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Take flight with Rockhampton's top birdwatching spots

Published on 29 November 2022

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Are you an avid bird lover? Well then, you're in luck

With the Fitzroy River (Tunuba) providing permanent water and feeding the lagoons and wetlands that dot the surrounding floodplain, the Rockhampton region is blessed with a wide range of habitats that are home to more than 300 species of birds. Here’s our top six places around town to go bird watching and catch a glimpse of resident and migratory feathered friends.

Pacific Black Duck Murray Lagoon — Pacific Black Duck, Murray Lagoon. *Image courtesy of Pam Garven.*

Rockhampton Botanic Gardens, Murray Lagoon

4km from Rockhampton CBD | Directions

The Murray Lagoon sits at the bottom of Rockhampton's heritage listed Botanic Gardens and is home to more than 100 species of birds. This is a great spot to park up at in the shade and find Pink-eared Ducks, Cotton-pygmy Geese, Australasian Shovelers, Great-crested Grebe and Little Corellas . If you'd like more information, pick up a free copy of Birds of the Murray Lagoon from the Gardens Office on arrival.

Capricorn Yellow Chat Twelve Mile Creek *image courtesy of Fitzroy Basin Association*.

Twelve Mile Creek, Stanage Peninsula and Curtis Island

172km from Rockhampton CBD | Directions

With a wild population of less than 250 individuals, Capricorn Yellow Chats are elusive to find. Making its home in the grasses, samphire and reeds of Twelve Mile Creek just south of Rockhampton, on Stanage Peninsula to Rockhampton’s north, and on Curtis Island near Gladstone, a bright flash of yellow is typically all people ever see of this sparrow-sized bird. Find out more about what they eat, where they live and why they’re special here.

Lakes Creek Road birdwatching — Pelicans, Magpie Geese and a Cormorant. *Image Courtesy of Pam Garven*.

Lakes Creek Road Waste Management Facility

3km from Rockhampton CBD | Directions

The Lakes Creek Road Waste Management Facility offers a purpose-built bird watching platform providing uninterrupted views over the lagoon where you can see large numbers of Magpie Geese, Cormorants, Pelican, Ibis and Raptors such as Whistling and Black Kites.

Springers Lagoon bird — Springers Lagoon. *Image Courtesy of Pam Garven*.

Springers Lagoon, Gracemere

14.5km from Rockhampton CBD | Directions

A deep water lagoon that is accessible from Sullivan Road. Home to diving birds such as Cormorants and Hardheads with Fairy Wrens and finches also to be found in the grassy verges.

Yeppen Lagoon bird — Yeppen Lagoon. *Image Courtesy of Pam Garven*.

Yeppen Lagoon, Allenstown

5km from Rockhampton CBD | Directions

Accessed from the eastern end of Blackall Street or via the Botanic Gardens. Yeppen is a long, narrow and deep lagoon which is good for Cormorants, diving ducks and seabirds such as Caspian, Gull-Billed and Whiskered Terns. The pathway’s fringing woodland is good for bush birds.

Crested Pigeon Queens Park. *Image Courtesy of Pam Garven*.

Queens Park, Park Avenue

2km from Rockhampton CBD | Directions

Running beside Glenmore Road, this parkland has large eucalyptus trees lining the river bank with grassy areas below. Get the binoculars out to see raptors such as Whistling Kite and grass birds such as Double-barred Finch and Red-backed Fairy Wren.

Written by Explore Rockhampton #ExploreRockhampton @explorerockhampton