Childers

Understand

Central Queensland is sometimes known as Capricornia and a divided region centred around the east coast of the Tropic of Capricornia. It is full of protected areas, vast tracts of bush, coastal landscapes, remote communities and the most part very hard to get to. The city of Rockhampton makes a good base to explore due to a lot of tourist infrastructure. Because of its mining industry, Central Queensland is also one of the world-leading exports of black coal.

Getting there

Central Queensland is served with flights from most major centres in Australia through its coastal airports. Cairns and Gold Coast airports also serve some international destinations. Highway 1 enters Central Queensland from Brisbane to the south and continues north to Cairns.

Getting around

A drive from top to bottom of this region will take 13 hours from Townsville to Rainbow Beach. There isn't much of a passenger train network, and without a car you be reliant on buses and planes.

See

Whales, at Hervey Bay, the local centre for watching these majestic creatures. The 'singing ship' memorial to Captain James Cook at Yeppoon.

Do

Fossick for gems near the appropriately-named towns of Emerald, Rubyvale and Sapphire. Explore the trails of the pristine Carnarvon National Park. Take a railway tour at the former gold-mining town of Mount Morgan. Prospect for gold at the Prophet Gold Mine in Kilkivan.

Eat

Amazing pies at Joccheim's Bakery in Bowen, in the footsteps of Australia actors Hugh Jackman and Nicole Kidman.

Drink & nightlife

Bundaberg rum in Bundaberg. Whatever the locals are drinking at the pub in Gin Gin, 45 minutes out of Bundaberg.

Go next

To the north:

Cairns and Far North Queensland To the south:

The cities of Sunshine Coast, Brisbane and Gold Coast Amazing views and ancient bunya pines at Bunya Mountains National Park.