Roadschooling in Rocky

Published on 21 December 2022

A woman and her son playing with origami that they made

Heritage Architecture Trail

A road trip has an awesome way of turning everyday moments into little learning wins, and the Rockhampton Region is full of places where kids learn without even realising it. From caves to crocs, art to agriculture, and history to hands on animal encounters, Rocky is one of those destinations where ‘learning on the road’ happens naturally, outside, in the fresh air, surrounded by real stories and real Queensland character.

Here are some of the easiest, most enjoyable places for families to road-school their way around Rocky.

The Busby Family looking through the window of a caravan

Nature & Environment

Capricorn Caves

📍 30 Olsens Caves Rd, The Caves QLD 4702

Kids step straight into geology, natural history and acoustics as they wander through limestone caverns and dry rainforest pockets. It’s adventurous, memorable and surprisingly educational.

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Family on tour at Capricorn Caves — Learn about the Capricorn Caves

Rockhampton Botanic Gardens

📍 100 Spencer St, Rockhampton QLD 4700

Follow the 100 year old tree trail, explore tropical and subtropical gardens, wander around the lagoons and relax in the Japanese Garden. It’s gentle, shady learning, perfect for younger kids.

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Family walking through landscaped gardens — Explore The Rockhampton Botanical Gardens

Wildlife & Animals

Alkoomi Adventure Farmstay

📍 695 Old Coach Rd, Marmor QLD 4702

Egg collecting, animal feeding, horse riding, farm life and cattle country brought to you by a working farm full of hands on learning.

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Two girls patting a brown cow — Nature Experiences like no other at Alkoomi

Rockhampton Zoo

📍 100 Spencer St, Rockhampton QLD 4700

Meet koalas, dingoes, otters and chimps on a free family outing, with plenty of keeper stories and a self guided tour that helps kids learn about conservation without any pressure.

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Parents and two young children with a zookeeper at Rockhampton Zoo — Enjoy the free Rockhampton Zoo

Koorana Crocodile Farm

📍 65 Savages Rd, Coowonga QLD 4702

Real croc behaviour, real Queensland wildlife and real farm operations. Kids walk away with new facts (and big eyes).

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Crocodile keeper showing a crocodile to a young visitor — Up Close interactions at Koorana Crocodile Farm

Agriculture & Food

Farmstay Life at Alkoomi

📍 695 Old Coach Rd, Marmor QLD 4702

Livestock, sustainable farming and bush life become part of the day with no worksheets needed.

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Family sharing food at a wooden table on a farm — Eat like the locals do at Alkoomi Farmstay

Rockhampton Beef Story

📍 Multiple bull statues across Rockhampton (no single address)

The bull statue trail and Beef Capital history introduce kids to Australia’s cattle industry and paddock to plate stories in a simple, fun way.

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Iconic Bull Statue in Rockhampton — Search for all the Bulls in Rocky

Art, Culture & Creativity

Rockhampton Museum of Art

📍 220 Quay St, Rockhampton QLD 4700

Free entry, bright spaces and interactive kids’ areas make this an easy creative learning stop.

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Parent and child folding origami at RMOA — Learn a new skill at RMOA

Riverside & CBD Art Trail

📍 Various locations along Quay St & CBD

Public sculptures and murals spark conversations about colour, materials and storytelling as you wander.

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Sculpture along the riverside art walk — There is plenty of art to explore throughout the CBD and Riverbank

Dreamtime Cultural Centre

📍 703–751 Yaamba Rd, Parkhurst QLD 4702

First Nations and Torres Strait Islander culture brought to life through storytelling, language, tools, didgeridoo demonstrations and connection to Country.

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Family inside a cave with an Indigenous person playing the didgeridoo — Step back in time at The Heritage Village

History & Heritage

Heritage Architecture Trail

📍 Various historical sites across Rockhampton CBD

Step inside pioneer homes, explore machinery sheds and experience living history.

Time Safaris Walking Tours

📍 Rockhampton CBD and other locations

Time Safaris Rockhampton Walking Tours brings the city’s rich and colourful past to life through engaging, story‑driven experiences led by expert guide Phil Hore, a museum educator with more than 20 years’ experience at world‑renowned institutions.

Visitors can choose from a range of themed tours—from daytime heritage walks and gripping ghost, murder and Jack the Ripper night tours, to adults‑only experiences, cemetery explorations, and family‑friendly prehistoric and botanic garden adventures. Each tour uncovers dramatic tales of bushrangers, heists, wartime history, haunting legends, eccentric characters and ancient creatures, offering an immersive and memorable way to discover Rockhampton’s unique history.

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a person holding two tooth fossils close up — Hold real life fossils!

Rockhampton Heritage Village

📍 296 Boundary Rd, Parkhurst QLD 4702

Public sculptures and murals spark conversations about colour, materials and storytelling as you wander.

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Children playing teacher in a heritage school setting — Step back in time at The Heritage Village

Historic Mount Morgan

📍 87 Morgan St, Mount Morgan QLD 4714

Gold mining tales, the Big Stack and a self guided township trail make history easy for kids to take in.

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Family posing at Mount Morgan Railway Station — Learn about historic trains of the region

Archer Park Rail Museum

📍 51–87 Denison St, Rockhampton QLD 4700

The restored Purrey Steam Tram and interactive soundscapes bring Queensland’s rail story to life.

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Historic tram taking passengers from the station — Step back in time and sit on a history Rockhampton Tram

CQ Military & Artefacts Museum

📍 40 Archer St, Rockhampton QLD 4700

A compact but fascinating look into Central Queensland’s military history.

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A mannequin dressed in military attire in a museum — Explore CQ's military history

History of Beef & Bull Statue Tours

📍 Multiple bull statue locations throughout Rockhampton

Simple, self guided ways for families to learn about Rocky’s cattle industry and its place in Aussie culture.

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A Cow statue in Rockhampton — Rockhampton has a long history with Beef, naming us the Beef Capital of Australia

Easy Ways to Explore It All

Download the free Explore Rockhampton app for simple, family friendly self guided tours covering:

Art trails
Heritage walks
Darumbal On Country stories
Zoo and Botanic Garden highlights
Mount Morgan
Beef history
and more…

Ideal for curious kids, slow mornings and unplanned afternoons.

Roadschooling in Rocky isn’t about lessons, it’s about discovery. It’s kids asking questions because they’re genuinely interested. It’s hands on moments, outdoor freedom, and real life stories they’ll remember long after the holiday ends.

If your family loves learning by doing, Rocky is the classroom you’ve been looking for.

Written by Explore Rockhampton #ExploreRockhampton @explorerockhampton