Yeppoon is a coastal town in Central Qld with a colourful history dating back to 1865. Yeppoon is renowned for its beaches, tropical climate, and the islands out on the bay. Twenty-five minutes from the city of Rockhampton Yeppoon is the principal town on the Capricorn Coast.  Great Keppel Island is only 30 minutes by boat.

Emu Park Bowls Club

Internet to the rescue & I have been for a few games of bingo since arriving in Yeppoon.


Weather was perfect when we arrived but that beautiful weather didn't last for too long unfortunately.  We have now been here for 3 weeks and no matter what the weather we are heading for Clairview on Thurs 31 May.

The Singing Ship

Even though the weather hasn't been too kind we've had a great stay at Kinka Beach (Yeppoon) 

Sunset at Coolwaters Caravan Park - Kinka Beach

Some of the Keppel Group of Islands

Causeway Lake at Kinka Beach

Keppel Bay from Wreck Point

MT HAY CAMP SITE ENTRANCE

 Left Monto and our plans were to stay at Mount Hay  just off the Capricorn Highway. I was so eager to fossick for Thunder Eggs but I kept getting this nagging feeling....this is what we found 

ROAD TO VAN PARK

The Camp site was no better than these photos and the possibility of finding Thunder Eggs looked as dim as the Caravan Park.  Paul quickly made a U-turn and we high tailed it back onto the Highway & made our way to Rockhampton.

We travelled on to Gracemere which is only 5kms out of Rockhampton. It made an excellent base for us and we thoroughly enjoyed the above view from our Annex

Rockhampton, sits on the Tropic of Capricorn and its claim to fame is being the Beef Capital of Australia.  Population is approx 58,000 and swells by some 75,000  during Beef Cattle Expo which is held once every 3 years after Labor Day weekend 

THERE ARE 6 BULL STATUES REPRSENTING EACH BREED IN THE AREA 

TROPIC OF CAPRICORN

Rockhampton is a much larger Town than we imagined with plenty to offer in the way of sightseeing.  The Riverside Walk along the Fitzroy River and Heritage Trail filled up our day around Rockhampton.  There are some beautiful Buildings which thankfully have been restored to their former glory.  A little bit out of the ordinary is The Great Western Hotel which features real life bull riding twice a week & has won 2012 'Best Steak House'

RIVERSIDE WALK

EAST ST ROCKHAMPTON

FITZROY RIVER

ROCKHAMPTON FROM MT ARCHER 

Mt Archer National Park provides magnificent views of the city... from Frazer Park, the summit of Mt Archer, you are approximately 604 metres above sea level.

BEWARE 'CROCODILES'

Criterion Hotel/Motel

Historic Quay Street

Just some 35kms on the Capricorn Coast Highway are the towns of     Yeppoon, Rosslyn Harbour, Kinka Beach and Emu Park.

 

We are booked in at Yeppoon as from Thurs 10 May and will more than likely have 2 weeks there.  The weather is glorious at present and a few lazy days by the beach & around the pool will be right up our alley 

MOUNT MORGAN's biggest claim to fame is the Mount Morgan Mine, which was mined for 99yrs.  It yielded a total of 225 tonnes of gold, 50 tonnes of silver & 360,000 tonnes of copper.   The town is situated 40 kms south west of Rockhampton.  The population today is around 3,000  whereas in its peak the town was home for up to 16,000. It is 260 metres above sea level. These days the biggest drawcard is the Golden Mount Festival which is an historic event that has been running since 1977. It  is held over three day's during the May Day Labor weekend and is a celebration of the Mount Morgan Community and its rich history.    The festival kicks off with street markets, a procession, and the famous 'Running of the Cutter'. There is also the Golden Mount Festival Rodeo as well as a  family day at the Dam with games, poetry, races and competitions.

 

The Mine and Railway Museum (also pictured is a restored steam engine from early 1900's which was built in Leeds UK & was used up until  1968)

 

Sadly our week's stay at Gracemere is up but we've had a great stay and a good look around Rockhampton & its surrounding areas.

MONTO 
Europeans first settled in the area in the late 1840s 

MURAL ON MONTO WATER TOWER

MONTO HISTORICAL MUSUEM

Steve's destination is Katherine

Gold was found along Three Moon Creek, a tributary of the Burnett River.  The original site where the gold was found  has since been flooded during the construction of Cania Dam .    Like many small towns Monto is rapidly dying.   Many businesses have either closed or are up for sale.   Closure of the rail line has not helped and nor did the closure of the dairy co-op. 


 From our camp site we drove out to Cania Gorge, which is approx 30kms from Monto

MONTO CARAVAN PARK

Cania Gorge Picnic Area

Cania Gorge

CANIA GORGE is a dramatic landscape of gullies, caves and sandstone cliffs