 About the area: This region is known for its small townships, pineapple and sugar cane plantations, beautiful beaches, great river and ocean fishing and the many picturesque offshore islands that form the southern section of the Great Barrier Reef. It well known for its superb swimming and dive locations and an idyllic climate where year round the average daily temperature is 25 degrees Celsius.
The climate is warm, moist and amazingly equable, verying little in temperature between winter and summer, but because of the rainfall distribution, May to October is the best time of the year for visitors.
The jewell in the crown of the central coastal regions of Queensland is without doubut the Whitsunday Islands. They are the most well known and well visited island group in Australia and have become the epitome of the perfect tropical island holiday destination. The Whitsundays are Austalia's premier tourist attractions and holiday destinations, considered by Australians and overseas visitors alike as a very special part of Australia.
Whitsunday Islands: these are the most well known and well visited island group in Australia. One of the country's major tourist attractions and holiday destinations, these islands are centrally located on the Queensland Coast 150km north of Mackay and 300km south of Townsville in the heart of the World Heritage listed Great Barrier Reef. The main islands lie directly between the Queensland Coast and The Great Barrier Reef to the east. Eight of the islands have resort facilities. The Whitsundays are the epitome of the perfect tropical island holiday destination and are synonymous with the image of paradise.
Bowen: Situated to the north of the Whitsunday Islands, Bowen was for many years seen as nothing more than a stepping off point to the islands, but in recent years it has come into its own as a travel destination in its own right. The snorkelling and diving off Bowen's beaches is said to be amoungst some of the best on the east coast of Australia. For those who want the fringing coral, blue water and fantastic year round weather of The Whitsundays, but without the crowds, Bowen and the Gloucester Islands offshore is the obvious choice.
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Singing Ship at Emu Park
The Capricorn Coast: A coastal strip of deserted beaches, sparkling white sands and small seaside villages on or around the Tropic of Capricorn. Contrasts range from rainforest to reef, outback to wetlands, camping islands to mainland sand dunes. The Capricorn Coast region is spared the higher temperatures and humidity of North Queensland. As a result visitors in summer often find the more temperate climate easier than the extremes further north.
Rockhampton is the regional centre. A city of considerable charm, Rockhampton experiences over 300 days of sunshine each year, which lends itself to tourism activities all year round and an abundance of outdoor activities in the area.
Mount Morgan: This is one of, if not the most beguiling, eccentic former mining town in Australia. Home to one of the world's richest gold discoveries, Mount Morgan's history is a quintessentially Australian story. The town's grand buildings, swinging bridges, museums, massive man made caverns dug out by the early miners and uncovered Jurassic dinosaur footprints all combine to make a visit to this charming place a totally unique experience.
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The Hibiscus Coast: This relatively small stretch of coast to the north of Mackay is an area of relatively isolated beaches backed by fertile sugar fields and unique mountain formations. Seaforth and Halliday Beaches are two largely untouched beaches that are very popular with visitors and locals for their picnic and barbecue areas dotted along the foreshore. Cape Hillsborough is an area of exceptional beauty - it features rock-strewn, sandy beaches, hoop pine-dotted hillsides plunging towards the sea, subtropical rainforest and mangrove-fringed wetlands. But what visitors like best is the rare treat of viewing wallabies feeding on the beach around sunrise or late evenings.
Finch Hatton Gorge
Eungella: High above the surrounding plains, the mist-shrouded and forest-clad mountains around Eungella are a dramatic contrast to the coastal islands and beaches just a short distance away. Here are several communities that are rich in history, from gold mining to timber milling and dairy farming. Eungella and nearby Broken River are prime destinations for bush walking. Broken River is home to the Platypus and there is even a viewing platform from which to spot these shy creatures in their natural habitat.
On their doorstep is Eungella National Park, an isolated mountain refuge dissected by gorges close to the boundary between subtropical and tropical rainforests.
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| Visiting The Region: The Facts |
Best Time To Go: The climate is subtropical. From November to March humidity is generally high, but sea breezes bring relief along the coast. Winter is mild and sunny with cool nights (July and August). The best time to visit is from September to November. Tropical storms can occur from November to April (mostly during January to March).
Drives:
Cruises:
Walks:
Flights
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How to Get There: The Capricorn Coast is serviced daily by the Tilt Train from Brisbane and coastal regions between Rockhampton and Brisbane.
The region is accessed by road via Bruce Highway which passes north from Brisbane through the Sunshine Coast, Fraser Coast and South Burnett regions.
The Whitsundays are around 1,100km north of Brisbane (15 hours drive by road). Rockhampton is 616km north of Brisbane. Both Rockhampton and Gladstone are located on the main North Coast Railway between Brisbane and Cairns. By road the Coral Coast is accessed via the Bruce Hwy from the North & South, and the Capricorn Hwy from the West.
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Natural Wonders
Natural Attractions
Waterfalls
- Bamaga: Elliot Falls; Fruit Bat Falls
- Rossville: Trevethan Falls; Hidden Falls
- Wujal Wujal: Bloomfield Falls
- Cooktown: Isabella Falls; Endeavour Falls
Historic Places
Misc. Attractions
- Georgetown: Cumberland Chimney (remnant of an old gold crushing plant built by Cornish masons); Cobbold and Copperfield Gorges Aboriginal rock art galleries
- Thursday Island: Cape York (northernmost tip of mainland Australia)
- Weipa: Weipa bauxite mine; Aboriginal canoe trees; Aboriginal shell mounds (around 200 000 tonnes of shells which seem to have been placed in the area about 800 years ago. How and why they got there is a mystery)
- Daintree: 'Big Barramundi'; Daintree Rainforest Discovery Centre; Timber Museum
- Laura: Split Rock Gallery, a significant collection of Aboriginal rock art depicting spirit figures (Giant Horse, Split Rock and Guguyanlangi Galleries); Jowalbinna art site; Normanby mining diggings
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