You may not have heard of this small Queensland national park – Capricorn Coast National Park is only 114 hectares (282 acres) in size, and consists of four geographically separate sections. Three sections were were amalgamated into a single national park in 1994, and a fourth section was added in 2006. The coastal reserves of the national park protect a wide range of coastal plant communities including heathlands, and are home to 402 different species of animals (of which 24 are rare or endangered – mostly bird species).
The park features coastal volcanic headlands, interesting rock formations, scenic lookouts and a few short walks in two of the sections. The traditional owners of the land are the Darumbal people.
Bushwalking in Capricorn Coast National Park
There are a few very short walks on both Double Head and Bluff Point, which are both ends of Kemp Beach.
| Walk | Length | Grade | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pebble Beach | 0.4km | Easy | Short, paved trail to rocky bay |
| Pebble Beach Peak | 0.4km | Easy/Moderate | An informal trail involving some easy scrambling to top of small hill. |
| Double Head | 0.7km | Easy | Paved trail to two lookout platforms (Fan Rock and Rosslyn Bay lookouts) |
| Bluff Point Circuit | 2.3km | Easy | Panoramic views from loop trail (partly paved track) |
Pebble Beach Peak and Double Head
Two separate, paved bushwalking trails (which start at same place) take you to the rocky Pebble Beach and two viewpoints on Double Head – Fan Rock Lookout and Rosslyn Bay Lookout. An informal track goes to the summit of the wee Pebble Beach Peak for more great views.
Length: 1.5km
Grade: Easy (Easy/Moderate for Pebble Beach Peak)
Bluff Point Circuit
An easy loop walk that provides panoramic views of the Capricorn coastline and the Keppel Bay islands from three lookouts. Most of the trail is paved, and the lookouts are fenced.
Length: 2.3km
Grade: Easy
Picnic Areas in Capricorn Coast National Park
There’s no camping allowed within the national park, but there are some toilets, gas BBQs and picnic tables at Bluff Point (also known as the Kemp Beach Picnic Area), which is next Kemp Beach and near the start of the walking track.
Getting to Capricorn Coast National Park
The national park is situated between Yeppoon and Emu Park, about 535km northwest of Brisbane on the Capricorn Coast. The Double Head and Bluff Point headlands are ar both end of Kemp Beach, about 10km (15min drive) from the town of Yeppoon, and 50km (45min) from Rockhampton, the closest major airport.
More information
- Parks Queensland – Capricorn Coast National Park and National Park Map [PDF]
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