Yeppoon is an idyllic coastal town in Central Queensland that boasts stunning beaches and laid-back vibes. Aside from a few weeks in the Central Queensland Highlands for our first-ever Workaway, we spent most of the recent winter in the Rockhampton/Yeppoon area and are excited to share our top picks of places to visit with you. Read on for the full details of activities and things to do in Yeppoon and along the Capricorn Coast.
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Things to do in Yeppoon With Kids
Yeppoon is the main town on the Capricorn Coast, and it offers plenty for families. Here are our top recommendations for places to visit and things to do in the town.
Yeppoon Lagoon
We absolutely love the waterfront in Yeppoon, and the Yeppoon Lagoon is one of the best places to cool off on a hot day.
It’s a huge, free swimming pool with lifeguards on the beach edge. And if you prefer an ocean swim, you’ve got that option too.
The grassy areas are perfect for a picnic, plus there’s a small cafe on-site. And if you want to make a day of it, the lagoon is right next to Appleton Park and the Yeppoon Skate Park, so there’s plenty for the kids to do.
Appleton Park
Appleton Park is a top pick for places to take the kids in Yeppoon. It features a playground with a climbing pyramid and small biking circuit, plus a skate park.
The park is next to the Yeppoon Lagoon and the beach, so it’s ideal if you also want to swim and hang out for longer.
Keppel Kraken
Keppel Kraken is another fantastic waterfront spot, not far from the Yeppoon Lagoon and Appleton Park. It’s a water play area for young kids. Plus, it has a playground and beachfront location, so you can easily move between activities. I recommend basing yourself around here if you want to easily grab an ice cream or fish and chips, as the town is only steps away. Top tip: walk through the cute little town from here and enjoy a delicious gelato from 1770 Gelato Co.
Snorkel the Great Barrier Reef
Rosslyn is a small coastal town, about 9km south of Yeppoon. It’s home ot the Keppel Bay Marina, the departing point for trips to the Great Keppel Islands, and a spectacular section of the Southern Great Barrier Reef. You can catch a ferry from Roslyn to Great Keppel Island and enjoy free time around the island, or book a snorkeling tour to explore secluded bays and wildlife hotspots.
Discover the turquoise waters of the Southern Great Barrier Reef on this 6-hour all-ages snorkeling tour to Great Keppel Island. It includes snorkel gear, stand-up paddle boards, and an inflatable pontoon, perfect for relaxing above the reef. Enjoy relaxing on the beautiful white sands of a secluded beach and snorkeling in crystal-clear waters teeming with tropical fish. The tour includes lunch and snorkeling gear.
Shell World Yeppoon
Our girls love discovering shells on the beach, so we were excited to check out Shell World Yeppoon. It’s a lovely little museum inside the visitor centre with more than 20,000 shells from around the world.
You can buy plenty of shells and souvenirs, including impressive on-site art creations. While you’re there, pick up leaflets on places to visit in and around Yeppoon and Rockhampton.
Pineapple Trail
The Pineapple Trail is an off-road, paved trail for walking and cycling in Yeppoon. It’s 4.5km one way, or 9km return, so an ideal length for an active family outing. It starts on the corner of Braithwaite and James Streets, just across from Coles, and finishes at Capricorn Coast Golf Club and Club Estate in Barmaryee (although you can walk or bike in either direction). The weekly Yeppoon Parkrun is held on the Pineapple Trail on Saturday mornings.
Spring Head Lookout
If you’re looking for a nice place for a picnic and awesome views in Yeppoon, check out Spring Head Lookout (above the south end of Farnborough Beach). It features picnic benches, a big grassy area for the kids to play, and picturesque views of the coastline.
Farnborough Beach and the Yeppoon Rotary Park
Yeppoon Rotary Park is below the Spring Head Lookout. It’s a good option if you’re after a fenced playground for the kids. The park is at Farnborough Beach, a long, sandy stretch. It also allows four-wheel driving along the beach.
PCYC Capricorn Coast Aquatic Centre
The Yeppoon Lagoon is a pretty special spot for swimming in Yeppoon. However, it can be very windy at times and may be a little cold for some people in winter! The PCYC Capricorn Coast Aquatic Centre at Cooee Bay is a good winter alternative with a heated outdoor lane swimming pool and indoor pool (the indoor pool is warmer than the outdoor one!)
Things to do on the Capricorn Coast
Many pristine beaches and exciting adventures are just a short drive from the Yeppoon town center. Driving the scenic route along the Capricorn Coast is a must-do. Here’s what you’ll find along the way.
Wreck Point Lookout
Wreck Point Lookout is a gorgeous spot to take the kids very near Yeppoon. We were lucky enough to watch paragliders launching from the hillside while enjoying the stunning coastal views.
There’s a super short track (like 5 minutes) down the hillside to the beach. Take the right trail to the North end of Lammermoor Beach. The track is rough and without railings, but if you’re comfortable with that, it makes for a nice little family-friendly adventure.
Lammermoor Beach
Lammermoor Beach is an excellent destination on the Capricorn Coast for families. It has a long, flat pavement just back from the beach for scooters, bikes, and walking.
While you’re there, check out the Soldier Crabs sculpture. It includes a couple of fun facts. E.g., these crabs walk forward, rather than the usual sideways scuttle!
The beach is great for swimming at high tide or exploring the rocks at low tide.
Capricorn Coast National Park
Double Heads Section
Wow! The Double Heads Section of the Capricorn Coast National Park is simply breathtaking. It’s the perfect place for family-friendly exploration, with short trails, beaches, and spectacular lookouts.
Start by taking a short walk up the hill. After a short while, the path has two branches, one to the Roslyn Bay Lookout and the other to Fan Rock Lookout.
The Roslyn Bay Lookout is a nice spot to view the marina from above, and maybe watch a boat returning from Keppel Island. Fan Rock Lookout boasts striking rock formations and superb views of the islands and Kemp Beach below.
After enjoying the lookout vistas, head back down and then take the other short path to Pebble Beach to hang out and enjoy the serenity.
Finally, walk back to the car park and down to Kemp Beach to swim or play in the sand.
Bluff Point Walking Trail
I am so in love with this coastline! Even on a mega windy winter evening, it was gorgeous, moody skies and all!
The Bluff Point Walking Track is a short, must-do coastal walkway with unbeatable views. It’s also part of the Capricorn Coast National Park. This one, and the shorter Double Heads section, would be my top picks if you only had time to do one or two walks in the area.
The Bluff Point Walking Trail is a 2.3km loop and only takes about 45 minutes, including time to enjoy the lookouts. I always allow double the time if I’m walking with young kids.
You could make it a bit shorter by walking straight up to the lookouts and back, but the loop is worth it, as there are great views on the other side too.
From the hilltop, you can see the Double Heads section, which looks tiny in comparison. Both hills are relatively small, but the vistas are so rewarding.
The Bluff Point Walking Trail also has some info signs along the way, sharing insights about the area’s ancient volcanic landscape.
Causeway Lake
Causeway Lake earns its place as a stop in your Capricorn Coast itinerary. It’s a nice spot to take a picnic lunch or dinner, or enjoy some fish n chips from the lake shop. There’s also a small playground if you need something extra for younger kids.
We loved watching the huge pelicans on the lake and enjoyed a brilliant sunset. The only annoyance was the somewhat aggressive seagulls that really wanted our dinner!
Causeway Lake is next to Mulambin Beach, which is super lovely, so you can easily combine visits to both into one outing.
Coolwaters Yeppoon
Coolwaters Yeppoon (part of Discovery Parks) is a fantastic accommodation option for families in Yeppoon. Or, if, like us, you’re just looking for fun places to go, you can grab a day pass from reception for $10 per person.
Our kids had hours of fun in the pool, playing on the slides, and especially the jumping pillow, which they loved. There’s also a playground, tennis courts, and loungers for relaxation.
Although Yeppoon has the lagoon pool, and also amazing swimming beaches, we opted for Coolwaters because it was windy and cool down at the main beach area (as it often is in the spring/early summer season).
Emu Park
Emu Park is a gorgeous spot on the Capricorn Coast for families. Park at the singing ship, or start down the hill at the Emu Park skate park if your kids have wheels.
The singing ship offers stunning views of the coastline (and yes, you can hear it sing if there’s a bit of wind!). Signs from the viewing platform show the names of each island off the coast, and from there you can follow the Memorial Walk, along a short walkway to Emu Park main beach.
The beach is beautiful, and there’s also a covered playground (Kerr Park Playground) for the kids. It’s definitely easy to spend a half or even a whole day enjoying Emu Park with kids.
Capricorn Dinosaur Park and Mini Golf
Capricorn Dinosaur Park and Mini Golf is a fun place to take the kids near Yeppoon (it’s on the way to Byfield).
There are three separate attractions at this location – the dinosaur park, mini golf, and Cooberrie Park (a wildlife park).
So if you wanted a big day out, you could stay and visit two or all three attractions. But it’s worth noting the ticket prices are separate.
I took Romy on a special outing for just the two of us. We visited the dinosaur park and paid $40 for one adult and one child. At first, the price seemed quite high, but we thought it was really worth it! The attractions are engaging and well-maintained, and we had a lot of fun.
You can also bring your own food, and the park has designated picnic areas where you can relax and eat.
The dinosaur park is a 1km walk with various dinosaurs and related props along the way. The walk itself is informative and fun, and kids get a booklet with info and activities. Romy (7) loved it and wanted to read and finish her booklet as soon as we got home.
We spent a little under two hours at the dinosaur park. We’d definitely recommend it if you’re looking for things to do on the Capricorn Coast with kids.
Book your dinosaur park entry ticket here.
Upper Stoney Creek in Byfield
Freshwater swimming holes are one of our favorite places to find on our travels, and this one delivered!
Upper Stoney Creek is in Byfield, about a 30-minute drive from Yeppoon. It’s in the Byfield State Forest, a beautiful natural area, and even the drive there is lovely. You do have to drive on a gravel road, but it should be doable in a regular car if you take it slowly and watch for potholes.
This creek is in Central Queensland, so the first week in September was warm enough for us all to swim! The water was cool, but we have definitely been swimming in much colder places!
The water was crystal clear and calm, with so many little fish. We also enjoyed watching a very relaxed turtle cruise alongside us! There are a few rope swings around, but take care, as the water can be a bit shallow in places.
We also loved relaxing and warming up in the grassy area. The whole place is nicely maintained with picnic benches, toilets, BBQs, and a camping section. We highly recommend visiting for a fun and energizing day out in nature. (Bring your mosquito repellent!)
Inland Adventures from Yeppoon
Yeppoon is only about 40km from Rockhampton, where you’ll find plenty more to explore. The following attractions are a similar distance and well worth adding to your Capricorn Coast itinerary.
Capricorn Caves
We loved our visit to the Capricorn Caves near Rockhampton/Yeppoon! We did the 45-minute Cathedral Cave tour, which is perfect for all ages and a great introduction to the caves’ beauty.
Although there are more adventurous cave tours on offer here (The Capricorn Explorer and Capricorn Adventurer), we still got to make our way through a tight space, discover various parts of the caves, and walk across a suspension bridge, which was fun.
Our favorite part was experiencing the cave in pitch blackness with all the lights out!
We’d definitely recommend visiting the Capricorn Caves if you’re in the area.
Mount Etna Caves Trail
For family-friendly hiking trails near Yeppoon and Rockhampton, try the Mount Etna Caves Trail. It’s pretty close to the Capricorn Caves, so a good walk to take after your cave tour.
The trail is mostly steps and relatively easy, with about 120 meters of elevation gain. It took our family about 45 minutes to get up and down.
The trail doesn’t go quite to the top of Mount Etna, but instead to Bat Cleft, the home to the largest known breeding colony of microbats in Australia.
There are a couple of good lookout spots near the top of the trail and pinnacles of ancient limestone karst at Bat Cleft.
We hope you now have tons of fantastic ideas for things to do in Yeppoon and nearby. Have an incredible trip!
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