheese.

The nearby town of Lucinda is home to the world's largest bulk sugar loading jetty, which is 5.76km long.  The jetty enables Lucinda to receive the largest ships used in the raw sugar trade. Lucinda is  one of the best fishing spots in all of Queensland, attracting many visitors to the region every year.  It is the closest mainland connection to the beautiful Hinchinbrook Island and the closest access point to the renowned Hinchinbrook Channel.

The Ingham community is rich in cultural heritage and has a strong Italian influence as almost sixty percent of the town's population are of Italian descent. 

The "Hinchinbrook Heritage Walk" allows locals and visitors alike to walk and drive around the townships of Ingham and Halifax to gain some insight into the rich heritage of these two townships.  At each designated heritage site, there is a sign post illustrating the historical significance of the particular site.

Your hosts Wendy and Dave can provide information on the local attractions and historical points of interest - Hinchinbrook Cottages Bed and Breakfast is in itself a building that boasts a colourful and interesting history - we look forward to sharing it with you!