Holiday houses in Emu Park

A laid-back beachside town on the north Queensland coast, Emu Park was an exclusive getaway for residents of the nearby city of Rockhampton in the early 20th century. Now it’s known as a holiday destination and a base for exploring some of the less developed sections of the surrounding coastline and the Southern Great Barrier Reef. The town boasts a couple of long surf beaches, Fishermans Beach and Emu Park Beach. Emu Park Beach was once called Mens Beach, back when swimming was segregated by gender, and women had the small Ladies Beach, between Fishermans and Emu Park. While Ladies Beach retains its old moniker, both beaches are welcoming to all genders.

On the headland above Ladies Beach you’ll find the Singing Ship sculpture, commemorating English explorer Captain James Cook’s discovery of the bay in 1770. This unique sculpture, which “sings” when sea breezes blow through its concealed organ pipes, looks out to the Keppel Bay islands, a group of 18 islands full of dynamite snorkelling and diving sites.

The summer months of December to February are tropical in Emu Park, with hot and humid days followed by balmy nights. Sea turtles nest on the beaches in the area from mid-October to late April — do as the locals do and maintain an appropriate distance from the hatchlings. Winter and early spring are the driest times of the year, although humidity tends to be roughly the same all year long.

The town is a popular getaway for residents of nearby Rockhampton, so you’ll need to book well ahead during the busy school holiday periods and over the summer break, from mid-December to the end of January. The Easter holiday is another busy time, when kites take over Fisherman’s Beach for the Festival of the Wind. The town also has an influx of visitors for the Emu Park Fishing Classic, a fishing competition held in early September.

Great Keppel Island

The largest and most accessible of the Keppel Bay group of islands is home to 17 pristine beaches and rugged bushland fringed by coral reefs. Head to Keppel Bay Marina, a 15-minute drive from Emu Park, to join a boat tour of the island’s more secluded beaches, or take the ferry to explore the island’s wildlife and reefs at your own pace.

Bluff Point Scenic Walk

Just over 10 minutes’ drive from Emu Park, before Keppel Bay Marina, Bluff Point is one part of the Capricorn Coast National Park — there are more small sections to the south and north. There’s a short but steep climb to Turtle Lookout, which overlooks the Keppel Bay islands, before the track continues through grasslands and rainforest.

Go fishing

The waters off Emu Park are great for reeling in Spanish mackerel, trout, and emperor snapper. Take a charter from Keppel Bay Marina, or cast a line from the rocky headlands on either side of Emu Park’s Fisherman’s Beach and neighbouring Tanby Beach.