Beaches, rainforest, islands, city life and outback charm combine to make Central Queensland a diverse and exciting place for a driving holiday. Explore the itineraries below for unique touring routes that will help you plan your self drive adventure. [Hero Image: Upper Stony Creek Picnic Area]
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Trip 1: Animal Encounter and Rainforest Retreat
Discover Byfield – breathe in pure rainforest air, swim and kayak. Explore artisan crafts and pottery. At Cooberrie Park Wildlife Sanctuary, cuddle a Koala, hold a Crocodile, Snake or Lizard, interact with playful Monkeys and hand feed Kangaroos! *Restrictions on animal experience may apply during COVID*
Trip 2: Reef and ‘Great’ Islands
Explore the underwater playground of the Southern Great Barrier Reef. Swim, snorkel and scuba-dive in the clear waters of Great Keppel Island.
Trip 3: A tale of mighty ships
Journey from Wreck Point Lookout to the Singing Ship memorial, taking in views, pristine beaches and some turtle spotting along the way.
This four-day/three-night itinerary showcases everything from frolicking at the iconic Yeppoon Lagoon, giggling at quirky street art, discovering the luscious rainforest of Byfield, hand-feeding a kangaroo, smiling at crocodiles, to exploring the fringing coral of our nearby barefoot island paradise.
From fourth generation pineapple farms to fifth generation award winning beef, together with fresh seafood, crocodile and numerous delicacies including locally made moringa pasta, the purest water and fine crafted beer, Yeppoon, together with the villages dotted along the coastline and inland rainforests have decades of stories to tell and are brimming with diverse flavours and mouth-watering adventures.
Unique and award-winning attractions such as the Capricorn Caves, Koorana Crocodile Farm, Cooberrie Park Wildlife Sanctuary, and the spectacular ANZAC Memorial at Emu Park are only a short journey from the town of Yeppoon, making it an ideal base for your daily experiences.
These delightful drives showcase the heritage, history, and natural beauty that surrounds Rockhampton.
Trip 1: Capricorn Coast Tourist Drive
This drive is arguably the most popular itinerary from Rockhampton. Explore the seaside towns of Yeppoon and Emu Park with the option to take a day trip to Great Keppel Island or explore the Byfield Rainforest.
Trip 2: Rockhampton’s Geo History
Uncover the history of Australia from the Jurassic era to the present day. Explore ancient limestone caverns, visit one of the world’s richest historic gold mines; and discover Thundereggs.
Trip 3: Rockhampton City Highlights
This itinerary takes you to all of Rocky’s must see attractions including; Riverbank Precinct, Botanic Gardens and Zoo and the new Nurim Circuit Elevated Boardwalk!
Where: Yeppoon > Rockhampton > Carnarvon Gorge
Duration: 4 Nights +
Distance: 460 km
Wind your way from coastal vistas to sandstone cliffs and take in spectacular scenery, nature and history along this route.
Day 1 & 2: Start on the Capricorn Coast and stay in the seaside village of Yeppoon, or on a pristine Southern Great Barrier Reef island paradise – or indulge yourself and a couple of nights at both.
Day 3: After soaking up some coastal calm, head to the Beef Capital of Australia, Rockhampton. Sample local cuisine, explore the historic streetscape on the banks of the mighty Fitzroy River, and enjoy city vistas and mountain views.
Days 4 & 5: Travel via Mount Morgan and take a living history lesson through a former gold rush town.Head west to Carnarvon Gorge in the Sandstone Wilderness. Whether you visit because of its geological appeal, its rare and ancient Indigenous rock art or for its delightful walking tracks, you will surely be struck by its magnificence and grandeur.
The Capricorn Way is home to the “Dig The Tropic” geological drive trail, and it links the Southern Great Barrier Reef to the Sapphire Gemfields and Queensland’s Outback.
Follow this self-drive trail along the Tropic of Capricorn and unearth history from the Jurassic era to the present day. Explore ancient limestone caverns, discover fossils, visit a gold rush town, uncover thunder eggs, fossick for gemstones and walk through ageless rainforests.
Create your own self drive itinerary and take your time exploring several unique tourism destinations along the way. The drive is easily accessible on sealed roads.
It is the fastest route between the hustle and bustle of Melbourne and the calm beauty of the tropics. The Leichhardt Highway, named after the courageous explorer Ludwig Leichhardt, is an inland road that passes through the Queensland border town of Goondiwindi and then on to the coastal town of Yeppoon.
The last leg of the journey brings you through Rockhampton. Take the time to visit heritage-listed gardens, historic Quay Street, intriguing caves and Mount Archer.
Yeppoon, 38 kilometres east of Rockhampton, is the end of the Leichhardt Highway. On the doorstep of the Southern Great Barrier Reef, this uncrowded and pristine area boasts long sweeping beaches and unspoilt National Parks.
Life becomes all the more interesting when you venture off the beaten track. So if you’re travelling around Australia why not skip the coast highway and take the back roads to Rockhampton – along Australia’s Country Way.
This windows-down, classics-blaring-from-the-stereo drive is all about sandstone cliffs, wide open spaces and historic towns with tales to tell.
This drive passes through Emerald – the heart of the Central Highlands. The town doesn’t get its name from the green gem, rather the green fields around the area when it initially was named. As you drive into this Capricorn town you can’t help but see the world’s biggest Van Gogh Sunflower Painting.
Try your luck at uncovering precious gemstones at the nearby Sapphire Gemfields. Let a local guide you through a walk-in underground gemstone mine from days gone by, try a digging tour or buy a bucket of sapphire ‘wash’ and learn how to sieve the slurry and recognise your sapphire in the rough.
Pacific Coast Way passes through the Beef Capital of Australia – Rockhampton – where the city, coast, and country all meet in one gracious city. On Sundays, ride on a Purrey Steam Train at Archer Park Station and Steam Tram Museum. Open Sunday to Friday, view the large collection of railway memorabilia and for a greater insight into life from 1850 to 1950, visit the Rockhampton Heritage Village.
Walk along Quay Street, – a ‘historical streetscape’ – with glorious sandstone buildings and original delicate wrought iron lace work featured on many. For sightseeing, a leisurely stroll through the Rockhampton Botanic Gardens and Zoo should be included in your itinerary. The mighty Fitzroy flows right through town so you can enjoy barramundi fishing from within the city limits or for a little more excitement catch a live bull ride at the Great Western Hotel.
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