Route map
Stops shown in driving order with a straight line between them, for planning only — this is not a turn-by-turn route. Always check current road conditions before you travel.
Route stops in order: 1. Rockhampton, 2. Yeppoon, 3. Rosslyn Bay, 4. Emu Park.
Seasonal gate & outback safety
Check before you commit to dates- JJanuary — Caution
- FFebruary — Caution
- MMarch — Caution
- AApril — Open — go
- MMay — Open — go
- JJune — Open — go
- JJuly — Open — go
- AAugust — Open — go
- SSeptember — Open — go
- OOctober — Open — go
- NNovember — Caution
- DDecember — Caution
- Open — go
- Caution
- High risk / cut
Open year-round on the mainland loop with no seasonal closure of its own, but the cyclone season, roughly November to April, brings real heat, humidity and a chance of storms disrupting the Great Keppel Island ferry at short notice — the mainland driving itself is rarely affected.
Wildlife warning: do not drive at night
Wildlife is active at dawn and dusk on the rural sections between Rockhampton and the coast.
Live road conditions
Great Keppel Island itself is treated here strictly as a mainland-based ferry excursion, not a driving destination — there's no vehicle access for regular visitors, and this guide doesn't cover the island beyond noting how to get there. Ferries run from Rosslyn Bay/Keppel Bay Marina; check current operators and schedules before you travel rather than assuming a fixed timetable.
Rockhampton itself, sitting on the Tropic of Capricorn, is the practical gateway and the region's only real full-service city — treat it as your base for supplies, not just a drive-through on the way to the coast.
The stops, in driving order
- 01
Rockhampton
0 km in · StartCritical supply point — Full regional services before heading to the coast.
The self-styled 'beef capital' of Australia, sitting on the Tropic of Capricorn, with full regional services before the drive to the coast.
Tip: Fill up and stock up here — Yeppoon and Emu Park have more limited supermarket and fuel choice.
- 02
Yeppoon
40 km in · 40mCritical supply point — The Capricorn Coast's main service town.
The Capricorn Coast's main town, with a patrolled town beach and the Singing Ship monument at Double Head lookout, marking Captain Cook's 1770 sighting of the coast.
Tip: Yeppoon's foreshore is an easy walkable strip — park once and cover the beach, lagoon and cafes on foot.
- 03
Rosslyn Bay (Keppel Bay Marina)
48 km in · 10mThe departure point for Great Keppel Island ferries, and a working harbour worth a look even if the island isn't part of your trip.
Tip: Book your Great Keppel Island ferry ahead in peak periods rather than arriving on spec.
- 04
Emu Park
67 km in · 20m, via the coast road through Kinka Beach and ZilzieA quieter, smaller beach town than Yeppoon, with the Singing Ship-style Southern Cross memorial and Bell Park lookout over the coast.
Tip: A good lower-key lunch stop between the coast drive and the run back to Rockhampton.
- 05
Rockhampton
109 km in · 40m, inland returnCritical supply point — Full regional services before heading to the coast.
The end of the loop.
Tip: Onward from here, the Bruce Highway continues north to Mackay and the Whitsundays, or south to Bundaberg, if you're extending the trip.
Drive planning: legs, fuel and conditions
Three paces, same road: highway pace, a towing or 4WD rig, and what the day actually takes once fatigue and photo stops are in it.
| Leg | Distance | Standard vehicleHighway pace, no stops | Towing / 4WD rig90–100 km/h cruise | Realistic paceFatigue + photo stops | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rockhampton → Yeppoon | ~40 km | 40m | 50m | 45m | Yeppoon |
| Yeppoon → Rosslyn Bay | ~8 km | 10m | 10m | 10m | None needed |
| Rosslyn Bay → Emu Park | ~19 km | 20m | 25m | 25m | Emu Park |
| Emu Park → Rockhampton | ~42 km | 40m | 50m | 45m | Rockhampton |
| Whole route | 1h 50m | 2h 10m | 2h 10m | ||
How we get these: standard is moving time at signposted highway pace. Rig time assumes a 90–100 km/h cruise and slower acceleration — roughly 20% longer. Realistic pace adds a 15-minute fatigue stop every two hours (the national driver-fatigue guidance) plus about ten minutes an hour for photos, fuel and legs. Plan daylight around the realistic column, not the standard one.
| Leg | Distance | Fuel | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rockhampton → Yeppoon | ~40 km | Yeppoon | Sealed, Scenic Highway |
| Yeppoon → Rosslyn Bay | ~8 km | None needed | Sealed |
| Rosslyn Bay → Emu Park | ~19 km | Emu Park | Sealed, coast road via Kinka Beach and Zilzie |
| Emu Park → Rockhampton | ~42 km | Rockhampton | Sealed, inland return |
What can go wrong
- The cyclone season, roughly November to April, brings a real chance of storms disrupting the Great Keppel Island ferry at short notice — build slack into island day-trip plans in that window.
- Summer heat and humidity are genuine on this stretch of coast, regularly into the 30s with high humidity from November to March.
- Wildlife is active at dawn and dusk on the rural sections between Rockhampton and the coast.
- Ocean conditions and stinger risk vary seasonally on this coast — check current advice before swimming, particularly in the warmer months.
Conditions change seasonally and after storms. Check current conditions with the road authority before relying on any of this.
Common questions
Where this is researched from
- Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service — Regional park access
- QLDTraffic — Live road conditions
- Tourism and Events Queensland / Capricorn Coast regional tourism — Route framing and local visitor information
- Bureau of Meteorology — Cyclone season and severe weather forecasts for Queensland
This is a researched guide, not a firsthand trip report. How we research.
Spotted something we should update? Let us know.