Rockhampton

Rockhampton is a Central Queensland river city known for its heritage buildings on Quay Street, its cattle industry and a sculpture marking the Tropic of Capricorn.

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Rockhampton, often called Rocky, is a city in the Rockhampton Region of Central Queensland. It sits on the Fitzroy River about 600 km north of Brisbane, just north of the Tropic of Capricorn. A sculpture marking the latitude was moved into town so visitors can reach it easily.

The historic quarter covers three city blocks along Quay Street, with neoclassical buildings, places to eat and drink, and nightlife. The sandstone Customs House, built in 1900, now houses the information centre, a good place to start. The city was laid out on wide boulevards and laneways, which was unusual for a Queensland city, and some people call it the Melbourne of the North. Rockhampton is also known for its jazz scene and its cattle industry. Winter is the more comfortable time to visit, with mild days, cool nights and most of the year's clear-sky days. Summers bring heat, humidity and thunderstorms, and the city lies in a cyclone risk zone, so check warnings before you travel in the wet season.

Rockhampton in five

Tour Capricorn Caves with a guideThe limestone caves lie about 30 minutes' drive north of the city and date back 390 million years. The Cathedral Cave Tour is the most popular and is wheelchair accessible; abseil and adventure tours go deeper.Capricorn day trips
Spend a morning at the zoo and gardensRockhampton Botanic Gardens are the oldest public gardens in Queensland, beside the free-entry Rockhampton Zoo with its 60-plus species. Mount Archer National Park is a short drive for sunset views.
Base at Yeppoon for the seaYeppoon is 38 km from Rockhampton and the gateway to the Capricorn Coast. Swim at the lagoon, walk the esplanade and follow the coast to Emu Park, where hidden organs make the ship that sings.Queensland planner
Ferry to Great Keppel Island from Rosslyn BayA 30-minute ferry runs several times a day from the Keppel Bay marina to the island, which has 18 beaches. Fringing coral off the beach makes a gentle first snorkel for children.
Add the reef without a long boat rideSouthern Great Barrier Reef tours leave from Keppel Bay Marina. Check the reef charge and the stinger season for your dates before booking.Great Barrier Reef

Things to do in Rockhampton

See all attractions in Rockhampton

Sight · RockhamptonCapricorn Caves

Sight · RockhamptonExplore Rockhampton Information Centre

Sight · RockhamptonKershaw Gardens Free Campground

Free trip plannerPlan a trip to RockhamptonPut the places you like in Rockhampton on a map, give them days, and let one button order each day. Free, with no account.Plan a trip

Need to know

Airport: Rockhampton (ROK); also a stop on the Bruce Highway
Getting there: Flights, or the Bruce Highway on a Brisbane to Cairns drive
Getting around: Car; Yeppoon is 38 km east, Capricorn Caves about 30 minutes north
Best base: Rockhampton for one night; Yeppoon for the coast
Time needed: 1 to 2 days; 3 with Great Keppel Island

Weather by month

Rainy days

Best
Good
Mixed
Poor

JanuaryPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh32°Low22°Hot, storms
FebruaryPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh32°Low22°Humid, storms
MarchRain13 rainy daysHigh30°Low21°Warm, humid
AprilPartly cloudy5 rainy daysHigh28°Low19°Mild, drier
MayPartly cloudy5 rainy daysHigh25°Low16°Dry, clear
JuneClear4 rainy daysHigh23°Low13°Dry, cool
JulyClear4 rainy daysHigh22°Low12°Dry, cool
AugustClear2 rainy daysHigh24°Low13°Dry, clear
SeptemberClear3 rainy daysHigh27°Low15°Warm, dry
OctoberClear7 rainy daysHigh30°Low18°Warm, dry
NovemberPartly cloudy7 rainy daysHigh31°Low20°Hot, storms
DecemberPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh32°Low22°Hot, turtles

Average daily high and low in Rockhampton, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Right now in Rockhampton

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

Feels like: 24°
Humidity: 92%
Wind: 4 km/h
Chance of rain: 53%

Rockhampton

06:37 AM

Tuesday, November 3

GMT+10

Today32°21°53%Tuesday: Rain. High 32°, Low 21°. Chance of rain 53%.
Wed33°21°91%Wednesday: Thunderstorms. High 33°, Low 21°. Chance of rain 91%.
Thu33°22°4%Thursday: Cloudy. High 33°, Low 22°. Chance of rain 4%.
Fri34°21°6%Friday: Fog. High 34°, Low 21°. Chance of rain 6%.
Sat33°22°44%Saturday: Drizzle. High 33°, Low 22°. Chance of rain 44%.
Sun34°21°53%Sunday: Thunderstorms. High 34°, Low 21°. Chance of rain 53%.

Updated 06:28 AM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 USD = 1.423 AUD

Amount

Converted to

AUD · Australian Dollar

Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

Day trips by train

Capricorn Cavesabout 30 minutes' drive northCathedral Cave Tour, abseiling and climbing in a 390-million-year-old limestone network.
Yeppoon and Emu Park38 km to YeppoonEsplanade, lagoon, beaches and the ship that sings at Emu Park.
Great Keppel Island30-minute ferry from Rosslyn BayEighteen beaches and fringing coral, easy to do in a day from Yeppoon.

Before you go to Rockhampton

Car hire on the Bruce HighwayCave, coast and ferry in one loopCompare car hire

Capricorn Caves and reef toursTour options by dayCompare day trips

eSIM for the central coastSignal between towns on the highwayRead the guide

Insurance for a long driveBreakdown and flight-change coverRead the guide

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Rules for Rockhampton, checked

Check whether you need a visa or an Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) before you arrive. Look up your passport country on the Home Affairs site before you book.Source
Declare cash of AUD 10,000 or more, or its equivalent in another currency, on the incoming passenger card when you arrive or leave.
Declare all food, plant and animal products on the incoming passenger card, even if you think they are allowed.
Dial 000 for police, fire or an ambulance anywhere in Australia. 112 also connects from a mobile phone.
Check Bureau of Meteorology warnings before you travel in the wet season, since Rockhampton lies in a cyclone risk zone.Source

Plan around Rockhampton

Queensland

How to split days between coast, islands and north

Read the guide The Whitsundays

The next island base north on the coast

Read the guide Airlie Beach

The next base north for the islands

Read the guide All of Australia

ETA, regions, flights and money basics

Read the guide Flights and car hire

Long distances and one-way rentals

Read the guide Travel insurance

Cover for cancellations and remote travel

Read the guide

Rockhampton FAQ

What is Rockhampton known for?

It is called the Beef Capital of Australia and sits just north of the Tropic of Capricorn. Visitors come for Capricorn Caves, the free zoo and botanic gardens, and the Capricorn Coast around Yeppoon.

Is Rockhampton worth a stop on the Bruce Highway?

Yes if you want a night between Brisbane and the Whitsundays or Cairns. Spend a morning in town, an afternoon at the caves or Mount Archer, and the next day on the coast or at Great Keppel Island.

How do you get to Great Keppel Island?

Drive to the marina at Rosslyn Bay near Yeppoon and take a 30-minute ferry. Several sailings run each day, so a day trip is simple, and the island has 18 beaches.

How far is Yeppoon from Rockhampton?

Yeppoon is 38 km from Rockhampton, a drive of about 30 minutes. Rosslyn Bay, where ferries leave, is a further 10 minutes south of Yeppoon.

When is the best time to visit Rockhampton?

Winter and spring are dry and clear, which suits caves, ferries and snorkeling. Summer is hot and stormy, and Queensland tourism lists turtle season as December to February.