Camping in Capricorn

Capricorn stretches from the beaches of Yeppoon to the sandstone of Carnarvon Gorge, with Rockhampton sitting right on the Tropic of Capricorn that gives the region its name. The tropic runs through a band more than 500 km wide where the tropical and temperate zones overlap, so a trip here can take in reef islands, outback gemfields and one of Queensland's great gorges.

Where is the best place to camp in Capricorn?

For the beach, stay on the Capricorn Coast around Yeppoon, about 40 km north-west of Rockhampton on Keppel Bay, where the main beach has a patrolled swimming area. For Carnarvon Gorge, BIG4 Breeze Carnarvon Gorge is one of the closest parks, and Rolleston, about 70 km away, is the town gateway. Inland, Emerald is the base for the Central Highlands, Lake Maraboon Tourist Park is on the lake, and out at the Gemfields, Rubyvale and Sapphire have their own camps for fossickers.

What is there to do in Capricorn with kids?

In Rockhampton, the zoo and botanical gardens sit together on The Range, the Heritage Village is in town, and near Yeppoon, Shell World is close to the parks, with Great Keppel Island about 20 km offshore. In Emerald, the Outback Exploratorium is in town, and the sapphire fields to the west, described as the largest in the southern hemisphere, are where families come to fossick.

• Rockhampton Zoo – Animals, The Range. Closest campground: Southside Holiday Village, 2 km
• Rockhampton Botanical Gardens – Gardens and outdoors, The Range. Closest campground: Southside Holiday Village, 1 km
• Archer Park Rail Museum – Museums and history, Rockhampton City. Closest campground: Riverside Tourist Park, under 1 km
• Rockhampton Heritage Village – Museums and history, Parkhurst. Closest campground: Country Club, 1 km
• Pioneer Village – Museums and history, Capella. Closest campground: Capella Van Park, under 1 km
• Shell World – Museums and history, Yeppoon. Closest campground: Blue Dolphin Caravan Park, under 1 km
• Pioneer Cottage – Museums and history, Emerald. Closest campground: Emerald Tourist Park, under 1 km
• Outback Exploratorium Science Museum – Museums and history, Emerald. Closest campground: Emerald Cabin & Caravan Village, 1 km
• Marlborough Historical Museum – Museums and history, Marlborough. Closest campground: Marlborough Motel And Van Park, 1 km
• Mount Morgan Historical Museum – Museums and history, Mount Morgan. Closest campground: Kangaroo Country Caravan Park, 23 km
• Rockpool Water Park – Swimming, Frenchville. Closest campground: Discovery Parks, 1 km
• Emerald Aquatic Centre – Swimming, Emerald. Closest campground: Emerald Cabin & Caravan Village, under 1 km
• Rolleston Swimming Pool – Swimming, Rolleston. Closest campground: Rolleston Caravan Park, under 1 km
• South Rockhampton Pool – Swimming, Wandal. Closest campground: Riverside Tourist Park, 1 km
• Bauhinia Memorial Swimming Pool – Swimming, Springsure. Closest campground: Springsure Roadhouse and Caravan Park, 1 km
• Don Ireland Swimming Complex – Swimming, Emu Park. Closest campground: Keppel Sands Caravan Park, 9 km
• Mount Morgan Swimming Pool – Swimming, Mount Morgan. Closest campground: Kangaroo Country Caravan Park, 23 km

What are the best walks and waterfalls in Capricorn?

Carnarvon Gorge is about 30 km long and up to 600 metres deep at its mouth, and its main track runs 10 km up the gorge to the Moss Garden, the Amphitheatre, Wards Canyon and the Art Gallery, one of its significant Aboriginal rock art sites, tied to Dreamtime stories of the Rainbow Serpent. Near Rockhampton, Capricorn Caves are open to visit, and near Springsure, Minerva Hills National Park and the Virgin Rock cliff are worth the detour.

• Carnarvon Gorge main walking track (Boolimba Bluff) – Walk, Carnarvon Gorge. Closest campground: BIG4 Breeze Carnarvon Gorge, 4 km
• Carnarvon Gorge main walking track (Moss Garden) – Walk, Carnarvon Gorge. Closest campground: BIG4 Breeze Carnarvon Gorge, 6 km
• Yeppoon Main Beach – Swimming spot. Closest campground: Blue Dolphin Caravan Park, under 1 km
• Capricorn Caves – Cave. Closest campground: Parkhurst Motel and Van Park, 15 km
• Kershaw Gardens Waterfall – Waterfall. Closest campground: Riverside Tourist Park, under 1 km
• Carnarvon Gorge main walking track (Wards Canyon) – Walk, Carnarvon Gorge. Closest campground: Cabbage Tree Camping Zone, 6 km
• Carnarvon Gorge main walking track (The Amphitheatre) – Walk, Carnarvon Gorge. Closest campground: Cabbage Tree Camping Zone, 7 km
• Carnarvon Gorge main walking track (The Art Gallery) – Walk, Carnarvon Gorge. Closest campground: Cabbage Tree Camping Zone, 7 km
• Cathedral Cave – Cave, Carnarvon Gorge. Closest campground: Cabbage Tree Camping Zone, 7 km
• Sandstone Park Lookout – Lookout. Closest campground: Sandstone Park, under 1 km
• Wreck Point Lookout – Lookout. Closest campground: Poinciana Tourist Park, under 1 km
• Fairbairn Dam East – Lookout. Closest campground: Lake Maraboon Tourist Park, 1 km
• Boardwalk & Viewing Platform – Lookout. Closest campground: Blue Gem Tourist Park, 1 km
• Fairbairn Dam – Lookout. Closest campground: Lake Maraboon Tourist Park, 2 km
• Agnes Street Lookout – Lookout. Closest campground: Southside Holiday Village, 2 km

Is it safe to swim in Capricorn?

At Yeppoon, swim in the patrolled area of the main beach. Marine stingers such as box jellyfish and Irukandji are in tropical Queensland waters all year, with the higher-risk season from November to May, so swim between the flags, inside stinger nets where they are provided, and wear a stinger suit.

Are there powered sites in Capricorn?

Yes. 8 campgrounds here have powered sites confirmed, including Emerald Tourist Park, BIG4 Breeze Carnarvon Gorge and Rolleston Caravan Park. For the rest we are still confirming, so check with the park or holiday park before you book a powered site.

How far is Rockhampton from Brisbane?

Rockhampton is about 600 km north of Brisbane by road and Yeppoon about 672 km. Carnarvon Gorge is roughly 593 km north-west of Brisbane, and Emerald, in the Central Highlands, about 832 km.

Facts from Wikipedia, "Rockhampton" (CC BY-SA 4.0), Wikipedia, "Carnarvon Gorge" (CC BY-SA 4.0), Wikipedia, "Emerald, Queensland" (CC BY-SA 4.0), Wikipedia, "Yeppoon" (CC BY-SA 4.0), Wikipedia, "Springsure, Queensland" (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Queensland Government, dangerous marine animals.

Map of campgrounds in Capricorn

28 campgrounds

• Emerald Tourist Park — Emerald, QLD. camp kitchen, caravan sites, drinking water, dump point, laundry, powered sites, showers, tent sites, toilets, wifi
• BIG4 Breeze Carnarvon Gorge — Rewan, QLD. caravan sites, drinking water, dump point, powered sites, tent sites, toilets, wifi
• Rolleston Caravan Park — Rolleston, QLD. camp kitchen, caravan sites, laundry, powered sites, showers, tent sites, toilets
• Springsure Roadhouse and Caravan Park — Springsure, QLD. caravan sites, powered sites, showers, tent sites, toilets
• Bedford Weir Camping Reeerve — Blackwater, QLD. caravan sites, showers, tent sites, toilets
• Poinciana Tourist Park — Cooee Bay, QLD. dump point, powered sites, wifi
• Sandstone Park — Rewan, QLD. caravan sites, tent sites, toilets
• Cabbage Tree Camping Zone — Carnarvon Park, QLD. tent sites
• Capella Van Park — Capella, QLD. powered sites
• Consuelo camping zone — Carnarvon Park, QLD. tent sites
• Discovery Parks — Norman Gardens, QLD. wifi
• Parkhurst Motel and Van Park — Parkhurst, QLD. powered sites
• Riverside Tourist Park — Berserker, QLD. powered sites
• Sapphire 48Hr Camping Reserve — The Gemfields, QLD. toilets
• Beachside Caravan Park — Yeppoon, QLD
• Blue Dolphin Caravan Park — Yeppoon, QLD
• Blue Gem Tourist Park — The Gemfields, QLD
• Country Club — Parkhurst, QLD
• Dingo Caravan Park — Dingo, QLD
• Emerald Cabin & Caravan Village — Emerald, QLD
• Gracemere Caravan Park — Gracemere, QLD
• Kangaroo Country Caravan Park — Midgee, QLD
• Keppel Sands Caravan Park — Keppel Sands, QLD
• Lake Maraboon Tourist Park — Gindie, QLD
• Marlborough Motel And Van Park — Marlborough, QLD
• Rubyvale Caravan Park — Rubyvale, QLD
• Southside Holiday Village — Allenstown, QLD
• Upper Stony Campground — Byfield, QLD

Region boundary: ABS ASGS Edition 3 Tourism Regions 2021 (Tourism Research Australia), CC BY 4.0.