Yeppoon may be relatively small, but it certainly has tonnes of character and charm.

Known for its tropical climate, beaches, and snorkelling, this is also the gateway to the stunning Keppel Islands.

Here are the best things to do in Yeppoon

1. Sunset walk to turtle lookout

Make your way to Bluff Point walking track at sunset. The turn-off is just off the main road, at the Southern end of Kemp Beach. There’s an area here to park your car.

Bring some sturdy walking shoes and head off on the steady 700 m incline which will get you to Turtle Lookout.

From here, you can see the Keppel Islands in the distance and if you look down, you can see green turtles rising up to the surface, nearby the rocks, and then quickly disappearing again.

If you continue along the track to the top, you’ll pass by ancient volcanic rock and discover panoramic views of incredible blues and greens in every direction. The full circuit is 2.3 km long and very enjoyable.

 2. Dinner at Vue Restaurant

Set in the heart of downtown Yeppoon, and directly across from the beach, this is the ideal venue to enjoy outstanding cuisine.

The soaring ceilings and modern design create a relaxed dining atmosphere, and the service was on point. One of the best things to do in Yeppoon is to dine here.

We spent an evening at Vue indulging in the best food in Yeppoon.

A highlight for me was the starter of seared scallops, roasted pork belly, and truffle cauliflower puree, followed by a glazed rack of lamb with crisp seasonal produce and red wine jus. Heaven!

3. Explore the Street Art

Yeppoon has some incredible street art dotted around town! It really adds character and fun to this small coastal town. We wandered around Yeppoon searching for our favourites in-between coffee and food stops and a swim stop at the lagoon.

The artwork continues in Emu Park. Be sure to visit the artwork painted over the entire toilet block at Emu Park surf life saving club and also the colourful cockatoos painted on the Post office in town.

Looking for street art is a lot of fun and one of the best things in Yeppoon to do with kids.

4. Visit Great Keppel Island

A visit to Yeppoon isn’t complete without visiting Great Keppel Island. It’s so close! While some visitors come here only for a day trip, we’d recommend staying for a few nights if you have the time.

Either way, logistics are easy. Simply catch the 30-minute ferry with Keppel Konnections.

They run this passenger ferry twice daily for convenience. We decided to stay a few nights on the island in a self-contained cabin at Great Keppel Island Hideaway which was situated on the beach.

We had such a fantastic time here in paradise and it was one of our favourite things to do in Yeppoon, or from Yeppoon.

A highlight for us was spending the day with Keppel Dive.

We spent the day snorkelling and scuba diving; the underwater world was gorgeous.

5. Brunch at the Waterline

Want to taste the best seafood, local beef and produce in the area? It’s all found right here at the Waterline Restaurant. Located at the Keppel Bay Marina, this place offers a relaxed atmosphere with great service and delicious food.

Book ahead and nab a table outside, overlooking the marina as you enjoy eggs benedict on sourdough or something else from their tasty menu. One of the best things in Yeppoon to start your day with.

Our Tip: If you’re heading over to Great Keppel Island for the day, stop by here for breakfast before you jump on the ferry. If you don’t have time to eat, be sure to at least grab a coffee – it’s a good one!

6. Espresso and cake at Lure Living

You can’t miss this funky place as you wander along the main street in Yeppoon, right across from the beachfront. This is COFFEE HEAVEN for coffee lovers.

All of the food here is fantastic, the hardest decision is to decide on what to choose. We highly recommend any of the cakes, and their lunch menu is divine.

7. Yeppoon Lagoon

Built in 2018, this is a relatively new addition to the town of Yeppoon. We think it’s a big win! The Yeppoon Lagoon is THE PLACE to go and soak up the sun.

Imagine lazing in turquoise blue shimmering waters of the stunning lagoon that overlooks the beachfront.

Bring your book and chill for a day. The best thing about the lagoon is that it’s free for everyone to enjoy.

It’s one of the best things to do in Yeppoon for sure.

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8. Explore the Capricorn Caves

These natural limestone formations have been carved out over millions of years. Today, you can explore the cave by joining one of three tours on offer. 

It all depends on your fitness level and how down and dirty you wish to get. Either way, we highly recommend visiting the Caves while you’re in the area.

We’d recommend this 1 hour Cave Tour is ideal for most visitors, it suits any fitness level.

The caves are one of the best things to do in Yeppoon for family – kids love crawling through caves.

NOTE: There are opportunities to camp here or book a fully self-contained cabin too. Check rates and availability here.

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9. High Valley Dawn Permaculture Farm

A 2-acre market garden producing fresh, organically grown, and chemical-free produce for their nearby restaurant in Yeppoon, Beaches.

The farm is located in a beautiful setting and home to a range of free-ranging animals. Fresh produce is picked daily by volunteers and delivered to the restaurant or sold at the market.

The owner, Ross showed us around the market garden and the new food forest while passionately talking about permaculture. Permaculture could be explained as the growth of agricultural ecosystems in a self-sufficient and sustainable way.

This form of agriculture draws inspiration from nature to develop farming systems based on crop diversity, resilience, natural productivity, and sustainability. In a nutshell, it is going back to basics, growing to produce the way our ancestors did.

To learn more about this project, visit highvalleydawn.com.au.

10. Emu Park

Tucked in the heart of the Capricorn Region, Emu Park is a small coastal town that feels relatively untouched. It’s located only 20km from Yeppoon, but we still include it in our best things to do in Yeppoon.

What we enjoyed most about this little gem were the peaceful beaches, cool street art dotted around town and the small community feel.

You can also visit the Singing Ship monument and the Centenary of ANZAC Memorial Walk here.

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11. Explore Byfield National Park

Come to Byfield to enjoy walking, picnicking, camping, and swimming. Much of the area is only accessible by foot, boat, or 4WD vehicle, although our Toyota Hiace campervan was OK to go and explore Stony Creek Trail and Water Park Creek.

12. Live Music and dinner at Ferns Hideaway

Fern’s restaurant is open for lunch Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, but the live music on Saturday night is something special. Ring ahead and make a reservation for dinner.

A fantastic evening awaits you at this cosy spot nestled in Byfield National Park, only 35 mins drive from Yeppoon. One of the best things to do in Yeppoon is to drive out here for the weekend. It’s totally worth it, trust us!

We spent the weekend at Fern’s Hideaway Resort and Saturday night’s dinner and live music were among our favourite experiences in the region. The food was exceptional!

We’re so happy that we were told about this place. But seriously, it’s the warm welcome felt by the owners, Marto and Gen that we loved the most.

Their story of moving here in the early 80s and building this dream property is inspiring.

Fern’s offers accommodation too! Campground stays ($15 pp per night), or you can book a log cabin. Click HERE to check rates and availability.

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13. Visit Nob Creek Pottery

Nob Creek Pottery is one of those places that just oozes passion, character and creativity. Stop by and visit the large range of beautiful pottery, artwork and stunning jewellery hand-crafted by the small team here.

This is one of the best things to do in Yeppoon if you like to learn about the art of pottery making and maybe purchase something special and unique for your own space at home.

14. Brunch at the Boathouse, Rockhampton

With floor-to-ceiling glass walls and a huge breezy deck, this is the perfect place to enjoy a lazy brunch. Located on beautiful Quay St in Rockhampton and alongside the banks of Fitzroy River, the Boathouse is sure to please.

The breakfast/brunch menu here is very popular, so it pays to book ahead to secure a table, particularly over weekends.

If you don’t arrive before 11.30 a.m., drop by for lunch. The fish burger is top-notch!

15. Sunset views of Rockhampton from Mount Archer

Take a drive up to Mount Archer at sunset or sunrise to the highest peak which overlooks Rockhampton. The road curls up to the summit, where you can park your car and is around 604m above sea level.

An elevated boardwalk has been constructed for visitors, offering stunning panoramic views over Rockhampton and the surrounding area.

So there you go! We hope you enjoyed reading our post about the best things to do in Yeppoon. Let us know if there is anything we should add.

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Travel Tips for Australia

Don’t forget that we’ve got you covered with the 8 best places to eat in Yeppoon.

You might also enjoy reading our 9 Best Tips for the Big Lap Of Australia and the complete guide to Great Keppel Island – Everything you need to know. 

Our comprehensive itineraries for travelling in Australia include this Brisbane to Cairns Road Trip – the Best 14-day itinerary and our detailed Guide to Camping in Karijini National Park. We’re all about the food too! Don’t miss these 12 best cheap eats in Cairns.

We highly recommend you visit the gorgeous Whitsunday Islands in Queensland; this is a special place! If you’re after a unique experience, these 5 reasons why you need to Reefsleep on the Great Barrier Reef will do it.

And we’ll do our best to inspire you with these 14 best things to do on Magnetic Island.