Jeff Dorman
Dog Friendly Motel Yeppoon – Yeppoon, the center of the Capricorn Coast, is an extremely dog-friendly beach destination to visit with your dog. Just 30 minutes from Rockhampton and less than 8 hours north of Brisbane, discover what Yeppoon in Queensland has to offer when visiting with your dog.
One of the main attractions of Yeppoon and the Capricorn Coast is the many beautiful beaches that stretch south between Yeppoon and Emu Park.
Dog Friendly Motel Yeppoon
Fortunately, the basic rule for local Livingstone beaches is that dogs are allowed off-leash on all beaches, apart from off-leash between 8am and 4pm unless otherwise stated. So almost every beach in the area is dog friendly!
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In my research, I couldn’t find a beach where dogs are not allowed, but the beaches at Bayfield National Park to the north are certainly off limits.
During my visit in 2021, a local tourism website said dogs were not allowed on Yeppoon Main Beach, Emu Park Beach and Cooee Bay Beach. However, I can confirm that regular signs on Cooee Bay Beach say dogs are allowed off leash between 8am and 4pm, while there are no signs prohibiting dogs on Yeppoon Main Beach or Emu Park Beach. In the last two, dogs can be hunted, but avoid patrolling.
There are two beaches with different rules: Farnborough Beach in Bangalee and Fisherman’s Beach in Emu Park. Dogs are allowed on both beaches during the day, but are prohibited on weekends or public holidays, when they must remain on a lead.
Located on Farnborough Beach, the unit is located between Bengal Boat Ramp and Barwells Creek, with the easiest access from Hinze Avenue next to 4WD access. At Fisherman’s Beach, the fiber section begins 150 meters north of the boat ramp, and anchoring is permitted up to this point.
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Although hatchlings are rarely a problem this far south, sea otters can be a threat in the summer and a nuisance during turtle nesting season, which runs from October to March. If there are turtles around, keep your distance and keep dogs on a leash or off the beach completely.
Apart from walking the local beaches, consider some dog-friendly travel ideas for your holiday in Ipun…
One of the best things to do when visiting Yeppoon is to go to Cape Island. With stunning beaches, swimming and snorkelling, it’s a great day out for all the family, and luckily the dogs can join you too.
There are two ferry options for traveling to Cape Island, both of which are dog friendly. We traveled with Keppel Konnections, which allows dogs on board for free. Unlike the ferry to Magnetic Island, our dog did not need to wear a leash.
Kinka Palms Motel, Yeppoon
There is also a larger Free Fast Cats which costs $5 for small dogs and $10 for large dogs. Both ferries take 30 minutes and operate to similar timetables.
When you arrive at Big Keppel Island, you will notice that there are no signs indicating whether or not dogs are allowed on the beaches. However, the island is part of Livingstone Shire, as is Ipun, so it may apply here that dogs are allowed on leashes on the beaches, also before 8am and after 4pm. There is no mention of Cape Island on their website.
The ferry will drop you in the center of the island, on Fisherman’s Beach. I recommend walking to the south end of the beach, where a short path starts that leads to nearby beaches, including Skelpichean Beach.
Shelf Beach is one of the most popular snorkeling beaches on the island and certainly the easiest to visit if you don’t have your own boat. It’s a 5-10 minute walk, but the last part of the walk is quite challenging, especially if you’re wearing a thong like us! There are sections of reef on both sides of the beach. We prefer the spot on the left, which will be easier to access as the water recedes.
Pacific Hotel, Yeppoon, Qld
If you bring your own picnic lunch, we recommend visiting Shelves Beach, Monkey Beach and Long Beach. Monkey Beach is said to have better snorkeling, but we tried it for a while. However, we arrived at Long Beach, a beautiful, long and quiet swimming beach. We had the beach pretty much to ourselves (and maybe let our dog out). The eastern part was a nudist beach but was empty when we visited.
Note that the walking trails around Cape Island are not well maintained as the island’s old town has been closed for many years. It is probably best to follow the paths that start at the end of Fisherman’s Beach or ask the local staff for directions.
If you arrive on the island by Keppel Konnection ferry, it is possible to add lunch and drinks at Great Keppel Island Hideaway. It was great value and our burgers and chips were delicious. But if you want to maximize your time exploring the island, it’s worth the walk to the bistro north of Fisherman’s Beach.
The bistro at Great Keppel Island Hideaway is mostly open and dog friendly, with plenty of water bowls. I’m not sure which area this applies to, but I noticed a sign prohibiting this point on my way out.
Nrma Capricorn Yeppoon Holiday Park
Unfortunately, most of the accommodation on the Big Island does not allow dogs, so it is generally best to visit on a day trip. If you decide to stay a night or two, find out if vacation homes are currently dog-friendly.
If you want to enjoy the area’s beautiful coastline without walking in the sand, you can take a walk along the Yeppoon Coast, a walk that is popular with people and dogs. Take your time, with plenty of picnic benches and viewpoints along the way, as well as many cafes across from the beach, often dog-friendly.
Dogs must be on a leash and there are plenty of litter boxes and bags to pick up after your dog. Please note that dogs are not allowed in the Yeppoon Lagoon (but they can walk behind it) and the Keppel Kraken water play area.
Unfortunately, most of the other coastal walks in the area, such as the Bluff Point Scenic Walk and the trail to Fan Rock Lookout, are located within small sections of Capricorn Coast National Park.
Best Things To Do In Yeppoon With Kids
Emu Park is only a 15 minute drive south of Yeppoon. In addition to the largely free fisherman’s beach, there are also two historical sites. On the hill above the mountain is the statue of the singing boat, which was built in 1970 in memory of Captain Cook. When the wind blows, listen to her voice as she sings.
Adjacent to the singing vessel is the Anzac Walk of Remembrance. This memorial and short stretch of pavement was built to mark the 100th anniversary of the First World War and is an interesting place to visit. Beneath the large bunker are information panels about key battles and the participation of local Queenslanders.
Leashed dogs are welcome on the sidewalk and in the surrounding park, but please treat the area with the respect it deserves.
If you’re interested in history, Rockhampton is also worth a visit. As one of the oldest towns in Central Queensland, the town is an impressive collection of historic buildings.
Driving The Bruce Highway To Cairns With A Dog
Some of the notable buildings to explore are the Custom House, Criterion Hotel, Rockhampton Post Office and the many court buildings. Most of the heritage buildings are located along the river on Quay Street, while the post office and courthouses are further down East Street.
The Riverbank Area along Quay Street has recently been regenerated and is a great place to walk along the Fitzroy River with plenty of shade trees. Keep your dog on a leash.
Unfortunately, dogs are not allowed in Rockhampton’s main botanic gardens and, unsurprisingly, the free zoo next door. But head to Kershaw Gardens in North Rockhampton, where dogs are welcome.
The highlight of the gardens is the waterfall area, which has several man-made waterfalls flowing beautifully into the pool below, surrounded by lush green palm trees. The waterfall area is closest to the High Street car park.
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Unfortunately, some other parts of the garden, such as the wetlands, are still in need of restoration after the gardens were badly damaged in the storm.
Dogs are allowed in Kershaw Gardens on a leash. There is a dog run next to the Dowling Street car park which we didn’t get a chance to check out, as well as a small fenced park with flexibility equipment in the Charles Street car park.
In the Yeppoon area is Olive Dorey Park, an off-leash dog park on Clayton Road in Lammermoor. There are three different fenced areas, one of which is equipped with flexibility. There is plenty of shade and seating in the other two areas.
If you are visiting Rockhampton, there are dog parks scattered around the city, some of which are fenced.
Dog & Cat Boarding In Yeppoon
The streets of Yeppoon are lined with cafes offering al fresco dining, most of which are happy to have your dog with you.
Head down the beach to Lure
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