(07) 4922 8322 bookings@cityville.com.au
21-23 Bolsover Street, Rockhampton QLD
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Cityville Apartments and Motel, Rockhampton — Capricorn Coast base
Why stay with us · Capricorn Coast gateway

Rockhampton as your
Capricorn Coast base.

Yeppoon is about 55 minutes east of Cityville and the Great Keppel Island ferry leaves from Rosslyn Bay (approximately 60 minutes) — making Rockhampton a practical, better-value base for Capricorn Coast trips, especially midweek. Here’s the honest version of when to base in Rocky versus stay on the coast, with measured drive times and a two-day itinerary.

Check availability for your coast trip

Drive and ferry logistics (measured)

  • Yeppoon — 40.4 km / about 55 min drive east through the Berserker Range.
  • Emu Park — 46.6 km / 62 min. The quieter of the two coastal towns.
  • Rosslyn Bay Harbour (Keppel Bay Marina) — approximately 50 km / 60 min; this is where the Great Keppel ferry departs.
  • Great Keppel Island — ferry crossing roughly 30 minutes from Rosslyn Bay.

Full measured distances table for everything from Cityville on our Location page. Confirm current ferry timetables and prices with the operator directly — their published schedule takes precedence over anything on this page.

When Rocky is the smarter base — and when it isn’t

The honest version: it’s about how long you’re here and what you actually want from the trip.

Rocky base wins when:

  • You’re here for 4-7 nights with mixed days — some beach, some town, maybe a working day.
  • Midweek, outside school holidays. Coast accommodation peaks; town accommodation doesn’t.
  • You have a group split: half want beach, half want town. Easy from Rocky; awkward from the coast.
  • You’re mixing the coast with a hospital visit, a saleyard day, an industry meeting, an airport drop-off.
  • You want a real kitchen and laundry — the Cityville 2-3 bedroom apartments do this; lots of coastal options don’t.

Stay on the coast when:

  • It’s a 2-3 night dedicated beach escape. The extra hour’s drive each way isn’t worth it for a short trip.
  • School holidays with kids who want pool / beach all day, every day — the daily commute gets old fast.
  • You’re doing a Great Keppel multi-day trip and need to catch an early ferry from Rosslyn Bay.

A two-day coast itinerary from a Rocky base

Day one — Yeppoon and the lagoon

  • Early: leave Cityville at 7:30, pick up coffee at Coffee Society on the way.
  • 9:00: beach at Yeppoon main beach or the foreshore lagoon (heated, family-friendly).
  • 12:00: lunch at one of the Yeppoon waterfront cafes.
  • 2:00: drive south through Cooee Bay to Emu Park — the Singing Ship lookout, the smaller beach.
  • 4:00: drive home via the alternative coastal route. Back to Cityville by 5:30 for the pool and a self-catered dinner.

Day two — Great Keppel Island

  • Early: leave Cityville before 8:00 to make the morning ferry from Rosslyn Bay (check the timetable with the operator).
  • Mid-morning: arrive Great Keppel. Long Beach, snorkel, swim, walk to one of the quieter beaches.
  • Mid-afternoon: return ferry; drive back to Rocky.
  • Evening: dinner in town. CocoBrew Riverfront for the riverside option, or Headricks Lane in the CBD.

The Fitzroy at your door — barramundi

The Fitzroy River is famous for barramundi. Boat ramps on the Fitzroy are within a few minutes of Cityville — if you’ve brought the boat, the river is genuinely at your door.

Important: the Queensland barramundi closed season runs November to February on the east coast. Check current closure dates with the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries before you fish — their published dates are the source of truth.

If you’d rather go with someone who knows the river, plenty of local fishing guides operate from town. Ask reception when you arrive and we’ll point you to the current options.

Which rooms suit a family base

Two adults and two children fit the 2 Bedroom Apartment — full kitchen, open-plan living, balcony, and in-room laundry for the wet swimmers. Give everyone their own room in the 3 Bedroom Riverfront Apartment, which looks over the Fitzroy from a private balcony. Two families sharing a week take the 4 Bedroom Riverfront Apartment, the largest apartment on the property. Compare all nine on the accommodation page.

FAQs

Coast trips from Rocky — common questions.

How far is Yeppoon from Cityville?
40.4 km / about 55 minutes’ drive east through the Berserker Range. The Yeppoon town centre, the beach, the Yeppoon Lagoon and the cafe strip are all within walking distance of each other once you’re there. Emu Park is a further 8 km south (46.6 km / 62 min from Cityville).
How do I get to Great Keppel Island?
Drive to Rosslyn Bay Harbour (the Keppel Bay Marina precinct at Yeppoon — approximately 50 km / 60 min east of Cityville), then take the ferry across to Great Keppel. The crossing is around 30 minutes. Day trips work easily from a Rockhampton base; check current ferry timetables with the operator before you go.
Is it cheaper to stay in Rocky than on the coast?
Usually yes — particularly midweek and outside school holidays. Cityville’s apartment-with-full-kitchen rate plus the daily drive in/out is meaningfully cheaper than equivalent coast accommodation for a midweek run. The trade-off: an hour’s drive each way. For a 3-night family escape during school holidays, staying on the coast is often the better call. For a 5-day midweek mix of beach + town + working day, the Rocky base wins on cost and flexibility.
Can I fish the Fitzroy near the motel?
Yes — multiple boat ramps along the Fitzroy River are within a few minutes of Cityville. The Fitzroy is famous for barramundi. The Queensland barramundi closed season runs November to February on the east coast — check current closure dates with the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries before fishing. Plenty of local guides operate from town if you’d rather go with someone who knows the river.
What's the best season to base in Rocky for the coast?
April through October is the comfortable window — warm-but-not-humid, low rainfall, all the coast attractions running normally. November to February is hot and humid with summer rain; you can absolutely still enjoy a coast trip but plan for early starts and shaded breaks. The Fitzroy floods occasionally in big-wet years (Jan-Mar) — affects coastal road access on the worst days. Message us if you’re booking during the wet and we’ll give you the honest current state.

Full FAQ on the FAQs page — including the Rockhampton highlights and eating sections.

Lock in the coast week

A real kitchen. A pool. An hour to the coast.

For midweek coast trips and mixed beach-and-town stays, Rocky is the practical base. Book direct.

Check availability

Sources & last verified. Yeppoon (40.4 km / 55 min) and Emu Park (46.6 km / 62 min) distances measured June 2026. Rosslyn Bay Harbour distance (approximately 50 km / 60 min) pending Google sense-check — see VERIFY pill on the Location page. Ferry timetables: confirm with the operator directly before travelling. Barramundi closed season dates: verify with Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries — their published programme takes precedence. Last reviewed: June 2026.