Make your Rocky River Run a winning experience
Published on 13 April 2023
Welcome to Rockhampton - home of 7Rocky River Run
On your mark, get set... GO!
It's a mad rush to the finish line.
The endorphins are running at an all time high.
The sweat beading from your forehead. You feel the cool breeze kiss your face with every stride you take.
Those weeks and months of training will be put to the test in the annual event that is 7Rocky River Run.
During your visit to Rockhampton, we invite you to explore our region, take on some of our unique experiences, indulge your senses and enjoy all our city has to offer.
We promise that you will be spoilt for choice when it comes to finding things to do before, during and after the the event, from iconic art exhibitions, ancient caves, relaxing river cruises and picturesque picnic spots to historical townships and fantastic fishing adventures.
Explore Rockhampton and share your visit with us by tagging @ExploreRockhampton and #ExploreRockhampton.
Feed your mind, body and soul.
Fuel your body
Get your coffee fix and enjoy our quirky cafes
Whether it’s a coffee to kick start your day, or something more filling, Rockhampton is in abundance of cute and quirky cafes and coffee shops.
Live like a local and indulge in the very best beans the Beef Capital has to offer. Satisfy your appetite with mouth-watering seasonal menus. We promise our cafes will have your tastebuds dancing!
Did someone say coffee?
Dining out
Looking for the ultimate carb-load or somewhere to catch up with friends? We've got you covered. From succulent steakhouses, fine dining experiences, innovative cuisines and international taste sensations, there’s something to suit everyone's palate.
Make a Booking
Fresh produce for the picking
Your body is a temple. So, in the days leading up to 7Rocky River Run, it is very likely that your diet will strongly focus on nutritious food. Come race day, you want to be at your ultimate peak and we have just the places to go for that fresh produce. Rockhampton's local markets boast a wide variety of fresh and tasty produce, fruit and vegetables to make every meal mouth-watering, delicious and nutritious.
Explore our farmer's markets
Kick your training up a notch.
Going the distance
What’s better than the rush of endorphins running through the body on an early morning run? How about a beautiful backdrop to soak up? Rockhampton offers a range of running tracks from pristine heritage-listed Botanic Gardens, to stunning riverbank views and tranquil parklands. Whether you’re just starting out, or you’ve racked up miles of experience, we have created some scenic running tracks to admire and enjoy as you get your cardio done.
Riverside Run
Distance: Approximately 5km
About the track: For a run with riverside views, historical architecture and beautiful parklands, it has to be the Riverside Run. This track offers a mostly flat terrain with the option of stairs and ramps scattered throughout the track for those looking to level up their training. There is also fitness equipment located at Col Brown Park and Alf Kele Memorial Rotary Park, which offers a great opportunity to switch up your training with other workouts along the way.
Directions:
- Start your run at the corner of Quay and William Street, Rockhampton.
- Head northwest on Quay Street towards the Fitzroy Bridge (the old bridge).
- Continue onto Victoria Parade.
- At the roundabout, take the second exit and continue on Victoria Parade until you reach the Neville Hewitt Bridge (the new bridge) where the footpath splits.
- Take the path to the right through Col Brown Park (under the bridge) and follow it around until you reach the tunnel on North Street.
- Continue through the tunnel and follow the footpath through Roy and Eileen Coker Walk.
- Continue straight onto Sir Raymond Huish Drive along the Fitzroy River for approximately 650m.
- Turn left at the end of Sir Raymond Huish Drive onto Hall Street for approximately 200m.
- At the end of Hall Street, turn left onto Graeme Acton Way for approximately 650m.
- Turn left back onto Sir Raymond Huish Drive until you reach Red Poppy Coffee then turn right and continue through Roy and Eileen Coker Walk.
- Follow the path onto Victoria Parade and continue on Victoria Parade.
- At the roundabout, take the second exit and continue along Victoria Parade.
- Continue running along Victoria Parade as it becomes Quay Street.
- Continue along Quay Street until you return to your starting point (corner of Quay and William Street).
Botanic Gardens Run
Distance: Approximately 2km
About the track: Featuring lush and beautifully landscaped gardens, a lagoon and gorgeous Japanese Gardens, this track will spoil you with scenic views every step of the way. Rockhampton's historically listed Botanic Gardens offers a terrain for runners looking for a challenge with one big incline and decline throughout the entire track.
Directions:
- Begin at Spencer Street at the Botanic Gardens Entrance. Head west on Spencer Street towards Ann Street.
- In approximately 150m turn left onto Ann Street.
- In approximately 100m turn right, then turn right again and head down towards the Murray Lagoon.
- In approximately 250m take a slight left and continue running parallel to the Murray Lagoon. Continue straight through the roundabout alongside of the Murray Lagoon.
- In approximately 300m, when the track splits, take a slight left and continue running back towards the Botanic Gardens.
- In approximately 250m, upon reaching the first lot of crossroads, continue straight up the path towards the Japanese Gardens.
- Continue following the winding path towards the Japanese Gardens for approximately 130m. Keep going straight and follow the path around the outside of the Japanese Gardens.
- Upon returning to the intersection once more, continue straight towards the War Memorial.
- Turn left to go around the Memorial, then continue straight towards Ann Street taking a slight right approximately 40m down the path.
- Continue along Ann Street for 200m.
- Turn right onto Spencer Street and continue until you have returned to your starting point.
Frenchville Road Run
Distance: Approximately 2.5km
About the track: Situated in the leafy suburb of Frenchville, Frenchville Road is one of North Rockhampton's popular walking and running tracks offering beautiful bushland with the entrance of Mount Archer National Park (Nurim) at the end of your run. The track is sprinkled with exercise equipment throughout the track offering an alternate form of exercise to incorporate in your training. This track offers a mainly flat terrain, with a gentle gradual incline as you approach Pilbeam Drive. The path is also popular runners wishing to take their fur baby join their training session.
Directions:
- Start your run at the gravel carpark situated on the right side of Frenchville Road, approximately 1km from the Dean Street roundabout.
- Continue along Frenchville Road for 1.8km until you reach Pilbeam Drive.
- Return along the same track until you've reached the carpark.
Groups do it better and have more fun!
You're in good company
Need a bit of extra motivation and encouragement during your training? Why not join one of our local running groups to keep you accountable. Training solo can not only be enjoyable, but it's also a good source of healthy competition sand group encouragement to push you towards a new personal best!
Rockhampton Parkrun is a free, fun and friendly weekly 5km community event held every Saturday morning at 7am. Attendees are welcome to walk, jog or run their way around the course. The event takes place at the Botanic Gardens. It costs nothing to join, but you must register before coming along. You will only need to register once. Don't forget to bring a scanable copy of your barcode when you attend the run.
Rockhampton Road Runners hold regular weekly track sessions for beginners through to experienced runners throughout Rockhampton. Memberships are essential and include entry fees to Rockhampton River Run events, subsidised track fees, insurance and discounted member tickets to their presentation night and other group events.
Plan your stay
From boutique hotels to budget style rooms, Rockhampton provides a myriad of accommodation options to plan your stay. We've listed five accommodation options below that are not only close to the 7Rocky River Run precinct but nearby to a range of popular cafes, restaurants and other attractions:
For a comprehensive list of Rockhampton’s accommodation options, view our Explore Rockhampton Accommodation Page, which includes, hotels, apartment accommodation, camping and caravanning, farm stays, motels, pubs and budget accommodation in our region.
Get your retail fix
Retail therapy
When the shopping fever is high, a little retail therapy goes a long way. Rockhampton has a wide range of local and nationally known sporting stores and apparel, many of which reside in our giant shopping centre Stockland Rockhampton.
Things to do
Once the event is over, it's time to rest and recover. We've listed 10 exciting experiences for you to enjoy to celebrate your hard efforts on the track.
Immerse yourself in a world of wonder at Rockhampton Museum of Art
Rockhampton Museum of Art
220 Quay St, Rockhampton QLD 4700
Featuring an ever-changing list of exhibitions, Rockhampton Museum of Art (RMOA) is the largest gallery in regional Queensland. Located on Rockhampton’s iconic Quay Street, RMOA is free to visit and open 9am to 4pm daily. Immerse yourself in galleries of amazing exhibitions, programs and workshops. Drop in and browse the gift shop, satisfy your appetite with a bite to eat from Hummingbird Cafe situated next door to the museum. RMOA's collection is regarded as one of the finest in regional Australia and is the only regional Gallery in Queensland to hold a representative collection mid-twentieth century Australian art. Through its collection holdings of historic paintings, objects and photographs, as well as more recent artworks, the museum interprets the history and heritage of Rockhampton, Queensland and Australia.
Find out more
Memor-a-bull views of our beautiful city from Nurim Circuit.
Walk the treetops of Mount Archer National Park (Nurim)
Pilbeam Drive, Mount Archer, QLD, 4701
Ah, the serenity! Mount Archer (Nurim) is a must see when you visit Rockhampton. Wander through the trees on the Nurim Circuit elevated treetop boardwalk, sit back and relax with a picnic in the amphitheatre or take a stroll along the many bushwalking trails throughout the area. Extending 25 metres off the side of Mount Archer, the 500 metre flat treetop boardwalk offers spectacular views of the city and the mighty Fitzroy River (Tunuba). Soak up the views and check out the interpretive signage of the local Darumbal culture. The boardwalk is particularly popular with locals and tourists alike wanting to catch the spectacular sunrises and sunsets, so don't forget your camera!
Find out more
You'll be otterly obsessed with our zoo animals.
Meet the crew at Rockhampton Zoo
100 Spencer Street, West Rockhampton, QLD, 4700
With more than 30 species of native and exotic animals, Rockhampton Zoo is the ultimate destination for getting your cuteness fix. Located in the leafy suburbs of the Range, the Zoo features animals including chimpanzees, otters, meerkats, macaws and more. You can learn all about these amazing animals through our daily zookeeper talks or download our FREE Explore Rockhampton Self-Guided Tour app, and discover each animals' little quirks from the comfort of your hotel room. For an extra unique experience, we recommend booking an animal encounter. Our meerkat encounter ($100 per person, or $300 for a group of up to 4 people) which includes a feeding session that's guaranteed to have the mischievous mob climbing all over you. Alternatively if you're otterly obsessed with this cute little pup (pictured above), Otter encounters are also available.
Find out more
Explore the lush historical wonders of our gardens.
Stroll Rockhampton's Heritage-Listed Botanic Gardens
100 Spencer Street, West Rockhampton, Qld, 4700
Conveniently located next door to the Zoo is Rockhampton's Botanic Gardens - one of Queensland's oldest and most established public gardens. These gardens sprawl across 33-hectares and include the Central Queensland War Memorial (The Cenotaph), tranquil Japanese Gardens and expansive Murray Lagoon, where you can spot turtles! If you're feeling peckish after your exploration, don't forget to stop by the Garden Tearooms for a bite to eat and a refreshment. Relax under the whimsical canopy of the iconic 150-year-old Banyan Fig Trees as you recall stories of the day's adventures.
Find out more
Kick back and relax on a River Cruise
Take a relaxing River Cruise
Norbridge Park, The Common, Qld, 4701
The mighty Fitzroy River (Tunuba) is a picture of beauty, particularly when the sun sets over the horizon. The best way to enjoy this moment is by getting out on the water for a River Cruise. The 90 minute sunset cruise comes highly recommended and includes complimentary nibbles and drinks available for purchase. Enjoy the breathtaking views of the city featuring the historical architecture of Quay Street. You might even be lucky enough to spot some of the amazing wildlife along the banks including crocodiles.
Find out more
The Fitzroy River (Tunuba) - Home of the Barramundi
Wet a line in the Fitzroy River (Tunuba)
Home of the barramundi, the Fitzroy River (Tunuba) winds through the city of Rockhampton and provides prime fishing opportunities for those looking to wet a line from a boat or from one of our many river platforms. Even if you didn't pack the fishing gear with you, have no fear. Rockhampton has a range of fishing charters that set you up with everything you need to be able to check in and boat out in no time. No matter who you are, how you want to fish, or what you want to catch, the Fitzroy River (Tunuba) is ready to welcome you.
No boat? No worries! Book a Charter or hire a boat
For the fishing enthusiast looking for a guided experience on the water, charters are available.
Guided Fishing DownUnder offers a range of fishing charter options for those looking for a great day out on the water. Rockhampton local Nathan Johnston specialises in exclusive fishing experiences for up to three people focusing on the Fitzroy River and Capricorn Coast. Target species in the Fitzroy’s’ expansive delta include the iconic wild saltwater Barramundi and King Threadfin using lure and live bait techniques.
Hooked provides fishing adventures for enthusiasts of all experience levels (novice to professional). Their fishing charters offer full or half-day trips with tackle, live bait and refreshments supplied. Your local fishing guide on board your trip will also share their expertise and knowledge during your adventure.
Reel Fishing CQ offers Barramundi Charters which include all fishing equipment, lunch, refreshments and fish caught during the trip. For the angler with a boating licence but no boat, Boat Hire CQ also have a 4.5 metre Polycraft Drifter featuring 60hp Yamaha outboard, motor guide 80lb electric motor and Hummingbird Helix 9 GPS side scan sounder that can take up to 4 people out on the water.
Find out more
Frank Ford Park makes for the prime location to photograph our bull statues safely
Snap a selfie with an iconic bull statue
It’s not a trip to Rockhampton without snapping a Bull Selfie with the iconic statues in the city – after all you’re in the Beef Capital of Australia! You’ll spot them dotted around the city, usually on the median strips of the major roads. However, you can easily and safely walk up to the one at Frank Ford Park, which is only a few minutes’ drive away from the Rockhampton Zoo and Botanic Gardens.
Cook up a picnic storm at one of our amazing picnic and barbecue locations. Pictured: Nurim Circuit, Mount Archer.
Stop, drop and sizzle!
Nothing beats the great outdoors during Rockhampton's cooler months. Make the most of our perfect autumn days with a barbecue picnic. The hypnotic sounds of prime local meat sizzling on the hot grill, the scent of the seasoned spices wafting through the fresh outdoor air, the colourful medley of salad placed gently alongside of condiments, fizzy soft drinks and freshly baked bread rolls from the hot bread shop - just thinking about it makes your mouth water, doesn’t it?
Whether you’re after a scenic view of the mighty Fitzroy River (Tunuba), a tranquil garden setting to relax and unwind, the Rockhampton region has it all. Check out our ultimate barbecue experience suggestions for the best butchers, farmers markets and locations that all our locals know and love!
Rockhampton's Top BBQ Spots
Our heli-adventures are unforget-a-bull.
Take flight with a heli-adventure
Looking to see Rockhampton from a different perspective? Seek your thrills from above with a joyride helicopter adventure. Rockhampton has a range of aerial experiences. Tours cover a wide distance throughout the region from the mighty Fitzroy River to coastlines. The possibilities are endless with their fully customised flight paths and packages.
Our mountain biking trails are perfect for all skill levels.
Mountain bike trails
If you enjoy the great outdoors and enjoying life in the fast lane, head to our popular mountain biking trails. They're open all year round, but now is the perfect time of year to really make tracks! Even if you aren’t equipped with your own bike, bike hire is available from Giant Rockhampton who will ensure you'll be set to hit the trails.
First Turkey Mountain Bike Reserve | 9km from the Rockhampton CBD
Situated on the side of Mount Archer (Nurim) National Park, First Turkey offers more than 30 different trails fit for all skill levels. The park is open most days of the year, except after heavy rainfall in the region. First Turkey has a range of trails from Gravity Enduro and Cross Country trails through diverse terrain, meaning you can easily pick the perfect ride for your level to explore and enjoy.
Find out more
Soak up the rich history of Mount Morgan.
Hit the road with a day trip to the Mount
If you're in town for a few days, why not experience one of the many great drives in and around Rockhampton to discover the hidden gems of our region?
Mount Morgan
Cruise along a winding scenic strip of road that takes you up into the Rockhampton regional hinterland. The Mount Morgan Range, via the Burnett Highway, is an enjoyable section of road with eye-catching lookouts, mountainous views and at the very end, the charming mining town of Mount Morgan. Delve into the township's rich gold mining history and relive its fascinating past with a range of impressive attractions on show including:
Adventure awaits at Capricorn Caves.
Capricorn Caves
30 Olsens Caves Road, The Caves QLD 4702
A short 20 minute drive north of Rockhampton will take you to the ancient chambers of Rockhampton’s oldest playground – the Capricorn Caves. These caves offers a range of daily tours including the mesmerising Cathedral Cave Tour (perfect for all ages) to something more challenging like the Explorer and Adventurer Tours.
Book a tour
Written by Explore Rockhampton
#ExploreRockhampton
@explorerockhampton