Is Yeppoon worth visiting? I have heard that question many times and the answer is a resounding yes! Yeppoon attractions begin with endless golden beaches and captivating views of the Keppel Bay Islands. The town has a friendly laid back vibe and within thirty minutes you can be enjoying the tropical splendour of Great Keppel Island.
Yeppoon is a slice of heaven that should be on every Queensland holiday makers radar. So, without further ado here is our list of the popular Yeppoon attractions Queensland.
Where is Yeppoon?
Yeppoon is nestled along the Capricorn Coast in Central Queensland. The town is 38km from the regional city of Rockhampton and 657km from Queensland’s state capital Brisbane. Yeppoon is the gateway to Great Keppel Island and the Southern Great Barrier Reef.
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Great Keppel Island
By far one of the most popular Yeppoon attractions is a day trip from Yeppoon to Great Keppel Island. Freedom Fast Cats ferries leave from Pier One at Rosslyn Bay at Yeppoon and take around half an hour to make the journey out to Great Keppel Island.
Once you land on Great Keppel Island you will be greeted by the white sandy beaches and the crystal clear waters of the island. Great Keppel Island is free of high rises giving it a true castaway feel.
With 17 beaches and several hiking tracks to explore you will find plenty to fill your day until the ferry returns in the afternoon. Laze on the beach and enjoy the sunshine or hire a snorkel and go diving into the inviting turquoise waters of Keppel Bay.
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Great Keppel Island Day Tours
For those who want to get the most out of their visit to the island there is a selection of day tours that leave from Yeppoon to Great Keppel Island.
Great Keppel Island Day Trip Bundle from Yeppoon
This day trip leaves from Keppel Bay Marina near Yeppoon. After a short ferry ride to Great Keppel Island take the time to explore the island at your own pace. Enjoy the island’s natural beauty with a bush walk, sunbathe or swim in crystal-clear water.
Snorkelling equipment and a set menu lunch and drink at the restaurant are included in the price of this tour.
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Great Keppel Island Leekes Creek Guided Kayak Tour
Discover the island’s natural beauty on a kayaking tour along Leekes Creek. This tour offers a different perspective of Great Keppel Island and takes you along the saltwater creek, where you will learn more about the island’s history before reaching a heritage-listed homestead and shearing shed.
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Great Keppel Island Accommodation
Once you experience the beauty of Great Keppel Island you will want to stay longer. There are a few Great Keppel Island accommodation options including cottages, cabins, glamping tents and family beach house accommodation.
Here are our picks for where to stay on Great Keppel Island.
Great Keppel Island Hideaway
Great Keppel Hideaway offers a fully licensed onsite restaurant with a choice of accommodation styles, but the star of the show are the beachfront bungalows with sea views of Putney Beach.
Surrounded by leafy green gardens the Hideaway also has a range of queen rooms, budget family rooms, triple rooms, and cabins with garden views.
The Hideaway also offers meal and accommodation packages for a worry free island getaway.
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Great Keppel Island Holiday Village
Just a 2-minute walk to Fisherman’s Beach, the Great Keppel Island Holiday Village have a variety of accommodation options including a cottage with private bathroom, double-bed tents, and twin rooms with shared facilities.
Great Keppel Island Holiday Village offers free snorkelling equipment, paddle boards and BBQ facilities. Meals can be cooked in the communal kitchen or you can dine at the restaurant at the Great Keppel Island Hideaway.
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Great Keppel Island Beach House
This light and airy beach house is located just metres from Fisherman’s Beach and is the perfect place for a family holiday on this sub-tropical island paradise.
The house features 3 bedrooms containing queen size beds and bunkbeds in the common room. The house has 2.5 bathrooms and caters for up to 8 people.
There is a second living space downstairs with pool table and lounge as well as an outdoor barbecue area for entertaining. All linen and kitchen utensils are provided, you just need to bring your own toiletries and beach towels.
The house features a TV, BBQ, refrigerator, and gas hot water and washing machine. This is an ecofriendly house being totally off-grid and running predominantly on solar power and rainwater.
Yeppoon Tourist Attractions
Although Yeppoon’s main drawcard is its sunny climate and spectacular beaches, there are several attractions in Yeppoon that will delight and charm you.
The Yeppoon Foreshore
One of the main Yeppoon attractions would have to be the Yeppoon foreshore. You will be instantly struck by its uniquely designed pathways. Not only do these pathways showcase views of Keppel Bay and its islands but they also display a seamless blend of art and leisure.
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It is hard to miss the Keppel Kraken, this whimsical sea creature twists and coils its body through its watery environment. One brightly coloured tentacle valiantly clutches a ships mast while jets of water spray the mosaic starfish, turtles, crabs, and stingrays that lay at its feet.
This zero depth water play park is one of the best things to do in Yeppoon with kids. It is a fantastic place for children to play safely while interacting with a selection of features which include water cannons and umbrella buckets.
Yeppoon Lagoon
If you like swimming but the beach is not for you, the glistening blue waters of the Yeppoon Lagoon has something that will please everyone.
This massive lagoon style pool has a shallow play area for the kids, a lap swimming section and an infinity rim that takes in magnificent views of the Keppel Islands.
The Yeppoon Lagoon is also all accessible with two aquatic wheelchairs for both children and adults, making it one of the most popular Yeppoon attractions to visit.
Through the Porthole Artworks
As you walk along the foreshore art trail you will come across “Through the Porthole” a series of ceramic artworks that combine the talents of local artists Renton Bishopric, Kim Warcon and Clare Botfield, local photographers, and high school art students.
Looking closely through these ceramic portholes you will discover the flora, fauna, and scenic beauty of Keppel Bay.
Yeppoon Murals
If you are an admirer of street art Yeppoon certainly delivers. As you walk around town you will find many murals, including the Kraken on Barry Street which was created by artist Martin Schlick.
A personal favourite is of a boy going fishing which is on the side of Jet James Art Gallery on Anzac Parade. This stunning mural is by artists J.R. Ellis and Jarad Danby.
Appleton Park
While the foreshore has plenty of places to sit and enjoy the views, Appleton Park is the place for the kids to let loose and have some fun. This children’s playground features a liberty swing making it accessible for everyone. The park is well shaded with picnic tables and BBQ’s for family gatherings.
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Shopaholics can enjoy an interesting mix of boutiques, art galleries and home décor stores near Yeppoon foreshore that will keep you busy for hours.
For all those grocery shopping needs you will find a Coles at Keppel Bay Plaza and Woolworths at Yeppoon Central Shopping Centre.
Out of Town Yeppoon Attractions
There are many attractions within reach of Yeppoon, and they can be easily accessed by car. Here are just a few that should be on the top of your list of places to visit in Yeppoon.
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As beef capital of Australia, the people of Rockhampton are proud of their heritage and pay homage to the industry with the cattle statues that welcome you and can be seen throughout the city. A favourite activity among many visitors is to find all the statues and grab a selfie with each one.
Other Rockhampton attractions include the Rockhampton Botanical Gardens and getting a bird’s eye view of Rockhampton from the heights of Mount Archer lookout.
Nob Creek Pottery
If you love pottery, a visit to the Nob Creek Pottery is a must. From Yeppoon follow the signs off Byfield Road and you will discover the lush tropical setting which is home to Nob Creek Pottery.
The pottery began in 1979 and exhibits high quality pieces that are on display throughout the galleries. Steve Bishopric and Sue McBurnie are the creative duo behind the gallery and often collaborate to create the stunning array of pottery on show.
The gallery also features the work of over 45 artists and craftspeople, some often staying at the property to help with the 4 day wood firing in the Anagama kiln. This traditional Japanese style kiln is known for creating works of exceptional beauty.
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});What I love about Nob Creek Pottery is the use the Byfield fern as a decoration on many of their pieces. The Byfield fern is native to the region and makes for a unique souvenir of your trip to Yeppoon.
Byfield National Park
The Byfield National Park has a diverse range of environments, within the park you will find rugged mountains, rainforest fringed creeks and outstanding coastal scenery.
The park can be accessed by car, but for more remote camping and the adventure of Five Rocks, Nine Mile Beach & Three Rivers you will need a 4 Wheel Drive.
Byfield State Forest Walking Tracks
The Byfield National Park has a host of walking tracks with fitness levels from easy to difficult so nature can be enjoyed by all. Here is just one of the walking tracks that you can experience in Byfield National Park.
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For day trippers to the park this 1.2km walking track is an easy option and takes around 30 minutes to complete.
The circuit starts at the Water Park Creek day-use area. As you walk through the rainforest you may catch a glimpse of the Byfield fern, an ancient plant which can only be found growing naturally in the Byfield area. Take a glance at Water Park Creek as it meanders through the thick turpentine forests and marvel at the beauty of this stunning park.
Yeppoon Accommodation
There is a large selection of accommodation in Yeppoon, from apartments to caravan parks Yeppoon has you covered.
Yeppoon Apartments
There are many holiday apartments in Yeppoon, for location the Echelon Yeppoon would have to be one of the best choices.
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The beauty of these apartments is that you can step out into the very heart of Yeppoon. Echelon Apartments Yeppoon are all about position and are less than 50 metres from the main beach and only 100 metres to the shops and restaurants in the town centre.
There is a selection of 2 bedroom and 3 bedroom apartments with either town or ocean views. The apartments offer spacious open plan living and a contemporary décor. There is a fully equipped kitchen and private balcony.
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Yeppoon Hotels
If you are looking for hotels in Yeppoon, you cannot beat the Bayview Tower for having one of the greatest locations in town.
Bayview Tower Yeppoon
The Bayview Tower has the enviable position of being across from the Yeppoon foreshore and the Strand Hotel which is famous for its counter meals and views of the foreshore.
There is a selection of twin, double and family rooms with private balcony and sea views. Guests can enjoy the outdoor pool bar and buffet breakfast.
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Yeppoon Caravanning & Camping
Yeppoon’s unspoiled beaches make it a popular spot for caravanning and camping. The Beachside Holiday Caravan Park would have to have one of the top locations in Yeppoon.
Beachside Holiday Caravan Park
This friendly laid back holiday park has stunning views of the Keppel Islands and absolute beach frontage. The town centre is a 2 minute drive where you have a choice of Yeppoon attractions, cafés, shops, and restaurants on your doorstep.
The park has unpowered and powered sites which are suitable for caravans, motorhomes, camper trailers, tent camping and more.
The park has five direct access points onto beautiful Farnborough Beach which is suitable for all beach activities.
Quick facts on Yeppoon
There are a few ways to get to Yeppoon, you can get there directly by car but if you choose to take a bus, train, or flight, Rockhampton will be your closest port of call. From Rockhampton you can either hire a car or take a bus from Rockhampton out to Yeppoon.
The 657km journey from Brisbane to Yeppoon by car takes around 7 hours and 40 minutes. Take the Bruce Highway from Brisbane to Rockhampton and as you enter the city follow the signs to Yeppoon.
Yes. Qantas has daily flights between Brisbane and Rockhampton with a flight time of 1 hour and 20 minutes.
The Tilt Train from Brisbane to Rockhampton departs daily excluding Wednesday. There are Tilt Train services from Rockhampton to Brisbane daily and the journey time is around 7 hours and 30 minutes.
Greyhound buses run between Brisbane and Rockhampton with a drive time of around 11 hours and 50 minutes.
Young’s bus route 20 runs from different locations across Rockhampton to Yeppoon and beyond. The bus route includes several Rockhampton Airport to Yeppoon drop offs on the timetable. Just keep in mind that there are reduced bus runs on the weekend and no airport pickups on Sunday.
Yeppoon has a subtropical climate with hot summers and mild winters. The regions hottest weather is through November to March with temperatures reaching up to 30 Celsius. The coolest months are between June and August with temperatures getting down to 13 Celsius. Wettest months are between December and March.
Last Words on Popular Yeppoon Attractions
Yeppoon would have to be one of the best kept secrets in Queensland, perfect weather, pristine beaches, and access to the Southern Great Barrier Reef.
If you have not been to Yeppoon, make sure to put it on the list of places to visit on your next Queensland road trip.
Have you been to Yeppoon? We would love to hear about your experience.
Also, you are welcome to join the free Queensland Travel Planning Facebook Group – it is a great place to ask questions about travel in Queensland. Please join us to help you prepare for your trip.
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