Things to do in Yeppoon: A guide for families
Yeppoon is a little town with a big heart and there are plenty of family-friendly things to do here. Located on the Capricorn Coast near Rockhampton, Yeppoon is your gateway to the southern end of the Great Barrier Reef.
Here are some of the best family-friendly things to do in Yeppoon.
Swim at the Yeppoon Lagoon (top free thing to do in Yeppoon)
Swimming at the Yeppoon Lagoon is one of the best free things to do in Yeppoon. This 2,500 SQM lagoon pool features a swim-up infinity edge with great views across to the Keppel Islands. There is also a shallow children’s area, sun lounges on the grass, and a kiosk.
Yeppoon Lagoon is patrolled by lifesavers and is open from 6 am to 9 pm daily in summer and 8 am to 6 pm daily in Winter. Although entry to the Yeppoon Lagoon is free, parking near the lagoon costs $2 per hour. Free parking is available 800m away at the Yeppoon Town Centre Carpark.
Grab some goggles and go snorkelling
Not many people know this, but there is actually some pretty amazing snorkelling to be found in the Yeppoon region. Two of the easiest to reach from the shore are on Great Keppel Island, which makes for a great day trip.
Shelving Point Reef is the closest snorkel site to the accommodation on Great Keppel Island. It sits within a protected bay known as Shelving Beach and can be reached directly from Fisherman’s Beach or by boat.
Monkey Beach Reef is about a 40-minute walk from Fisherman’s Beach and can also be reached by boat. There are 38 different coral species here, and it’s not uncommon to see turtles.
Relax on a beach
There are at least 10 beaches between Yeppoon and Emu Park, and most of them are pretty nice. The tide is fairly extreme here, meaning that when the tide goes out, it often goes right out. This is great for young kids who are happy playing in the sand and splashing around in the puddles left behind.
Yeppoon Main Beach, Kemp Beach, Kinka Beach and Emu Park Beach are all popular spots, but if you would like to cruise along the sand in your 4WD, Farnborough Beach is where to head. Cruising Farnborough Beach in your 4WD is one of the most memorable things to do in Yeppoon.
See the Singing Ship at Emu Park
Around 15 minutes down the road from Yeppoon is Emu Park and the well-known Singing Ship. Set in a great location against the backdrop of the ocean and Great Keppel Island in the distance, the ship has concealed pipes that create musical sounds when the wind breezes through it.
The ship commemorates the historical explorations of Captain James Cook, who discovered this area in May of 1770. From the Singing Ship, stroll the Memorial Walk down to the Gatehouse and Anzac Court. Nearby, you will find a small park for the kids and the northern end of Emu Park Main Beach. This is one of the great things to do in Yeppoon when you’re on a budget and/or want a chilled-out day.
Visit the Cooberrie Park Wildlife Sanctuary
The Cooberrie Park Wildlife Sanctuary cares for sick, injured or orphaned animals to be later released back into the wild. They do this without government assistance, so your support in visiting is much needed! This is a great family day out where you can pet, feed and interact with koalas, kangaroos, birds, possums, snakes, reptiles and more.
Don’t miss the animal show at 1 pm and if you plan to visit during the school holidays, ask them about their Junior Zoo Keeper program. This will be one of the kid’s favourite things to do in Yeppoon!
Do the Bluff Point walking track & stop at Turtle Lookout
Park your car at the southern end of Kemp Beach for the Bluff Point Walking Track, a 2.3km circuit with great views of the Keppel Islands. The track goes steadily upwards so expect a bit of huffing and puffing for those not used to inclines (like me). This is for those looking for active things to do in Yeppoon!
Along the way you will find Turtle Lookout and hopefully spot the green sea turtles popping their heads out at the nearby rocks and then ducking back down again. If you don’t wish to do the full circuit, just hike to Turtle Lookout and make your way back down. However, I recommend doing the whole walk as the views from the top are awesome.
Tour the Koorana Crocodile Farm
Established in 1981, Koorana Crocodile Farm was Queensland’s first commercial croc farm and now has over 3,000 crocodiles. Visitors can book in for a fully guided tour (up to 1.5 hours) where they will learn about croc behaviour, walk the farm, see croc feeding and have a photo opportunity with a small croc.
From February to May, baby crocodiles are usually hatching and expected dates can be found on the website.
Day trip over to Great Keppel Island (one of the best things to do in Yeppoon)
Don’t miss the opportunity to day-trip over to Great Keppel Island with Freedom Fast Cats. Out of all the things to do in Yeppoon, this is one of my favourites!
On Great Keppel Island you can swim, snorkel, hike, bask in the sun and enjoy a great meal at the Great Keppel Island Holiday pub. I recommend hiking over to Monkey Beach for a spot of snorkelling before heading back to the pub for lunch and a nice swim. Alternatively, just relax on Fisherman Beach until the boat returns to get you.
Swim in Upper Stoney Creek and stay for a picnic (one of the best things to do in Yeppoon)
Located in the Byfield State Forest, Upper Stony Creek is a beautiful swimming hole with a large open campground, surrounded by pine forest and eucalypts. A short 1km stroll takes you along the creek, and the day-use area can be found directly on the left after crossing the bridge over the creek.
Part of the road is unsealed on the way in however, unless the weather has been wild, it’s accessible by a standard vehicle still.
4WD the tracks at Byfield National Park
Nearby to Byfield State Forest is Byfield National Park, which offers some 4WD fun with both inland tracks and beach driving. You will need to tackle Big Sandy on the first track, a one-kilometre sand dune that weeds out those who aren’t yet worthy of sand driving. Once you get past it, you’ll be able to enjoy the Stockyard Point Track, Death Valley Track and the Southern Access Track which will spit you out on Nine Mile Beach.
While you’re cruising the beach highway, keep an eye out for a sign pointing inland to the Orange Bowl. The Orange Bowl is a sand dune area in which you can climb up and slide down. This is another of my favourite things to do in Yeppoon.
Splash around at Keppel Kraken
Young kids will love the Keppel Kraken, a free water play feature on the Yeppoon Foreshore. It’s located right near the retail and dining precinct so grabbing a coffee or ice cream is no problem here. The Keppel Kraken features water cannon, jets and a unique umbrella bucket and is a pretty chill way to beat the summer heat.
Explore the Capricorn Caves
Around 35 minutes from Yeppoon are the Capricorn Caves at Mt Etna Caves National Park. The caves are privately owned and can only be explored by guided tour.
The Cathedral Cave Tour is the most popular, going for around 45 minutes and showcasing the largest and most spectacular caves. The Capricorn Explorer goes a bit more off the beaten path, visiting the Deep Vault Cave and The Flowerpot with helmets and headlights to guide you. The Capricorn Adventurer is for ages 10 years and up and is a step out of your comfort zone, exploring the most remote sections of the caves with a headlamp.
Check out Shell World
Shell World can be found at the Yeppoon Tourist Information Centre and features a display of over 20,000 shells. The shells include marine, land and fossil molluscs and some of them are incredibly pretty. People of all ages will enjoy this display and both shells and craft items are on sale. Entry is a gold coin donation so make sure you have some loose change.
Stroll the Yeppoon Community Markets
The Yeppoon Community Markets are held every Saturday from 6am – 10am at the local showgrounds and it is here that you will find all things grown, homemade and home baked. The market is well worth a visit to pick up fresh locally grown fruit and veges as well as having the opportunity to see local designers and artists.
Take in the sunset from Mount Archer
Just before sunset, take a drive up to Mount Archer (just under 40 minutes from Yeppoon) to take in sunset from the highest peak overlooking Rockhampton. At 604m above sea level, there is a great boardwalk to showcase the views. Don’t worry if you can’t make it for sunset, Mount Archer is lovely at any time of the day!
Where to stay in Yeppoon for families
The NRMA Yeppoon Holiday Park is amazing for families as it features an outdoor movie theatre, a giant water slide, jumping pillows and plenty of other fun stuff. If camping, the bathrooms are clean, and if not, the bungalows are wonderful. Read our full review of the NRMA Yeppoon Holiday Park for more information.
Resources for booking your family getaway to Central Queensland
Tickets
- Transfers to Great Keppel Island can be booked >>HERE<<
- Get your Capricorn Cave Tour Tickets >>HERE<<
- Jump on board your Keppel Island Sailing Cruise >>HERE<<
- Book your Keppel Island Snorkel Tour >>HERE<<
Accommodation
- The NRMA Yeppoon Holiday Park is amazing, particularly for those with kids as it features an outdoor movies theatre, giant water slide, jumping pillows, other fun stuff. If camping the bathrooms are clean and if not, the bungalows are wonderful!
- If you want to stay right near the Capricorn Caves, I recommend the Capricorn Caves Bungalows.
- For Rockhampton, I recommend the Empire Apartment Hotel or the Rockhampton Discovery Parks.
- If staying on Great Keppel Island, I recommend the Great Keppel Island Holiday Village.
- Byfield National Park camping information can be found here.
Getting to Central Queensland
Car Hire
Compare car prices across major brands >>here<<
Flights
Search for the best deal using I Want That Flight or Trip.com
Public Transport
Public transport to Rockhampton is limited to Trains and Buses from major capital cities. Research and book your options >>HERE<<
Want to discover more awesome places?
For more information on visiting Central Queensland, check out our Central Queensland page for family travel.
For inspiration on more destinations, head on back to the home page!
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