Exploring Rockhampton and the Capricorn region: a guide for caravaners

Published on 05 February 2025

Looking for the ultimate warm weather getaway during the winter months? With more than 300 days of sunshine, mild temperatures and beautiful sunrises and sunsets, a mid-year Rocky roadtrip should be at the top of everyone’s Queensland caravanning bucket list.

From treetop boardwalks and cathedral caves to a nationally significant art collection and towns steeped in gold mining history, Rockhampton truly does offer something for everyone. This four-day itinerary is your ultimate guide to exploring everything the region has to offer, while discovering plenty of scenic sights, arts, culture and dining experiences along the way.

 

Day One:

Start your day on a delicious note with breakfast at The Hummingbird Café, known for its fresh coffee and creative twists on modern classics. The café is also conveniently located at the first attraction of the day, the Rockhampton Museum of Art (RMoA). Proudly Queensland’s largest regional gallery, RMOA houses a nationally significant art collection including works from Sidney Nolan, Arthur Boyd and Ben Quilty as well as one-off world-class exhibitions. Don’t miss the Ken Done exhibition, on show from March to June 2025, and the Reimagining Queensland exhibition from July to October. Entry is free, with the gallery open daily from 9 am to 4 pm.

Step back in time at the Rockhampton Heritage Village, where you can explore life before electricity with a tour through the many homesteads, vintage cars, tractors, fire engines, horse drawn vehicles and wagons on display. The Village is set on 11.4 hectares of bush land and incorporates a charming township from yesteryear with original and recreated homesteads, buildings, and businesses. It’s open daily from 9am - 3pm daily, excluding public holidays.

End the day with a delightful dinner paired with unbeatable waterfront views as you dine at one of Rockhampton’s many riverside restaurants. Choose from burgers, brisket or barra at Boathouse, fresh pasta and wood fired Pizza at Pacino’s or a culinary journey through India at TruFusion just to name a few.

 

Day Two:

Take a drive up the picturesque Mount Morgan range to a historic mining town steeped in history. Stop at the Mount Morgan Range Lookout for expansive views of Rockhampton on your way, before visiting the Private Victor Stanley Jones Suspension Bridge for a unique photo opportunity, the Arthur Timms Lookout over the old gold mine, the Mount Morgan Historical Museum, and the iconic Mount Morgan Railway Station. Finish your visit with a trip to the Mount Morgan Hot Bread Shop for a pie before making the 30-minute drive back to Rockhampton.

Continue your journey through history with a visit to the Archer Park Rail Museum which features a restored Purrey Steam Tram as well as original tram cars and trailers that operated in Rockhampton in the early 1900s. The museum is open from 10am – 3pm Monday to Thursday and 9am – 1pm on Sundays with entry starting at just $7 for a concession ticket.

As the sun sets on your second day in the Capricorn, embark on a river cruise along the Fitzroy (Tunuba) River with River Cruises CQ. Their 90-minute sunset cruise will allow you to watch the sun set over the water with Rocky’s historic buildings and wildlife in the background while enjoying a complimentary nibbles package. They also have a licenced bar on board.

With Rockhampton affectionately known as the ‘Beef Capital of Australia’, no Rocky roadtrip would be complete without sampling a local steak. Finish the day by sampling a mouthwatering steak at any of the CBD’s heritage pubs, like The Criterion Hotel or The Great Western Hotel.

 

Day Three: Choose Your Own Adventure

Make the short 40-minute drive to Yeppoon to spend the day soaking up the sun at one of Queensland’s best beachside secrets. Relax at Yeppoon Main Beach, take a stroll along the Esplanade or enjoy a scenic drive through the various beachside suburbs that dot the coastline from Yeppoon to Emu Park. If you’re feeling adventurous, we’d also recommend stopping to walk the Bluff Point Circuit, a short 2.3-kilometre circuit that offers breathtaking 360-degree views of the coastline before returning to Yeppoon to enjoy lunch and an ice-cream from one of the many cafes and eateries in the town’s centre.

In the afternoon, take the short drive further north to Byfield National Park for a relaxing afternoon at Stoney Creek or a short hike along the national park’s many rainforest trails. The road is gravel in some sections so a 2WD or 4WD is recommended.

If you prefer freshwater over saltwater, head 200kms west of Rockhampton towards Emerald to spend a day at the picturesque Blackdown Tablelands National Park. While the drive will take 2 hours and 30 minutes one way, the 4km Rainbow Falls walk and nearby rockpools are tranquil havens that will be sure to make your trip worthwhile. We highly recommend leaving early, taking plenty of water and a picnic lunch, packing your swimmers, and visiting with a 4WD to navigate the gravel roads into the National Park.

 

Day Four:

Take a guided tour of the Capricorn Caves, an awe-inspiring limestone cave system located just 30 minutes from Rockhampton! There’s a range of tours on offer to suit all abilities and levels of adventure – from the Cathedral Cave tour that showcases the largest and most spectacular caves to the slightly more adventurous Explorer Tour that’ll have you donning helmets and headlamps as you explore some slightly more narrow passages and tunnels in the cave system.

Spend your final afternoon leisurely exploring the Rockhampton Botanic Gardens and Rockhampton Zoo. Learn about the 100-year-old trees with a self-guided tour of the Gardens or discover tranquil Japanese Gardens, The Central Queensland War Memorial and shady bamboo lined avenues. The zoo, which is free to enter all year round, is home to over 31 different species of animals from Aussie favourites like kangaroos and koalas to star attractions like chimpanzees, otters, and meerkats. We also recommend treating yourself to a delicious afternoon tea from Gardens Tearooms while you relax under the leafy canopy of the 150-year-old Banyan fig trees

For the perfect conclusion to your Rocky getaway, drive up to Mount Archer National Park for breathtaking sunset views. Stroll along the short, 500m, wheelchair accessible Nurim Circuit Boardwalk for incredible views over the city, let the kids play at the nearby playground and pack a picnic dinner to enjoy at the amphitheatre as the sun sets.

We recommend planning your visit around one of the many events on Rockhampton’s bumper events calendar. Check out the Rockhampton River Festival (25th-27th July) for three-days of live music, art installations, markets, entertainment and food along the Fitzroy Rivers, The Taste of the World culture and food festival on August 23rd, and the Capricorn Food and Wine Festival on September 4th.