Rockhampton & the Capricorn Coast – Yeppoon

I thought that I’d leave this area until last on our virtual tour of Queensland’s coast. The reason being that we have spent so many winters on the Capricorn Coast. You could say that we have a bit of a soft spot for this region. As our travelling slows, we like somewhere that is warmer than home, on the coast, has a good park where we can prop for a while, and has plenty to keep us interested. This region ticks those boxes.

The Capricorn Coast is roughly 70kms east of the city of Rockhampton and can best be described as Rocky’s beach. From the largest town Yeppoon in the north to Emu Park at the southern end, it is 20kms of one beach after another, each with its own character.

There’s a weekly farmers’ market for fresh and unusual produce. Local pineapple growers sell their sweet non-acidic pines at their farm gates.

Our favourite caravan park is NRMA Capricorn Palms at Mulambin. The staff are very helpful and friendly. It’s located roughly halfway along the Scenic Highway, away from the traffic and a very short walk from Mulambin beach.

Tropical beaches, red tailed cockatoos feasting on the Pacific Almond trees, a large marina, interesting coastal walks, stunning views of the islands, emus, even the occasional spangled drongo, and I don’t mean drunken party goers.

Yeppoon is the commercial hub of the coast. It is a hilly town with some exciting residential streets that drop away blindly which makes for a bit of excitement when you’re tootling along admiring the houses. “Oh, look that one’s for sale, oh s*** where’d the road go!”.

Yeppoon Lagoon is a multi-pool swimming complex overlooking the beach. There’s about a kilometre of water play area for little kids and big kids. For the big kids the Keppel Bay Sailing Club is on the beach and a good place to chill with expansive views of the bay whilst sipping a cold beer. Like most clubs in NSW and Qld, membership is cheap and offers great discounts to patrons.

For boaties, Fig Tree Creek has some lovable old wooden boats moored up against timber jetties. It’s mud and mangroves, old ropes and tyres, and boats with more stories than years left in them.