Classy to camping: A Rockhampton accommodation guide

Discover the heritage heart of Central Queensland with a stay in sunny Rockhampton

Rockhampton is a regional city bursting with history, fresh produce markets and green spaces. It’s the perfect base to explore the Capricorn region, with its quaint beach towns and verdant national parks. Whether you’re looking for a laid-back hotel or a holiday apartment to call home for a while, here are the best accommodation options in Rockhampton.

Serviced Apartments

If you’d like to feel at home during your stay in Rockhampton, opt for one of these stylish serviced apartments. You’ll be able to cook up a feast in your own kitchen with fresh ingredients from Rockhampton’s markets or chill out on your balcony in the evening with a beverage. Here, we’ve rounded up the best apartment accommodation in Rockhampton.

1. Empire Rockhampton

empire hotel Rockhampton — Bed down in Central Queensland’s most awarded hotel.

Standing grand beside the Fitzroy River, Empire Rockhampton is the newest and largest apartment hotel on Rockhampton’s riverfront. With water views, sleek interior design and a rooftop pool, it’s no surprise that Empire is Central Queensland’s most awarded hotel. Rooms range from one-bedroom apartments to three-bedroom suites, making for the perfect base for couples or families, large and small.

2. Quest Rockhampton

Nestle into your own apartment overlooking the Fitzroy River at Quest Rockhampton . Bed down in a cosy studio, or spread out in a spacious executive apartment where you’ll have your own balcony to admire the views over the river and the distant Berserker Mountain Range. Just add a bottle of wine, and your evening plans are complete.

3. The Edge Rockhampton

the edge rockhampton river view — Enjoy dazzling river views from your room.

Enjoy comfort, convenience and simplicity at The Edge Rockhampton . Also located by the Fitzroy River, spacious rooms await. If you want to keep up your fitness routine without facing the Rockhampton heat, there’s an onsite gym with gorgeous river views as well as a plunge pool where you can cool off.

Hotels and Motels

Rockhampton is the heritage heart of Queensland. Whether you prefer a historic hotel with character or a stylish modern establishment, there is a hotel or motel to suit every style of traveller. Here’s are our picks for the best hotel accommodation in Rockhampton.

1. The Criterion Hotel Motel

The Criterion Hotel has been sitting pretty by the Fitzroy River since 1889. If you opt to stay here, you’ll be walking through some of the same rooms that have played host to guests such as Queen Elizabeth II and the Duchess of Gloucester. Simple yet cosy pub-style accommodation awaits, with a great bistro on the ground floor should you find yourself feeling peckish. If you’ve got a penchant for a hotel with character, the Criterion Hotel might just be for you.

2. Denison Boutique Hotel

denison hotel Rockhampton — Opt for a romantic getaway at the Denison Boutique Hotel.

The Denison blends modern comfort with authentic heritage charm, offering quaint rooms that exude romance. Dating back to 1885, the hotel retains many of its original features, including the classic iron-lace verandah. You’ll find the rooms furnished with antique-style pieces like four-poster beds, love seats and a two-person spa. If you’re looking for a romantic escape, the Dension will certainly fit the bill.

3. Mercure Rockhampton

mercure river view room — Cosy up at the Mercure, where you can enjoy splendid river views.

Enjoy sleek, modern design at this iconic hotel chain in the historic centre of Rockhampton. The Mercure is located by the river, so you can opt for a room with a view. There’s a pool and a fitness centre, so you can enjoy a little bit of ‘you’ time while you’re at a home away from home.

4. True Blue Motor Inn

Motels are a staple of Aussie road trips. And True Blue Motor Inn encapsulates that Aussie spirit in more ways than just its name. Here, you’ll find comfortable, affordable accommodation that’s no-frills yet friendly and loaded with amenities. The motel offers hearty breakfasts and optional packed lunches, as well as a swimming pool and a spa.

5. Heritage Hotel

The walls of the Heritage Hotel sing with history. The 1900s Federation-era building is a gem of Rockhampton’s heritage architecture trail on Quay Street, with balconies framed by a lattice of iron lace. The heritage hotel offers simple and affordable accommodation with comfort and character to boot. Bed down in one of Rockhampton’s historic buildings, located in the heart of the city.

Airbnbs and Holiday Rentals

Feel like a true local with an Airbnb or holiday rental. We’ve rounded up the best Rockhampton accommodation if you’re after a stay that will get you feeling right at home.

1. Liberty Cottage

Liberty Cottage Rockhampton — Kick back on this spacious deck at Liberty Cottage.

Dressed in modern white, this cosy cottage sports a chic design and personal touches that evoke the building’s heritage character. Here, you’ll be cosseted in the leafy suburb of Allenstown, with Rockhampton Botanical Gardens located just a stone’s throw away.

There’s a beautiful collection of Australian artwork hand-picked by your hosts, guaranteed to make you feel right at home. If that didn’t seal the deal, a timber verandah peppered with pot plants is the perfect spot to wind down.

2. View on Wiseman

the range rockhampton — Soak up gorgeous views at View on Wiseman.

Crisp white decor and oaken furniture characterise this beautiful three-bedroom house . Here, you’ll be within walking distance of Rockhampton’s Botanical Gardens, sequestered in a leafy and green neighbourhood. The highlight is the undercover porch, set up with elegant lounges and a gorgeous view of the mountains.

Campgrounds and Caravan Parks

Campgrounds and caravan parks are often budget-friendly, well-located and packed with amenities. What’s not to love? Whether you’re parking up an RV, pitching a tent, or kicking back in a cabin, here’s the best campground accommodation in Rockhampton.

1. Discovery Parks Rockhampton

Exterior view of the cabins at Discovery Parks Rockhampton — Cosy and comfortable cabins await at Discovery Parks Rockhampton. (Image: Supplied)

Discovery Parks is located a short drive from Rockhampton’s CBD, close to plenty of shops and restaurants. Kids will have plenty to keep themselves entertained with a playground, water park and swimming pool and bouncy pillow onsite. If you don’t have an RV, there’s a range of cabins that sleep between two and eight people — perfect for families of any size.

2. Riverside Tourist Park

This peaceful campground is located on five acres beside the Fitzroy River, giving you plenty of space to spread out and soak up the Rockhampton sun. Here, you can park up right on the water’s edge beneath the shade of luscious palm trees, or opt for a cosy cabin that sleeps up to 6 people.

Heading to Rockhampton? Check out our guide on the best places to eat and things to do while you’re in town.

Exploring the world’s largest sand island starts with the perfect K’gari homebase.

The morning light is still soft, but it’s already a perfect sunny day. We left our K’gari homebase at Kingfisher Bay Resort with our guide, Peter Meyer, at 9 am to make the most of our time to explore all that the world’s largest sand island holds. The size of K’gari is hard to grasp until you arrive here. This is no sandbar. Stretching 120 kilometres, unique lakes, mangrove systems, rainforest, 75 Miles of beach, historic shipwrecks, small townships and even one of Queensland’s best bakeries are all hidden within its bounds.

But first, one of the island’s most iconic sights: the pure silica sand and crystal clear waters of Lake McKenzie.

Laying eyes on it for the first time, I’m finally able to confirm that the photos don’t lie. The sand is pure white, without the merest hint of yellow. The water fades from a light halo of aqua around the edges to a deeper, royal blue, the deeper it gets (not that it’s particularly deep, six metres at most). The surface remains surprisingly undisturbed, like a mirror.

Arriving with our guide before 10 am means that no one else is around when we get here. Which means we have the pleasure of breaking the smooth surface with our own ripples as we enter. As a self-confessed wimp with chilly water temperatures, my fears are quickly assuaged. Even in the morning, the water stays around 23 degrees – perfect for lazing about all day. But we have more sights to see.

Exploring K’gari

ariel of in lake mckenzie on k'gari fraser island — Relax in the warm waters of Lake McKenzie. (Image: Ayeisha Sheldon)

This was the Personalised 4WD tour offered by Kingfisher Bay Resort, and my absolute top pick of experiences. Over the course of the day, we had the freedom to create our own bespoke itinerary (plus a provided picnic lunch along the way), with an expert guide who had plenty of stories and local expertise to give context to what we were looking at. From the history of the SS Maheno shipwreck, which survived the First World War only to be washed ashore by a cyclone in 1935, to a detailed description of how an island made of sand could sustain such diverse flora.

If it’s your first time to K’gari, the Beauty Spots Tour is another great option. Departing daily from Kingfisher Bay Resort (you’ll start to notice a trend, as many of the tours do start and end here), an air-conditioned, 4WD bus takes guests to the island’s most iconic locations, including the best places to swim, like Lake McKenzie and Eli Creek. The latter offers a gentle current, perfect for riding with a blow-up tyre out towards the ocean.

The next day, for a look at a completely different side of K’gari, I joined one of Kingfisher Bay Resort’s Immersive Ranger-guided tours to kayak through the mangroves of Dundonga Creek. This long, snake-like stretch of creek winds its way inland from the ocean outlet we entered by, at times too narrow for three kayaks to be side-by-side. Small insects buzz from leaf to leaf, while birds call overhead. Occasional bubbles indicate we’ve passed some fish that call this place home.

kayak tour through the mangroves at k'gari island — Learn about the island’s mangroves from your Ranger. (Image: Reuben Nutt/ TEQ)

If kayaking isn’t for you – or if, like me, you simply want more – other ranger-led experiences include nature walks and a dedicated Junior Eco Ranger Program for kids ages five to 12 (these run every weekend, and daily over the peak December holidays). Just ask for a timetable of upcoming tours when you check in.

While during whale season, Hervey Bay Whale Watch & Charters operates tours from the hotel’s jetty to get up close to the famous Humpback Highway of Hervey Bay, from 7 November to 31 May, attention turns to the Aqua Oasis Cruise . Departing from the resort every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday for resort guests, adventure along the island’s remote western coast, pointing out wildlife like dolphins, turtles, flying fish and eagles along the way.

The cruise drops anchor so guests can jump into the water using the boat’s equipment – from SUP boards to inflatable slides and jumping platforms. Then refuel with a provided lunch, of course.

Unwind at sunset

two people drinking cocktails at sunset bar, kingfisher bay resort — Unwind at the Sunset Bar. (Image: Sean Scott)

As much as days on K’gari can be filled with adventure, to me, the afternoons and evenings there are for unwinding. Sunsets on K’gari are absolutely unbelievable, with Kingfisher Bay on the west side being the best spot to catch the colours.

The Sunset Bar , located at the start of the resort’s jetty and overlooking the beach, is the ultimate location for sundowners. Let chill beats wash over you as you sip on cool wines, beers and cocktails in a relaxed, friendly vibe. Personally, a cheese board was also absolutely called for. As the sun sinks, the sand, sea and horizon turn a vibrant shade of orange, with the jetty casting a dramatic shadow across the water.

When the show is over, head back to the hotel for dinner at the Asian-fusion Dune restaurant, or the pub-style Sand + Wood. But if your appetite is still whetted for more lights and colours, the evening isn’t over yet.

Settle into the Illumina stage for Return to Sky, an immersive light and sound show leading viewers on a captivating journey through K’gari’s stories and landscapes.

Indulge and disconnect

woman setting up massage room at kingfisher bay resort Island Day Spa — Find bliss at Island Day Spa. (Image: Jessica Miocevich)

Of course, there is a type of traveller who knows that balance is important, day or night. While Kingfisher Bay Resort offers more than one pool for guests to spend all day lounging by (they’ll even serve you food and drinks while you do it), you’ll find me at the Island Day Spa.

The masseuses could match the magic hands of any big city spa, and I felt the warm welcome as I walked into the light, breezy reception. Choose from a range of botanical facials, beauty treatments and soothing massages using traditional techniques (obviously, I couldn’t go past a relaxing massage). All products used contain organic, native botanical ingredients with nutrient-rich plant extracts to soothe skin and mind. To really indulge, try out one of the packages, couples treatment or even a pre-wedding day offering.

Getting there

kingfisher bay resort 4wd tour driving passed ss maheno on k'gari island — The world of K’gari awaits. (Image: Jessica Miocevich)

Getting to K’gari is shockingly easy. Find daily flights into Hervey Bay from Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney. Kingfisher Bay Resort offers a shuttle bus between the airport, their headquarters in Hervey Bay and the ferry to take you to K’gari.