Great Capricorn Coast Beach for a Queensland Family Holiday
Table of Contents
Are you planning to visit Yeppoon Main Beach on the Capricorn Coast in Queensland? Then my post about visiting this fabulous beach will be a useful read for you.
Below is its table of contents, should you want to click through to any particular section.
1. Introduction
2. Where is Yeppoon Main Beach?
3. How to Get to Yeppoon Main Beach
4. Best time to visit Yeppoon Main Beach
5. Beach Facilities at Yeppoon Main Beach
6. Things To Do at Yeppoon Main Beach
7. Tours and Excursions
8. Best Yeppoon Accommodation and Hotels
9. Best Yeppoon Restaurants
10. Coffee at Yeppoon Main Beach
11. Final Thought
12. FAQs
I hope you will find the information in this post inspiring enough to visit this wonderful seaside town in the Livingstone Area.
(This post contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you if you interact with them).
Read Time: 14 Minutes
Introduction
For many years Yeppoon Main Beach has sat in the shadows of the Mackay region to the north and 1770/Agnes Water to the south, as a Queensland tourist destination. To the point where it was somewhat of a secret.
However, it’s fair to say, the word is very much out now.
Located approximately 38 kilometres north east of Rockhampton, Yeppoon resides on the Capricorn Coast, which sits within the Livingstone area. It has become a very popular long weekend getaway destination from the Gold Coast, Brisbane and Sunshine Coast and even from places like Townsville, as you can easily drive there in a day.
Known for being the gateway to Great Keppel Island and other wonderful beaches near the Southern Great Barrier Reef, Yeppoon is a brilliant departure point for exploration into the wider reaches of the Coral Sea.
Before you head off though, make sure you spend some quality time on the wide, pristine shores of Yeppoon Main Beach, which is perfect for swimming, sunbathing and walking.
Also, if you’ve got kids, let them loose on the fantastic ’Keppel Kraken’ zero-depth water park. This new lagoon pool on the foreshore at the southern end of Yeppoon Main Beach, is something they will absolutely love.
Away from the beach, take the time to meander down Yeppoon’s main street or stroll the esplanade to browse beach-chic boutiques and surf stores. Additionally, keep an eye out for one of the many new street art murals adorning local walls. They give this pleasant coastal town a huge amount of charm and character, which will intoxicate you the second your set foot there.
Although Yeppoon Main Beach is a destination you can visit all year round, the most popular time to go there is in winter.
Where is Yeppoon Main Beach?
Yeppoon Main Beach is located on the Capricorn Coast in Queensland. It is the main highlight of the coastal town of Yeppoon, which is the biggest in the region, and sits within the Livingstone Shire.
Yeppoon is about 38 km from Rockhampton, the closest major town on the Bruce Highway. It is also about 680 km north of Brisbane and around 355 km south of Mackay.
The town has a population of around 7000 people and is bound by the Coral Sea, where 27 islands, most notably Great Keppel Island, reside about 20 kilometres offshore. It resides on land traditionally owned by the Darumbal Aboriginal people.
Nobody is quite sure how Yeppoon got its name. Although conventional thought suggests it is a local indigenous word of ‘the place where the waters meet’ – which is believed to be a reference to a geographical area where the Yeppoon Inlet and Ross Creek meet.
Distance from Yeppoon to Other Queensland Destinations
How to Get to Yeppoon Main Beach
Yeppoon Main Beach is a relatively easy Queensland coastal town to get to via several different means of transport.
Most visitors tend to drive, which for many will involve making their way to Rockhampton via the Bruce Highway before heading along Yeppoon Road. This will take you all the way into town via a well sign-posted route. However, you should use the Waze app or Google maps to provide you with directions from your specific starting point.
If you are coming from further afield, you can fly into Rockhampton Airport. The likes of Jetstar, Qantas and Virgin all run regular flights to the airport. You can check out the schedule here.
From the airport, you can easily take a taxi to reach Yeppoon Main Beach. Alternatively, you can hire a car from one of the many companies, including the likes of Hertz, Budget and Avis that operate rental desks from it.
If you don’t have access to a vehicle, you can take the Greyhound Bus, which runs from various destinations throughout Australia. You can check out the timetable here.
Alternatively, you can take the Tilt Train to Rockhampton, and then make your way to Yeppoon from there.
Best Time To Visit Yeppoon Main Beach
Although Yeppoon Main Beach is a destination you can visit all year round, the most popular time to go there is in winter. This season comprises the months of June to August and is when many tourists come up from Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne to escape the cold weather.
As it enjoys a sub-tropical climate, the Yeppoon weather typically hovers between 22°C and 24°C. It can get a bit nippy at night, but during the day you’ll be able to wear shorts and a t-shirt without any problems.
During the summer months of December to February, the mercury regularly tops 30°C, with humidity regularly topping 70%. However, as it is storm season, you should be aware of the potential for lightning and huge downpours that might negatively impact your holiday.
Personally, my favourite time to visit the beaches of the Capricorn Coast is the shoulder seasons of April to May and September to October. At this time, I find this lovely Queensland coastal town provides a good balance of favourable weather and fewer crowds. I can usually pick up a decent hotel deal as well.
If you are wondering where to stay in Yeppoon, there are quite a few resorts, hotels, and other holiday accommodation providers you can choose from.
Beach Facilities at Yeppoon Main Beach
As you would expect from what is now a popular Queensland tourist destination, Yeppoon Main Beach has a very good range of facilities and amenities.
The beach itself is patrolled by the Yeppoon Surf Life Saving Club. It is also very accessible, with ramps that easily enable wheelchair users or babies in prams to access the sand.
Flanking the beach is the Yeppoon Esplanade. There you will find public toilets, including accessible toilets, showers, electric BBQs and several picnic tables, several of which are shaded.
Running alongside the esplanade is Anzac Avenue, the main thoroughfare into town. It accommodates plenty of cafes, restaurants, shops and Yeppoon accommodation options, which provide easy access to the beach.
Distance from Yeppoon to Other Australia Destinations
Things To Do at Yeppoon Main Beach
Yeppoon Main Beach is one of the major highlights of the Capricorn Coast. Stretching for 1.4 km, its wide expanse of golden sand is perfect for walking, while this section of the Coral Sea is patrolled by the local surf club, which makes swimming between the flags a pretty safe exercise.
Additionally, the beach is an excellent spot for a range of activities including kayaking, jet-skiing, and wakeboarding. For those who want to go sunbathing, I personally believe this is best done down at the southern end of the beach, where the Keppel Bay Sailing Club is located. From there, you’ll be able to see many sailing boats launched into the water, which I always find adds a graceful serenity to proceedings.
Some tourists choose to fish directly off the beach. However, most locals agree that the waters around Ross Creek are a better place to cast a line.
Unfortunately, dogs are not permitted to walk on the beach. That said, you can take them along the esplanade, where you’ll also find plenty of parkland and the Yeppoon Lagoon and Keppel Kraken.
This fantastic, resort-style, 2500 square-metre lagoon pool features a mythical sea creature centrepiece that kids will enjoy splashing around in for hours. Its a brilliant spot to cool off during the middle of the day, when the heat of the Queensland sun gets too unbearable.
Tours and Excursions
You’ll no doubt want to spend plenty of time at Yepoon Main Beach. However, at some point you might want to explore further afield.
Thankfully Get Your Guide give you plenty of opportunity to do that through a range of day trips and activities that will enable you to see more of the Capricorn Coast and the Livingstone area.
Here are some of the main tours offered by them.
Great Keppel Island Snorkelling Trip
Sunset champagne cruise around Keppel Islands
Puzzle in Paradise Scavanger Hunt Adventure Game
Glass Bottom Boat Tour through the Keppel Islands
Whichever tours or excursions you decide to book, I recommend you do so early. They tend to book out fair quickly, especially during the school holidays. So, it would be a shame to miss out.
In the last decade or so, Yeppoon, like many of the coastal towns in Queensland have really upped their coffee game.
Best Yeppoon Accommodation and Hotels
If you are wondering where to stay in Yeppoon, there are quite a few resorts, hotels, and other holiday accommodation providers you can choose from.
One of the most popular options is Salt Yeppoon. It resides on the beachfront and offers fantastic deluxe 4.5-star apartments with superb views of Great Keppel Island, Rosslyn Bay, and Yeppoon City Centre. Guests can enjoy the use of two swimming pools, a fitness centre, and free parking. There is also a lovely restaurant and bar onsite if you don’t fancy going out at night after a full day at Yeppoon Main Beach.
Not far away on Adelaide Street, Bayview Tower presents rooms that showcase terrific views of the Coral Sea. You can take these in from your private balcony and also enjoy a refreshing dip in their outdoor swimming pool or a drink in their bar.
Elsewhere, Oshen Holiday Apartments Yeppoon is known as ‘The Resort on the Hill’. Despite this, its just a 3-minute walk from the beach. As you would expect, many of its apartment offer fabulous views from its perched vantage point. However, some don’t, so make sure you request one if this is something you want. The apartments come with a fully equipped kitchen, which makes them perfect for those who want to self-cater. It also has a patio where you can enjoy al fresco meals.
If you are looking for Yeppoon accommodation a little bit away from the main esplanade, consider The Coast Motel. It is about 3 km from the main drag but offers a self-service laundry and a daily cooked breakfast which you can enjoy in the motel’s breakfast room.
Other Capricorn Coast Beaches
Best Yeppoon Restaurants
Overall, there is a good range of Yeppoon restaurants and cafes you can choose from, both on the main esplanade and the surrounding streets. So you can visit the area safely in the knowledge there are plenty of options available to you.
The Vue Wine Bar & Restaurant is widely regarded as one of the best of them. It is situated on Anzac Parade, directly across from the Coral Sea and it’s known for its excellent, contemporary fine-dining Australian food, quality wine list and terrific ambience. It’s always busy here, so it’s a good idea to book.
However, if you have gluten and dairy free dietary requirements, this is a great option for you, as there are at least six main dishes on their menu (at the time of writing) that are suitable for both. You can see their menu here.
If you want to enjoy a meal with a terrific view, then head on over to The Rocks Yeppoon Bar + Restaurant. It is located on the waterfront at Yeppoon Place and offers an upscale menu based on a paddock-to-plate ethos. The head chef, Roel Van Camp, is renowned for sourcing the freshest local produce and seafood he can find and plates them up in a manner so artistic, you’ll feel a bit guilty about eating it!
For those who fancy a lovely Asian meal, Tsuruya Japanese Restaurant is a terrific option. You’ll find it on Farnborough Road, which is about a 15-minute drive from the main Esplanade and it should impress you with its bold, fresh flavours and authentic setting.
Elsewhere, the Yogolicious Cafe is a fabulous place to visit for breakfast and lunch. It’s a dog-friendly venue that offers a range of classics served in hearty portions. Their chocolate waffles are especially delicious, while their sumptuous burgers are so big, you can easily share it with someone else.
Coffee at Yeppoon Main Beach
In the last decade or so, Yeppoon, like many of the coastal towns in Queensland have really upped their coffee game. So you can rest assured that if you are looking for a caffeine fix, there are plenty of places you can get it.
One of the most popular spots is Flour, which is a seaside café on Normanby Street. They offer a delicious menu of freshly ground coffee, including espresso-based drinks and pour-over options, which you can enjoy with one of their delicious baked treats.
Another good option is Chapter, which you will find on Hill Street. This charming coffee shop serves up exceptional coffee from expert baristas whose speciality is double shot espressos. It can get busy here, so don’t be surprised if there is a queue when you get there. However, if you are in a rush, you can order online to go.
The Attic Espresso Bar on James Street is well worth checking out. It offers superb coffee and delicious ‘real-food’ treats in a venue that will intoxicate you with its fabulous vibe.
If you are looking for an option on the main, waterfront, Anzac Parade, Lure Living is right up there as the best of them. It is a terrific spot for people watching and also serves an excellent latte.
Final Thought
Not so long ago, Yeppoon was seen as nothing more than a convenient stop off point for breakfast or lunch, for many people travelling up the east coast of Australia. However, that mindset has changed and the coastal town is firmly established on the tourist trail.
Yeppoon Main Beach, with its pristine 1.4 km stretch of golden sand, is one of the nicest beaches on the Capricorn Coast.
It is also backed by an impressive esplanade, a terrific range of holiday accommodation and some decent cafes, restaurants and shops. Providing everything you need to enjoy a wonderful Queensland holiday.
FAQs
How Far Is Yeppoon Main Beach from Brisbane?
Yeppoon Main Beach is located about 685 km north of the Brisbane CBD. It takes about 7.5 hours of non-stop driving to get there along the Bruce Highway.
Can you swim at Yeppoon Main Beach?
As it lies on the Capricorn Coast, Yeppoon's main beach enjoys a tropical climate. Subsequently, it features calm waters that are perfect for swimming all year round. The beach is patrolled by surf lifesavers, so just make sure you swim in between the flags.
Does Yeppoon have a shopping centre?
Yes it does. It is located on Park Street and features a Woolworths, post office and reject shop among several others.
