Discovery Holiday Parks
Rockhampton, Capricorn, QLD

Activities & Attractions

Recommended length of stay: 2 - 3 Days

Must Do's:

• CapricornCaves
• Great Keppel Island
• Byfield National Park

Mix & Match:

1 Day - Capricorn Coast

Situated just 30 minutes away, the Capricorn Coast is a visitor's paradise offering a myriad of attractions and activities to choose from with options including:

1. Cruise Keppel Bay

- Visit Great Keppel Island on a fabulous day cruise with Freedom Fast Cats inclusive of morning & afternoon teas, a delicious BBQ lunch, coral viewing and fish feeding. Everyone will thrill to the boom-net (or 'ocean spa' as it is referred to on board) and there is plenty of time available for snorkeling & swimming. While on Great Keppel Island enjoy bush walking and bird watching or just sit back and soak in the magnificence of Keppel Bay looking back towards the mainland - refer www.freedomfastcats.com.au

OR

- Uncover the best kept secrets of the Keppel Group of Islands under sail on board Funtastic Cruises' luxury 17m catamaran. Swim, snorkel, relax on deck, trawl or throw in a line at one of the secluded coves visited. Day cruises include morning & afternoon teas, refreshments, snorkeling gear, stinger suits (if required), towels and a 2 hour stopover on Great Keppel Island. Note that lunch is BYO and is not provided – refer www.funtasticcruises.com

2. Explore the Capricorn Coast's Scenic Loop Tourist Drive

If cruising isn't your preference, explore this scenic touring route stopping first at Queensland's first crocodile farm - Koorana Crocodile Farm. Home to 3,000 of nature's oldest 'children', weighing in from 100g to 800kg, guided tours are available daily at 10.30am & 1.00pm with a variety of crocodile meat dishes on offer for lunch. The gift shop also has a fabulous range of crocodile leather products at farm gate prices – refer www.koorana.com.au

Continue on to Emu Park stopping off at the Singing Ship Monument (yes this does produce a musical sound in a gentle sea breezes) to capture the magnificent vista out over Keppel Bay.

Meander northwards to the Coast's main town of Yeppoon where a visit to the award winning Horse & Carriage will take you on a journey back in time as you view Queensland's largest collection of beautifully restored horse drawn vehicles on public display - refer www.thehorseandcarriage.com

Then for an absolute contrast, walk around the corner to the award winning Champions Brock Experience, a living legacy to Australian icon and motorsport legend, Peter Brock. This is the largest collection of Peter Brock memorabilia, race & road cars in the country and the Legend Show Spectacular relives his life with footage set to music and light show – refer www.championsbrockexperience.com.au

From Yeppoon the Scenic Loop Tourist Drive then cuts inland again towards Rockhampton, 38kms away.

3. Byfield National Park

If you are a craft and nature lover or 4WD & fishing enthusiast, then a trip to the Byfield National Park is a 'must do'. Situated some 78 kms from Discovery Holiday Parks - Rockhampton, this region is home to the rare Byfield Fern (Bohemia Serrata) with its major waterway, Waterpark Creek, host to ancient & towering remnant rainforest with many resident birds and animals.

Make your first stop, the award winning Nob Creek Pottery where you will see hundreds of beautifully handmade items on exhibit and all available for purchase. At the pottery there is also a children's playground and picnic facilities for family enjoyment plus a tropical rock pool to cool off in after a relaxing bush walk - refer www.cqnet.com.au/nobcreekpottery

Stop next at Waterpark Farm for a 3 hour journey through untouched tropical rainforest along Waterpark Creek finishing with a guided tour on a horse drawn wagon through a fully working Tea Tree Farm - refer www.waterparkecotours.com

For a light lunch, visit the Bush Café at the Byfield General Store which has on offer an all day breakfast and a great variety of burgers, sandwiches (toasted & untoasted), pies and drinks to choose from.

On your return journey, stop off at Cooberrie Park Wildlife Sanctuary, home to over 300 native animals where you can walk alongside and hand feed kangaroo's, peacocks and a variety of water birds, cuddle a koala or if you're very brave, handle a snake. Also available are interactive animal shows at 1.00pm daily - refer www.cooberriepark.com.au

2 Hours - Mt Archer

As evidenced by the number of large and impressive concrete bulls that adorn the city, Rockhampton is acknowledged as the Beef Capital of Australia and to start off a day of exploration, there is no better way than to first drive to the top of its highest peak, Mt Archer. From the summit you can see spectacular panoramic views of the city and Fitzroy River, the inland ranges and Capricorn Coast.

4 Hours - Capricorn Caves

Located just 23kms north of the city and winner of many major tourism awards, the Capricorn Caves are a unique system of above-ground limestone caves formed from an ancient coral reef over 400 million years ago, through which hourly guided tours are available daily. The cave's huge domed Cathedral Cavern will simply take your breath away with its peaceful serenity and amazing natural acoustics. Tours range from easy walking and wheelchair accessible to wild caving adventure experiences. There is also a kiosk and gift shop for your convenience where you can grab a coffee and light lunch whilst enjoying the peaceful surrounds of nature - refer www.capricorncaves.com.au

1 Hour - Heritage Village

This is a working museum where you will learn what it was like to live in the area between the 1850's & 1950's.

1 Hour - Heritage Walk / Archer Park Rail Museum

Take a stroll along the riverfront's Heritage Walk on the banks of the mighty Fitzroy River and if you are a railways enthusiast, a visit to the Archer Park Rail Museum is sure to please.

2 Hours - Rockhampton Botanic Gardens

Enjoy some refreshments under the banyon figs in the 130 year old Rockhampton Botanic Gardens, regarded as one of the best regional gardens in Australia and recently awarded with heritage listing.

1 Day - Mount Morgan / Mt Hay Gemstone Tourist Park

An easy drive of 40 minutes from Rockhampton via Bouldercombe, will find historical Mount Morgan which was established as a gold mining town in 1882 and continued to produce gold, silver and copper until the mine was closed in 1981. Entry to the old mine is restricted to guided tours only operated by TMC Guided Tours. These 2 hour plus tours depart from the Mount Morgan Railway station (also home to the Tourist Information Center) at 10.30am & 1.00pm daily and include a complete tour of the town taking in its traditional architecture, the heritage listed gold mine with its Open Cut Pit, main stack and aged buildings and the Fire Clay Caverns famous for early Jurassic Dinosaur footprints – refer www.tmctours.com.au

Leave Mount Morgan and take the road to the Capricorn Highway (A4) where a turn left will lead you to the Mt Hay Gemstone Tourist Park (approx. 30kms from the turnoff). Here you can experience the excitement of a guided tour that includes the excitement of fossicking for thundereggs, viewing the gemstone cutting & polishing operations and inspection of the pewter crafting workshop. Gemstone & pewter products available for purchase from the gift shop - refer www.mthaygems.com.au The return drive back to Rockhampton will take you around 30 minutes and passes through Gracemere, home to the largest livestock saleyards in the Southern Hemisphere.

1 Day - Blackwater International Coal Centre

If an insight into the Central Queensland coalmining industry is of interest, (and you are not travelling to Lake Maraboon & Longreach after finally departing "Rocky' - if you are, leave this option until then), a visit to the Blackwater International Coal Centre is just the thing.

Blackwateris an approximate 2 hour drive inland from Rockhampton and the International Coal Centre which opened in August 2008 showcases an amazing perspective of the Australian coal industry through interactive displays and intricate 3D models that will keep people of all ages captivated and intrigued for hours. Watch the entire open cut mining process from start to finish on a massive theatre screen or take a simulated ride in a dragline, coal hauler, tug boat or ship loader. And, if you still want more, be sure not to miss a guided tour (Note: the wearing of fully enclosed shoes is a compulsory safety & health requirement) to see first-hand a real working coal mine and experience the scale of operations and massive equipment used in the coal industry - refer www.bicc.com.au

Don't forget to leave enough time to relax by one of the Park's two fresh water swimming pools or for the more energetic, play a game of half court tennis. In the evening enjoy a delicious meal in the Park's fully licensed Bistro or Restaurant (the Bistro can also provide takeaways if preferred).

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