Pack your swimsuit, find torch, grab your boots and get ready for the adventure that is the Capricorn Region. Taking its name from the Tropic of Capricorn, this region is home to many remarkable towns and natural wonders. Create your own adventure holiday and take a self drive tour, visiting national parks and recreation areas. Saddle a horse and go riding along the beach or roll out a swag under the stars at a secluded bush campsite.
With plenty to see, do and learn, Capricorn offers a multitude of family-friendly fun. Start your adventure in Rockhampton, beef capital of Australia, a charming mixture of laidback country towns and a modern city lifestyle. Explore the wonders of the Great Barrier Reef and Keppel Bay Islands and enjoy the beautiful beaches of the Capricorn Coast. Find hidden gems in the Sapphire Gemfields and journey through rich rainforests which date back 160 million years of history at Carnarvon Gorge.
Explore the Capricorn Region and you’ll forge fond memories, not only of the beautiful places but of the friendly locals, who will help to make this adventure unforgettable.
How to get there:
Rockhampton, and the surrounding Capricorn region, is accessible by road, air and rail. Rockhampton Airport is exceptionally well serviced, with multiple daily flights to and from Brisbane, direct flights from Sydney and Melbourne and connections on to other ports around Australia and internationally.
Greyhound Australia operates from the central bus terminal in Rockhampton with multiple services connecting Rockhampton with Brisbane and Cairns daily. Paradise Coaches, Young’s, Rothery’s Coaches and Dowies are the major providers of bus services and tours across the region.
Queensland Rail’s Traveltrain operates train services daily to Rockhampton from Brisbane and Cairns and extends west to Longreach. High speed ‘tilt-train’ services run four times per week between Brisbane and Cairns. ‘The Sunlander’ and ‘Spirit of the Outback’ trains also run via Rockhampton to the Tropical North and Outback, offering an experience that is more than just a train journey.
Flight lengths to Rockhampton (direct) from:
Brisbane - 55mins
Sydney - 1h 45mins
Melbourne - 2h 30mins
Climate
Rockhampton is located on the Tropic of Capricorn and is therefore classified as having a subtropical climate. Typical daytime temperature ranges are between 22 and 32 degrees Celsius in the summer, and 9 to 23 degrees Celsius in the winter. Rockhampton has a distinct wet and dry season, with the wet stretching from December to March and the dry, June to September
Rockhampton and the Capricorn Coast:
Month Jan Feb Mar April May June July August Sept Oct Nov Dec
Max 31.9 31.0 30.5 28.7 25.9 23.5 23.1 24.7 27.3 29.6 31.2 32.1
Min 22.0 22.1 20.7 17.8 14.2 10.8 9.4 10.6 13.5 16.9 19.4 21.1
Emerald and the Sapphire Gemfields:
Month Jan Feb Mar April May June July August Sept Oct Nov Dec
Max 35.0 33.7 33.2 30.0 26.3 23.7 23.4 25.1 29.0 31.5 33.2 34.4
Min 22.3 22.3 20.4 17.2 13.4 10.2 8.8 10.2 13.6 17.4 19.5 21.5
Where to stay
The Capricorn Region has a range of accommodation options, from budget cabins and camping, to luxury apartments and resorts. For further information and availability, please visit www.capricornonline.com.au.
Food and Drink
With the best of both worlds, from coast to country, it is no wonder that Capricorn's cuisine is as diverse as the region it comes from. Sure, Rockhampton is known as the Beef Capital of Australia but beef is not the only thing on the menu in the Capricorn!
Whether it is a casual lunch of fish and chips by the sea, a trademark succulent Rocky steak at a local pub or real Aussie 'tucker' cooked over an outback campfire, you are sure to love the local flavours. Many local restaurants have kids’ menus and family friendly dining options - please see the dining guide for further information.
To browse the dining guide, please visit http://www.capricornholidays.com.au/things_to_see/dining-guide.cfm.
What to wear
Casual lightweight clothing is sufficient for most of the year in the Sunshine Coast. A jacket or warmer clothing may be required for cooler winter evenings. Long pants and comfortable walking shoes are recommended if you plan to do any bushwalking or horse riding. Swimsuits are recommended if visiting costal/island areas. Hat, sunglasses and sunscreen are essential all year round. Snorkelling and dive equipment is available for hire from a number of operators.
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