THE CAVES TOWNSHIP: “The Olsen Caves” are spectacular caves located north of Rockhampton Queensland – a unique system of above-ground caves in a limestone ridge. Tours range from easy walking, wheelchair accessible caves to wild caving adventure tours. Take a trip on the wild side and explore these caves, tunnels and shafts the adventurous way. Test your nerve with adrenalin pumping experiences such as squeezing through Fat Mans Misery a 30 cm diameter hole or the Commando crawl. Eventually emerge on the surface ridge for panoramic views over the valley and hills. Helmet, light and overalls are supplied. Outdoor challenges include: high ropes course working in threes through 7 challenging elements with a flying fox dismount; an 8 mtr high climbing wall with three faces and 15 different climbs and the Victory bell at the top lends itself to competitive challenges. Enclosed footwear is essential. Caves staff are happy to discuss a program to suit age group, curriculum needs, style of activities and budget. The Cathedral Cave is the perfect venue for a wedding with church like features, soft candlelight, red carpet, church pews and near perfect acoustics. Ramps into the cave create easy access and photographers love the cave setting. The Summer Solstice Light Spectacle – a natural phenomenon unique in the southern hemisphere, occurs throughout December and early January. Fully self-contained spacious 2 bedroom cabins with air conditioning are privately set apart in the natural bush land can be hired for $160/night for 2. Caravan powered sites are $35 for 2 and tent site $30 for 2. A purpose built Lodge caters for sleeping groups up to 48 and can be hired for weddings and conferences.
Hours: Visitor reception 8.30 am – 6 pm
Prices: Tour Bookings essential. Minimum 2 people to maximum 10. Minimum age 16.
$70 pp/2 hour or $85 pp/3 hour
Find us: 23 kms north of Rockhampton off Highway 1. 30 Olsen Caves Road, The Caves Qld 4702 Click link for map ..
Phone: 07/ 4934 2883
Web: www.capricorncaves.com.au/
COOWONGA: “Koorana Crocodile Farm and Restaurant” was established in 1981 as Queenslands first commercial crocodile farm. Owners John and Lillian Lever have work hard to bring this farm from 3-4 crocodiles in the early eighties to a normal carrying capacity of 3000 today. Want to see a croc that weighs over three quarters of a tonne? Want to see baby crocs hatch? Want to hold a croc and feel it? Tours run every day (except Xmas) – morning tour 10.30 am – 12 noon, afternoon 1 pm – 2.30 pm. The fully licensed restaurant can cater for functions up to 100 people. The Spotlight crocodile tours include learning to spotlight crocodiles at night, 3 – 4 course meals (licenced) with crocodile and farm walk by torchlight between courses – great for clubs and fundraisers. Hours: 10 am to last entry at 2pm (closes at 3pm)
Price: Tours … Adults $22, Under 16 is $11, Under 3 is free, Pensioners $18
Find Us: 65 Savages Road, Coowonga (Off Emu Park/Rockhampton Road),
Phone: 07/4934 4749
Web: www.koorana.com.au
BYFIELD: “Waterpark Eco Tours” offer you something truly remarkable. Join Claudie and Jordan, who will take you on a journey through the untouched tropical rainforest that borders Waterpark Creek, adjoining the pristine Byfield National Park. There is nothing else like this south of the Daintree. Enjoy the breathtaking beauty in silence aboard Water Dance, taking in the amazing natural environment of this pristine area of Central Queensland. The water vessel takes up to 14 passengers. Waterpark Farm is a fully operational Tea Tree farm including around 200 acres of tea tree which is harvested about every 8 months. You will enjoy the wonders of this unique place and be treated a fully guided tour on a horse drawn wagon of this fully working Tea Tree farm. The farm is totally organic, and when harvested, the tea tree is taken to the distillery on the farm where through a process of high temperature steam. The oil is extracted and decanted into vials which are sold at the farm and exported across the World, including to Canada. Our tours take around 3 hours and we provide morning or afternoon tea, and a BBQ lunch can be arranged. A minimum group booking of 4 people is required.
Hours: 9am or 1pm tours according to bookings.
Price: Adult is $25, Child under 15 is $15
Find Us: 201 Waterpark Road, Byfield Qld 4703
Phone: 07/4935 1171
Web: www.waterparkecotours.com
BYFIELD: “Byfield Bush Café” is situated within the Byfield area – a mere 20 minutes drive north of Yeppoon, enter the fragrant green world of the Byfield State Forest and National Park where you can relax and soak up the cool seclusion of a rainforest village. Byfield is a small community and features some amazing environmental and other attractions, including Nob Creek Potters, Ferns Hideaway, Gypsy’s Rest Pottery, Waterpark Cabins and heaps more.
Find Us: Byfield Road, Byfield Qld 4703
Phone: 07/4935 1190
Web: www.about-australia.com/queensland/capricorn/destinations/byfield
BYFIELD: “Nob Creek Pottery” was started about 23 years ago by Steve Bishopric and has been one of those wonderful dreams that has materialised over the years. Steve is an energetic and charismatic person who also happens to make beautiful wheel thrown ceramic pieces. Originally from Auckland, New Zealand, Steve loves his lifestyle of making pots, living in the bush and sailing whenever he gets the chance. He specialises in beautiful handmade basins for your bathroom, kitchen or ensuite. Functional items of basin tiles and accessories can be the starting point for your home decorating and renovations. Very competitive prices and individual “one-off” designs. Nob Creek Pottery is one of the few craft galleries in Australia, which still prides itself on selling only Australian made work. Steve’s specialty is wood firing. That is, producing ceramic pieces which are fired in a kiln using wood as the fuel. He uses a huge anagama kiln which he constructed about 15 years ago. Specialist packaging of pottery can be arranged for delivery nationally or internationally.
Hours: 9am – 5pm seven days a week, except Christmas Day.
Prices: As per individual items online
Find Us: 216 Arnolds Road, Byfield Qld 4703 (off Byfield Road)
Phone: 07/4935 1161
Web: www.nobcreekpottery.com.au
CAPRICORN COAST: “Cooberrie Park Wildlife Sanctuary” will give you one on one animal encounters. You can cuddle a koala, hold a crocodile, snake or lizard, play with birds and dingoes, and hand feed friendly kangaroos. Just 15 minutes from Yeppoon Beach … so slip away from the beach for a day and have a wildlife experience. There are special Party packages and we cater for school visits, weddings and private tours. A swimming pool, paddling pool and free BBQ facilities provide for a relaxing and pleasant day out.
Hours: 10 am – 3 pm /7 days a week. Interactive animal show at 1pm daily
Price: Adults 15 yrs and over $25, Children $15, Under 3 free and family prices
Find Us: 9 Stones Road, Yeppoon, Capricorn Coast Qld 4703
Phone: 07/4939 7590
Web: www.cooberriepark.com.au
EMU PARK: “The Singing Ship” came about from a competition that was held for the most suitable expression of commemoration of the Captain Cook Bi-Centenary. The Singing Ship was adopted in preference to a Holiday Camp idea. It is situated on the Capricorn Coast – Emu Park is a small coastal village overlooking the beautiful islands of Keppel Bay. Emu Park is renowned for its natural beauty, scenery and kilometres of pristine, unspoilt beaches that enjoys an ideal sub-tropical climate. After much fundraising, a foundation slab was necessary to lay as there was only sand for many feet below the surface of the site. This slab was thirty feet in diameter and two feet thick make of reinforced concrete. The ship itself was to be forty feet high with dimensions in proportion to the artist’s drawing. On a lovely day, May 30th, 1970, in the presence of a large crowd of interested people, the main plaque was unveiled by the Hon. Ian Sinclair, Minister for Shipping in the Federal Parliament, who was presented with a coloured photograph of the Singing Ship as a memento of the occasion. In appreciation of the tourist potential of the Singing Ship, the Livingstone Shire Council, now with a change of members, has constructed a sealed road and car park at the site.
Find Us: Opposite the Endeavour Inn, Emu Park
Web: www.endeavourinn.com.au
MT MORGAN: “Mt Morgan Hot Bread Shop” was runner up in the Australian all round Best Bakery judging in 2010. The Miner’s Pie is to die for and the bakery is the best in outback Queensland. The Hot Bread Shop is a favourite stop for locals as well as the travellers. Drop in and try for yourself … you be the judge!! You’re bound to find a scrumptious fudge.
Hours: 7am – 6pm Monday – Friday (Not open on weekends)
Find Us: 70/71 Morgan Street, Mt Morgan Qld 4714
Phone: 07/4938 1427
Web: www.mountmorgan.org.au/argus/june24_2010.pdf
