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7 Awesome Educational Things to Do Around Rockhampton These School Holidays

Things to Do

Looking for the perfect destination that offers both fun and educational activities for your whole family during school holidays? Look no further than our own backyard!

Whether you’re keen to learn about local history and culture, or explore the natural beauty of the region, there’s something for everyone of all ages to enjoy. 

Check out these seven awesome and educational things to do in and around Rockhampton and the Capricorn Coast during these school holidays: 

Take a selfie with a croc at Cooberrie Park 

Set in a beautiful natural environment near the Capricorn Coast and with stunning views of the surrounding mountains and coastline, Cooberrie Park is home to a diverse range of native Australian animals, including kangaroos, wallabies, koalas, and crocodiles, just to name a few. You can get up close and personal with many of the animals through daily feeding and interaction sessions, making for a unique and unforgettable experience.  

Step back in time at the Rockhampton Heritage Village 

The Rockhampton Heritage Village is a great place to learn about the history of the region. It’s an open-air museum that features over 20 heritage buildings, including a school, post office, hospital and church. Give yourself around two hours to wander through the village to learn about what life was like in Rockhampton region during the 1800s and early 1900s. 

Discover our history the Dreamtime Cultural Centre 

The Dreamtime Cultural Centre is a must-visit destination for anyone interested in learning more about Aboriginal culture. The centre features a range of exhibits, including traditional artefacts, art and music. To fully experience the impact of the Dreamtime Cultural Centre, it’s recommended you join in on one of the many guided tours offered by their experienced staff. 

Learn about local flora and fauna at the Rockhampton Botanic Gardens 

The Rockhampton Botanic Gardens are a beautiful and educational place to visit. The gardens feature a range of local and exotic plants, as well as a butterfly house and a Japanese garden. Whether you’re after the ideal venue for a family picnic or a fun playground for the kids, the Botanic Gardens is the tropical paradise for you. Open from 6am to sunset daily and entry is free. 

Get up close and personal with the animals at the Rockhampton Zoo 

Discover close to 100 animals spanning more than 30 species of native and exotic animals at Rockhampton Zoo! From the adorable meerkats to the playful chimps, you can get up close and personal with these incredible creatures while learning about their habitats and behaviors. With daily educational talks by zookeepers and feeding sessions, the zoo is the perfect destination for animal lovers of all ages. 

Have a hands-on experience at the Mount Hay Gemstone Tourist Park 

Located approximately 30 mins west of Rockhampton on the Capricorn Highway at Wycarbah, the Mount Hay Gemstone Tourist Park is a great place for kids and adults alike to learn about gemstones and fossicking. You can take a tour of the park, learn how to identify different gemstones and even try your hand at fossicking for your own treasures! 

Discover the ancient wonders at the Capricorn Caves 

And last, but definitely not least – our very own Capricorn Caves! At almost 400 million years old, this limestone cave system offers visitors an unforgettable adventure into the depths of the Earth through winding passages and magnificent caverns adorned with stunning formations of stalactites and stalagmites. Be sure to check out the Capricorn Family Adventure, only available during school holidays! 

Whether you’re interested in learning about local history and culture, exploring the natural beauty of the region, or simply looking for some fun family activities, the Rockhampton & Capricorn Coast region has it all.  

With a range of exciting and educational options to choose from, our region is the perfect destination for families who want to make unforgettable memories together! 

  • star rating  The cave was amazing, the tour was worth every cent. This tour is suitable for everyone who can walk, and it offers access for those with mobility issues. There is... read more

    fpp2013
    July 5, 2023

    star rating  It was just an amazing experience to have a guided tour through the cave system and learn about the formation and history of the caves. The cathedral part of the... read more

    DKL77
    July 5, 2023

    star rating  Terrific tour. Excellent guide (Hudson) really informative and friendly. Explorer experience was easy to manage. Highly recommended. Must book ahead. We saw a lot of people arriving with no booking... read more

    Shayster23
    July 5, 2023
  • star rating  Very interesting tour I was a bit nervous as had to crawl in a tunnel but it was short and 2 swing bridges - but that’s me a whimp but... read more

    Naomi G
    July 4, 2023

    star rating  Visited Capricorn Caves & did the Cathedral Tour it was value for money, if you like learning about and observing some natural beauty. Some stairs/ramps but not tiring.... read more

    Mark T
    July 2, 2023

    star rating  Very informative. Our guide was friendly and knowledgeable. Listened to Alleluia in the Cathedralamazing experience. Daughter and I enjoyed this experience. We learned a lot about the ecosystem in the... read more

    Soana B
    July 1, 2023
  • star rating  Great informative tour, with a fantastic coffee and cake to finish. There is a little gift shop to pick up your souvenirs.

    pomsinajourney
    June 28, 2023

    star rating  Fantastic, definitely worth doing if in the area. Interesting history on these caves. Guided tour was good

    NaomiGoldcoast
    June 26, 2023

    star rating  A truly exhilarating experience. My husband and I stayed the night at a cabin at Capricorn Caves and were so impressed with the hygiene and cleanliness of the cabin. The... read more

    ShobaSadler
    June 18, 2023
  • star rating  Very special experience visiting these caves and listening to Amber explaining about the cave formations and their continuing work in preserving its nature.

    emilyvZ8090TD
    June 17, 2023

    star rating  Amazing caves so different from any other caves I've seen looking forward to visiting again when they have Opera in The Cathedral Cave, if you are in the area... read more

    987and
    June 16, 2023

    star rating  An excellent experience full of learning opportunities an very eco tourism. Some special features that can only be experienced on this tour.

    Tracy C
    June 11, 2023
  • star rating  I joined a morning tour at 9:30 and the atmosphere in the morning was so great! I and my family enjoyed it very much! the tour guide was very knowledgeable.... read more

    lucita2023
    June 10, 2023

    star rating  Heading north towards Cairns, I chose to take a rain check on visiting Capricorn Caves. However, with more time on my hands, I decided to make this a priority. And,... read more

    Greg W
    June 5, 2023

    star rating  We had a good tour in the Capricorn Caves with an enthousiast guide. The caves were on average quite accessible with some nice passages for those group members that wished... read more

    Harrie M
    June 4, 2023
  • star rating  Cave adventure was excellent, guide was very knowledgeable about the caves, after doing the adventure tour second tour was bit of a let down

    peterrK9546AH
    May 28, 2023

    star rating  Interesting tour. I particularly loved the Cathedral tour. Just amazing to sit there when our guide turned the lights off slowly and we sat in darkness as the... read more

    Maria L
    May 25, 2023

    star rating  My son (15 yrs) and I thoroughly enjoyed our visit to the caves today. The tour guide was super-friendly and extremely informative. We learned so much! An absolutely stunning cave.... read more

    Bee-Bee
    May 24, 2023
  • star rating  Great tour. Izzy the tour guide was very informative. We live in Mackay and it has been on mt to do list for a long time. Glad I did it... read more

    catherinet52
    May 20, 2023

    star rating  Our guide was very well informed and gave us a lot of info about the caves. The caves were amazing and we got some great photos. I would recommend this... read more

    M1410LJcathys
    May 19, 2023

    star rating  A great tour, Amber was knowledgeable and enthusiastic , highlight was the acoustics in the cathedral for sure

    falconray
    May 17, 2023
  • star rating  Unexpectedly wonderful experience at the Capricorn caves, especially in the Cathedral Cave - fantastic effort made to make the whole visit truly worthwhile! Our guide, Amber, was informative and enthusiastic.... read more

    gaylenemoor
    May 17, 2023

    star rating  So glad we planned a visit to the caves. Wish I would have ventured even further into the caves with a longer tour.

    Jeannie C
    May 13, 2023

    star rating  Really interesting tour even though we did the 45minute one. Rory our guide was great. Very informative and knowledgeable. Only improvement I could suggest is a more vibrant light... read more

    robynj893
    May 10, 2023
  • star rating  Tour guide was just perfect, wouldn’t have changed the way he delivered in any way. Thanks so much! Look forward to doing another tour one day!

    U507VKjennyr
    May 9, 2023

    star rating  Amazing tour with Lizzie, we did so many cool routes and was way for adventurous than we were expecting. Lots of tight crawls and the bats were amazing. Thank you!

    emma_theobald
    May 8, 2023

    star rating  Was an amazing cave system , we only did the cathedral and was hoping to do another more advanced track but was booked out .
    Would definitely come back again... read more

    bensE9508AO
    April 29, 2023
  • star rating  Amazingly tranquil. Cabins extremely comfortable. Cave tours a most, just beautiful. Friendly staff who provide excellent service.

    R6274RUjoanner
    April 27, 2023

    star rating  Fantastic family day out. We did the family adventure tour (with two 9 yr olds) and they loved it. Our guide James was informative and engaging and kept the atmosphere... read more

    julzinlondon
    April 23, 2023

    star rating  Our tour was amazing we all had an awesome time and our tour guide, James, was great helping people who struggled, he definitely is worth more money

    D5681NNcindym
    April 13, 2023