Melbourne to Rockhampton road trip: Distance, time & best stops

Melbourne to Rockhampton driving holiday: Miles to Wandoan

Stay with the Leichhardt Highway after Miles and you’ll pass the Gurulmundi State Forest and Binkey State Forest.

Wandoan is the first town of any significance. It has several parks, a petrol station and a golf course. There’s also the Juandah Heritage Site, which is the remnants of the Juandah Station. Several buildings, some from the 1850s, are still intact, and the Juandah Heritage site acts as the obligatory local history museum.

If you want to stay overnight, Wandoan accommodation options include the Juandah Hotel Motel and the Wandoan Accommodation Park.

Taroom to Theodore

The next sizable town, Taroom, offers a racecourse, golf course and decent views from Gilberts Lookout. There’s also the Leichhardt Memorial, which offers a succinct explanation of explorer Ludwig Leichhardt’s adventures and much-fabled disappearance.

Taroom accommodation comes courtesy of the Taroom Caravan and Tourist Park.

A few kilometres to the north, there’s a campground at the Chain Lagoons. This oasis plays host to rare cycad palms.

But for exploring, you’re better off exploring Isla Gorge National Park. Follow a dirt road through the park for excellent views of the sandstone gorges and cliffs. The Grade 4, 800 metre Isla Gorge Track leads to the top lookout.

Afterwards, you’ll come to Theodore, where the Dawson River Weir makes for a pretty picnic spot.

Click through to the next section: Banana and Mount Morgan.