A mural in Rockhampton – The Beef Capital
As I mentioned here previously, it’s nice to be back in a place where we can get stuff done or buy what we need with choices. We’ve spent the past couple of weeks lining up some contractors to do work on the Puffster. We are finding our way about the Brisbane area nicely and really enjoying the land down under. However, something is amiss and we need to remedy it.
So far, we haven’t seen a kangaroo. Not seeing a kangaroo is like going to Texas and not seeing an Armadillo. It’s just not done. To remedy this, we decided to drive north, away from Brisbane and into Australia’s coastal wilderness to hunt for kangaroos in the wild.
More fun with murals
I read on the internet about a place where kangaroos and wallabies hop down to the beach to feed on mangrove pods that have washed up with the overnight tides. the place is Cape Hillsborough. It says it’s a photo opportunity like no other. Being avid photographers, how could we refuse a teaser like this? How cool would it be to see a kangaroo on the beach? Let’s go!
It turns out the place where the kangaroos feed on the beach is just over 1,000 km away (620 miles). This is a little bit too far to drive in one day. In our youth, it’d be a piece of cake, but sadly we are getting older and more than 8 hours in a car at one time is about as much as we can handle without a nap. The roads outside of the city are not great thus adding to the time it takes for the trip. Besides. We have time. So, why not enjoy the journey?
Looking at the map, there aren’t a lot of towns between us and the kangaroo’s beach hangout. I picked a place to stop that was a little over half way. Now keep in mind, the sole purpose of me picking this place was simply due to the fact it was located about half way and offered a choice of decent hotels at reasonable prices. The town I picked is Rockhampton City.
We learned on the way to Rockhampton City, that Australia can have some vast distances between fuel stations. At one point we got a little bit nervous as we watched the fuel gauge go from ¼ tank to E without seeing a single place to stop. Thankfully and very timely, a travel center appeared and we didn’t need to go walkabout on the M1.
The Regent – Our hotel
The front entrance gives you a taste of the decor
I booked a hotel in Rockhampton City based on Google Map reviews. I love this feature of Maps. We can look for places to stay with more than 4 stars and instantly see the price point. The Regent stood out. It was a little bit off the A1 (our travel route) and is located in the downtown area. The most recent reviews of the hotel talked about it being refurbished and clean. This turned out to be true and we were not disappointed. However, there was an added treat.
On the way to the hotel, I was making a left turn on the street where it’s located and noticed a couple of cool buildings further down the road. I said to Cindy, let’s take a walk about town in the morning and check it out. We really had no idea about Rockhampton City and what it had to offer. I hadn’t really paid much attention since stopping there was just a merely a convenience on the way to the beach with kangaroos and wallabies. Our room was awesome. The Regent is a renovated school built in 1914. The property boasted lots of stain-glass windows, high ceilings, and solid wood doors. Our room was spotlessly clean and had a comfortable bed. What more could we ask for?
There are times in our wacky travel adventure when things really work out. We might find a hidden gem in the most bizarre place, a great restaurant simply picked because it looked nice, or a stopover that turns out to have a bit of a wow factor. This was one of those times.
A statue called The Voyager – Represents travelers of the past in the area
On Sunday morning before continuing on our journey northward, we walked about the old downtown of Rockhampton City. The more we walked, the more we were amazed. It turns out that Rockhampton City is not only historically significant in Australia’s history, it is a beautiful town located on the Fitzroy River.
Looking down East Street
How cool is this street
At one time, the port was very active. It’s now referred to as Australia’s forgotten port. European settlement began in the 1850s, driven by pastoral expansion and the establishment of sheep stations. The discovery of gold at Canoona in 1858 brought an influx of people, although the gold rush was short-lived. Despite this, Rockhampton City grew as a regional center for agriculture, with cattle and sheep grazing dominating the economy. The Fitzroy River provided a vital transportation route, connecting the city to coastal ports and enabling the export of wool, beef, and other goods.
Rockhampton City’s prosperity expanded with the arrival of the railway in the 1860s, cementing its status as a key trade hub. Iconic landmarks like the Rockhampton Botanic Gardens and the Customs House reflect the city’s 19th-century growth. Today, Rockhampton City is known as the “Beef Capital of Australia,” blending its agricultural heritage with modern industry and culture. This explains all the cattle ranches we saw in the area.
In the downtown area at the waterfront, many beautiful historic 19th century buildings line the streets such as the Customs House and the Quay Street precinct. A standout attraction is the Rod Laver Plaza, honoring the tennis legend born in Rockhampton City.
Customs House on Quay Street
The old bank building
The Rockhampton Riverside Precinct has landscaped gardens, shaded pathways, and open spaces that invite relaxation or outdoor activities. On a lazy Sunday morning, it was us and a few joggers out for a bit of exercise. This made for a peaceful morning stroll finished with breakfast at a local café.
School of Arts and or Library – I’m not entirely sure which
Since the town has a courthouse, it serves as a key judicial facility for the region. Built in 1887, it features a neoclassical architectural style and continues to house various court proceedings, including civil and criminal cases.
One last interesting tidbit on Rockhampton City, a small suburb nearby, Gracemere, sits right on the Tropic of Cancer. The Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn are two imaginary lines that circle the Earth at approximately 23.5 degrees north and south of the Equator, respectively. They mark the furthest points north and south where the Sun can be directly overhead, occurring during the June (Cancer) and December (Capricorn) solstices. These lines define the boundaries of the tropics, a region characterized by warm climates and consistent daylight throughout the year.
Mark stand on the Tropic of Capricorn
We have cross both tropics in our journey. In the Bahamas, we visited Cancer with friends who came to visit. We wrote about it here.
Countries Crossed by the Tropic of Cancer: Mexico, Bahamas, Western Sahara, Mauritania, Mali, Algeria, Niger, Libya, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Oman, India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, China,Taiwan
Countries Crossed by the Tropic of Capricorn: Namibia, Botswana, South Africa, Mozambique, Madagascar, Australia, Chile, Argentina, Paraguay, Brazil.
Cindy finds a Croc
It’s time to continue up the road on our journey to see kangaroos and wallabies.
