Rockhampton to Winton road trip: Distance, drive time & stops
The Rockhampton to Winton road trip covers a 866km distance in a driving time of around 9h11m. The best stops to add to the itinerary are Emerald, Barcaldine and Longreach.
The Rockhampton to Winton drive takes you from near the Queensland coast to the heart of the outback, roughly following the Tropic of Capricorn along the way. It’s a road trip punctuated by national parks and towns with a story or two to tell.
Rockhampton offers fascinating history walks and cave tours. To source the best Rockhampton accommodation deals, go here.
Winton brings sunset tours through the rock channels of the Rangelands, trips to the dinosaur footprints in the Lark Quarry Conservation Park and adventures through the mesa landscapes of Carisbrooke Station. For the best Winton accommodation deals, search here.
This guide should help you plan your perfect Rockhampton to Winton road trip itinerary.
Rockhampton to Winton distance and driving time
By car along sealed roads, the distance from Rockhampton to Winton is 866km. That makes for a driving time of around nine hours and 11 minutes. It is possible to do this in a day of hard driving, but you’re much better off turning it into a road trip itinerary with a few stops along the way.
Top experiences to book in and around Rockhampton
- (Highly recommended ✅) Great Keppel Island day trip – with lunch.
- Cathedral Cave tour at Capricorn Caves. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- 90 minute Deep Vault Cave and Flower Pot tour at Capricorn Caves.
- Time Safaris walking tour.
The best places to stay in Rockhampton, Queensland
The best Rockhampton accommodation choices are:
- For character and charm: Denison Boutique Hotel.
- For heritage: Quality Hotel Regent.
- For well-equipped apartments: Quest Rockhampton.
- For really good value: Rockhampton Serviced Apartments.
- For a great pool: Korte’s Resort.
The first leg is the 271km drive from Rockhampton to Emerald. It leaves Rockhampton through Gracemere and then heads towards the junction with the Leichhardt Highway.
Then come several forests and parks that are set up for conservation rather than visitation. There are no tourist trails in the Duaringa State Forest of Taunton National Park.
Rockhampton to Winton road trip: Blackdown Tableland National Park
Blackdown Tableland National Park is far more accessible, however. The Yaddamen Dhina day use area offers an excellent lookout over the sandstone ranges, and you can reach it with a conventional vehicle.
With a 4WD, you can tackle a loop route that weaves together in walks, lookouts and waterfalls, though.
Keep going west, and Blackwater is the next stop. Here, the Blackwater International Coal Centre tells the tale of coal mining in Central Queensland and further afield in Australia.
The drive from Blackwater to Emerald takes about 54 minutes.
Rockhampton to Winton drive: Emerald attractions
Emerald is unexpectedly quirky place. The Mosaic Pathway offers… well, a pathway made of mosaic tiling. The town is also home to the world’s biggest (replica) Van Gogh sunflower painting.
For natural beauty, chill out in the Emerald Botanic Gardens or beside Fairbairn Dam.
Where to stay in Emerald
The best Emerald accommodations options are:
- For central location: Motel 707.
- For a more stylish motel: Abode37.
- For a good quality motel with cheap rates: A&A Lodge Motel.
- For families: Discovery Parks Emerald.
Rockhampton to Winton road trip: Emerald to Barcaldine
It’s another 309km from Emerald to Barcaldine. Alas, there’s not a great deal to see on this stretch of the journey as the Capricorn Highway passes through the tiny settlements of Willow, Alpha and Jericho.
You may wish to stop for a stroll in the Withersfield State Forest or Zamia State Forest, however. Other options include trying your luck at the Glenalva Fossicking Area and taking a photo or two from the Drummond Range Lookout.
Click through for the next section: Barcaldine attractions.