Yeppoon, the magical seaside town you have to see now

As the gateway to the Southern Great Barrier Reef, Yeppoon is a burgeoning destination in its own right, offering exceptional dining experiences, market and boutique shopping and a vibrant arts scene.

Sitting on the traditional lands of the Darumbal people, Yeppoon has evolved from an agricultural region in the 1860s to a classic coastal village that charms visitors with its laid-back atmosphere and seaside vibe.

It’s a destination rich in produce and renowned for its pineapples, beef and seafood, which feature on local menus at smart restaurants and chic cafes.

With a population of around 7000, Yeppoon is the largest town in a string of villages along the Capricorn Coast and provides an excellent base for exploring the islands of the Southern Great Barrier Reef and nearby inland rainforests.

Yeppoon Coastline Aerial View — Yeppoon is a seaside gem just begging to be discovered.

How to get to Yeppoon

As the vibrant heart of the Capricorn Coast, Yeppoon sits on the Tropic of Capricorn, around 672 kilometres north of Brisbane and about 40 kilometres north-east of Central Queensland’s largest city, Rockhampton. Rockhampton airport is serviced by daily flights from Brisbane with Qantas and Virgin Australia (flight time around one hour) and direct flights with Bonza Airlines from both Melbourne and the Sunshine Coast are due to commence late 2022. A bus service operates between the airport and the towns of the Capricorn Coast. Queensland Rail also runs services between Brisbane and Rockhampton.

When to visit

Yeppoon is a great year-round destination. Winter is the most popular tourist season, when the sub-tropical climate means warm dry days of around 23°C (June to September). In summer (December to March), expect some rain, and daytime temperatures between 22°C and 32°C.

Swimming in Yeppoon Lagoon sunset — The sub-tropical climate in Yeppoon makes it a great year-round destination. (Image: Tourism Events Queensland)

Things to do in Yeppoon

Stroll down Yeppoon’s main street or the esplanade to browse beach-chic boutiques and surf stores and keep an eye out for one of the many street art murals adorning local walls.

Duck into the Jet James Art Gallery to see original works, prints, clothing and giftware by this established Australian artist and designer, and Yeppoon local. Or if markets are your thing, Fig Tree Markets , run by the Keppel Coast Arts Organisation, are held on the first Sunday morning of the month, offering handmade, locally-designed arts and crafts and local produce.

Street art enthusiasts will find much to admire in Yeppoon. Look for it near the Keppel Bay Sailing Club, near the Yeppoon foreshore, the town centre car park, and in atmospheric Pie Alley. On the foreshore, take a dip in the infinity-edge lagoon, a favourite for families with its water fountains, children’s play area, dining areas and sunset views to the islands, and wander along to nearby Keppel Kraken zero-depth water park .

To explore the Reef, take the 30-minute ferry ride from Rosslyn Bay to Great Keppel Island, an ideal day trip. Stay longer in paradise at Great Keppel Island Hideaway and picture yourself sipping cocktails, snorkelling among reef found directly off the beach, and strolling kilometres of uncrowded pristine beaches – there are 17 stretches of sand to choose from.

Snorkelling Great Keppel Island — Head to Great Keppel Island to snorkel among the reef found directly off the beach. (Image: Tourism Events Queensland)

Back on the mainland, beach-lovers are spoiled for choice. Apart from Main Beach, the most popular are Lammermoor, Cooee Bay and Kemp beaches. From Kemp Beach, take Bluff Point Track to Turtle Lookout for panoramic views and whale-watching (July to October).

Take the Bluff Point Track to Turtle Lookout for panoramic views of the coast.

Drive roughly 25 minutes north of Yeppoon to discover the lush rainforests of Byfield and spectacular scenery of the surrounding parks and forests.

Driving Byfield National Park — Discover the lush rainforests of Byfield National Park just a short drive from Yeppoon. (Image: Tourism Events Queensland)

Stay in one of the boutique rainforest retreats and explore Byfield National Park, Conservation Park and State Forest , which is home to an infinite variety of cool waterholes and creeks, rolling sand dunes, beaches, and rugged mountains. Artists, craft workers and nature lovers have made the village of Byfield their own.

Swimming Byfield National Park — Cool off in one of the many waterholes and creeks in Byfield National Park. (Image: Tourism Events Queensland)

Best places to eat in Yeppoon

For such a small town, Yeppoon punches above its weight when it comes to dining. Local chefs turn out some sophisticated offerings and diverse flavours designed to make the most of high-quality beef, seafood and tropical fruit widely available in the Capricorn region. There is a wide range of smart restaurants, cafés and clubs catering to all tastes and budgets, and a great craft brewery.

Among Yeppoon’s top restaurants are multi-award-winning Waterline Restaurant at Keppel Bay Marina , and Beaches Restaurant , where the menu offers fresh local seafood and produce direct from its nearby permaculture farm.

For something more casual, head to The Alley , a coastal café that oozes an inner city Melbourne vibe and one of the hottest hangouts in town. The menu features plenty of homegrown produce and celebrates the region’s local flavours. Does it get more Queensland than that?

Another way to explore Yeppoon’s culinary treasures is by following the Taste Capricorn Coast food trail which will lead to the many farm gates, markets and producers in the region.

Best places to stay in Yeppoon

Whatever your budget or style, Yeppoon has plenty of attractive accommodation options, from camping grounds to luxe holiday apartments, many offering easy access to the beach and views of the Keppel Island Group.

For families looking for space, Oshen Holiday Apartments and Echelon Apartments are among the newest apartments, both with views of Great Keppel Island.

Oshen Yeppoon Balcony View — Enjoy the views from your private balcony at Oshen in Yeppoon.

At Salt Beachfront Yeppoon , every one of the 50 one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments has ocean views across beautiful Rosslyn Bay. Located in the heart of the town, a short walk from the Yeppoon Lagoon, the resort also has two pools to choose from.

The family-friendly resort-style Beaches on Lammermoor Holiday Apartments across the street from Lammermoor Beach has panoramic views to the islands. It’s only a few minutes from Keppel Bay Marina for those wanting to take the boat trip and explore the Southern Great Barrier Reef.

Kids diving in Yeppoon Lagoon — Kids will love Yeppoon Lagoon in town.

Families looking for budget options have several holiday parks to choose from. The Beachside Holiday Caravan Park lives up to its name, while just one kilometre from Yeppoon’s main shopping strip, and Discovery Parks Coolwaters Yeppoon and Island View Caravan Park are perfectly positioned on nearby beaches.

For more information about Yeppoon head to visitcapricorn.com.au

City buzz, gourmet trails, surf breaks and art scenes are all at your fingertips.

When it comes to planning a trip, picking a holiday destination is the easy part. The real dilemma is where to set yourself up for the night. Do you go coastal, city, or countryside? Somewhere remote and rugged, or right in the action? Luckily, the Sunshine Coast, and huge number of amazing Sunshine Coast day trips, have kindly made the choice for you.

Ditch the hotel-hopping and suitcase-lugging. Instead, base yourself at Novotel Sunshine Coast or Mantra Mooloolaba , where big-city culture, vine-covered valleys, and theme parks are all within a two-hour drive.

1. Sunshine Coast to Brisbane

Drive time: 1 hour 20 minutes (105km)

Shake off the sand from your sandals and swap the beach for the throb of the Queensland capital. Ease in gently with a bougainvillea-filled stroll through South Bank, iced latte in hand, before cooling off at Streets Beach lagoon – Brisbane’s answer to the coast (but without the waves).

Once firmly in big-city mode, hit up the Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA) , home to Australia’s largest collection of modern and contemporary artworks. Dive into the past at the Queensland Museum, where prehistoric fossils of Australian dinosaurs and megafauna collide with First Nations cultural collections and interactive science exhibits.

All this learning got you hungry? Howard Smith Wharves calls. Here, riverside dining delivers breweries with meat-forward menus, Japanese fine dining and overwater bars. If you’ve got room for more, Fortitude Valley’s shopping boutiques await you and your wallet.

woman walking around Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA) — Wander the Gallery of Modern Art. (Image: TEQ)

2. Sunshine Coast to the Scenic Rim

Drive time: 2 hours 15 minutes (170km)

Make your way inland to the Scenic Rim for the state’s best vineyards and age-old volcanic slopes. Start your day early (like, sparrow’s breakfast early) at O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat in Lamington National Park . Here, take a treetop walk through the canopy and hand-feed the wild birds who flock here.

Next, it’s your turn to eat. Here, the food scene operates where locally sourced produce is an expectation, not an exception. Order a picnic basket crammed with regional wine and cheese to devour next to the creek at Canungra Valley Vineyards . Or perhaps a grazing platter of vegan and non-vegan cheeses at Witches Falls Winery .

Feeling bold? Tackle the Twin Falls circuit in Springbrook National Park. Or keep the gourmet life going with a Scenic Rim Brewery tasting paddle, best enjoyed while taking in the rise of the Great Dividing Range.

woman with cheese and wine at Witches Falls Winery — Enjoy a cheese platter at Witches Falls Winery. (Image: TEQ)

3. Sunshine Coast to the Gold Coast

Drive time: 2 hours (180km)

Surf, sand and sparkling skylines might be the Gold Coast’s MO, but there’s more to Surfers Paradise and beyond. Kick things off with a beachfront coffee at Burleigh Heads, then hike through Burleigh Head National Park to look over the ocean and whale sightings (dependent on the season, of course).

Cool off in the calm waters of Tallebudgera Creek before chowing down on the famously buttery Moreton Bay bug rolls at Rick Shores . Travelling with the kids? Then you can’t miss Australia’s theme park capital, with Dreamworld ’s big rides and Warner Bros. Movie World ’s Hollywood treatment at hand to keep the family entertained.

aerial view of Tallebudgera Creek — Dive into Tallebudgera Creek. (Image: TEQ)

4. Sunshine Coast to Tweed Heads

Drive time: 2 hours 15 minutes (200km)

Dare to cross enemy lines? Then welcome to New South Wales. Tweed Heads blends the laid-back attitude of the Northern Rivers with high-quality dining, experimental art, and farm-fresh indulgence – a combo worth the drive.

Start strong with a long, lazy brunch at Tweed River House , then swing by Tropical Fruit World for exotic finds like red dragon fruit, handfuls of lychees and black sapote. Next, hit M|Arts Precinct – an art deco hub of micro galleries, artist workshops and one-off boutiques.

Round off the day with sunset drinks at Husk Distillers among the glowing cane fields, and order one with their famous Ink Gin. You’ll thank us later.

exterior of Husk Distillers — Taste the famous Ink Gin at Husk Distillers. (Image: Destination NSW)

5. Sunshine Coast Hinterland

Drive time: 1 hour (70km)

Strap on those hiking boots and make tracks inland, where volcanic peaks, misty rainforest and hinterland townships beckon. Ease in with the Glass House Mountains Lookout Walk, or, if you have energy to burn, tackle the Mount Ngungun Summit Walk for a 360-degree sight of the surrounding summits.

Next: Montville. This township delivers European-style architecture and old-world appeal. Nearby, settle in at Flame Hill Vineyard, where a large pour of estate-grown wine comes with encompassing views of the countryside.

Not ready to leave the hinterland villages just yet? Of course not. Meander past art galleries and indie shops at Maleny. Nab some fudge from Sweets on Maple for a sweet fix. Or go salty at Maleny Dairies with a farm tour and a chunky wedge of their deliciously creamy cheese.

End the day among the eucalypts and rainforests of Kondalilla National Park. Here, the Kondalilla Falls Circuit winds down through trees humming with life to a rock pool beneath a waterfall – as if designed for soaking tired feet before heading back to the coast.

view of Mount Ngungun on the scenic rim queensland — Take on the Mount Ngungun Summit Walk (Image: TEQ)

Start planning your Sunshine home base at all.com.