Rockhampton City, QLD 4700

In the last 14 years I lived in 15 different places around Australia: North, south, east and west. Rockhampton was the worst town. Violence everywhere. City full of Bogans. In traffic, everyone is extremely aggressive. I saw many illegally dump in the middle of the town. Police can’t manage the amount of issues. I just came to this place to make a real estate investment. Extremely happy to leave this nightmare after 5 months living in here.

Like any pla e it is how you treat people.i found people are very.sociable

Seen a lot of crime and I never feel safe on the street with a lot of violence, drugs and poverty WOULD NOT RECOMMEND!

Live just out of town and rely on Rockhampton for services, but the tradespeople of Rocky consistently and continually refuse to provide even basic services, that everyone else takes for granted, even when offered extra travel time and cost of petrol paid, on top of what they already charge. Rockhampton can burn to the ground for all I care. I'm too old and too ill to put up with their precious c**p. Anybody who responds with criticism can just shut the Hell up. YOU don't have to tolerate it!!!

We’re a professional couple with 2 young kids who moved to Rocky from Victoria in early 2021 looking for a new challenge. We knew nobody, no connections, and had never been north on Brisbane. Like any town, what and who you surround yourself with probably dictates how your time is going to pan out. We’ve settled into Rocky really comfortably, the people are friendly, there are jobs available if you actually want to work, the schools are great, the child friendly parklands and water parks are great, the beaches at Yeppoon and The Keppels are great, there’s a small live music scene and theatre groups, 4x4 driving and camping within 2 hours drive is amazing, fishing and boating, we’ve all joined local sports teams and met people from all walks of life… Housing is really affordable- from $250,000 you could get a little 3/1 Queenslander or splash a cool $800,000 in the popular parts of town.
Not seen a croc (in the wild) yet but who knows?!?! And no, the town doesn’t smell of cattle, in fact besides the cow statues you never really see cattle outside of beef week, and that adds some great atmosphere anyway…
People always tell us how hot it gets but that’s what air con is for and it’s all perspective really- go live in Darwin for 5 years and everywhere is cold after that!!!
Yes, there are some rough people and a few bogans, and yes, there’s some poverty around, but show me a regional or city area where this is not the case…
Rocky and the Capricorn coast in general gets the thumbs up from us…

In 10 days we are facing homelessness Rockhampton regional council and the real estates and there leasers especially McGrath real estate doesn't care about Tennant's one bit even after 8 years renting they haven't lifted a finger to help us and are willing to see a family of 6. Kids aged 6-4-2 and a 3 month old baby live on the street in a tent because rockynats and beef week and Easter holidays have taken all the affordable accommodation and seem more important than my family's lives health well being we have no friends no family and have been born and raised here the support systems/emergency housing Avenues are all full and we aren't receiving any help I highly don't recommend living in this town it's where dreams become nightmares and to top it of these people want everyone from everywhere to gather in a pandemic because that's worked out everywhere else the hospital is biased everyone's highly judgemental not helpful in floods or cyclones there's no community spirit no care of others or anyone below you/them this town stinks of nothingness it's the worst town I've ever lived the only thing that's good about this town is convenient shopping nothing else I've lived in one house for 8 years and had to tolerate 6 different junkie neighbours trying to start fights swearing harrassing me in my yard for trying to spend quality time with my kids there's no privacy most don't know how to mind there own manners or business everyone's out to get everyone it's really not a nice town at all

We haven't been to Rockhampton yet, we've been to Cairns and a few other places. All we want to say is it isn't about the towns or really the people. It's about mobile phones and devices. People are glued to their phones and can't go anywhere without them. That is the new major problem. If it's not people talking to the phone, youtube video's, text text etxting as they walk, whereby they miss many opportunities to strike and a friendly smile or conversation. Life is passing everyone by and they have no idea. Australia used to be a place where people spoke to one another and had real friendships, I can only remember the 70's, but looking back at old footage and listening to elders, they did have some great times. Even posting this review, we have hesitation. What have we become where we have to review a place and drag it further backwards by spaying and writing whatever comes to mind, like any product or service or place. Who know's, someone may be having a bad day so they think oh well, I'll get on here and create some havoc.
Not many will agree with these comments, it's only our view. Could anyone imagine if the internet was turned off. We reckon mass panic.

Rockhampton is a great place with plenty to do. Features such as the Botanic Gardens and the Art Gallery are world class - certainly the best of any regional centre in Australia. It is a short drive to really nice quiet beaches, or up to the ultra scenic picnic area at the top of Mt Archer. Historic Quay St is really beautiful to walk along and the parklands that border the Fitzroy River, have play areas and free barbecues. The Stocklands shopping centre is huge. There are plenty of sporting facilities and and Aquatic theme park. There are large bulk billing medical practices that are really professional. The Heritage Village is an amazing setup with working and interactive displays of the pioneer days. I could easily spend a day there any time. They have markets there which are also great, and an annual multi-cultural fair which is very well attended and celebrated. There are walking tracks winding through many of the leafy suburbs and the council has plans to expand them. Certainly, already there are many beautiful and scenic places to go walking. The pace is not break neck like in capital cities, and that how we like it. Lower stress levels and more time with family and friends. Rocky has about 80,000 people in the immediate region. It doesn't feel crowded, but at the same time, it's not too spread out. I live in a home in a very quiet area bordering national park, but am 5 minutes from the main shopping centre, 13 minutes from the largest hospital and 15 minutes from the airport. Public Transport is ok, but not that widely adopted because most things are pretty close. So many of the people here are friendly and happy. You can make eye contact with strangers and get a smile when walking down the street. Rockhampton has even won international awards and recognition for liveability. Importantly for this site, Real Estate here is a very good investment. I have made a bucket load of money in buying and selling just one home and then building another and am now debt free. We don't seem to have the volatility that other centres have.

Where else in Australia can you buy property at such amazingly low prices?
Rocky hasn't caught up to the rest of Australia as far as property prices go. Flooding was an issue in the past for Rockhampton locals but since the Barrage was put in there has not been a problem since. Even the massive rainfalls of late have not broken the river banks. Rocky has massive wide streets and traffic is never a problem driving across town. Beautiful old buildings exist throughout the city centre. Enjoy Australia's best steaks at the famous Criterion Hotel, on the River front. Rocky is Australia's Beef Capital. With the meat industry always growing and Universities and shopping centres springing up you know you are investing in a solid historical Australian town. Rental returns are among the best in Australia and rental occupancy has always been high. Notice how in all big cities what was once the cheap, undesirable inner city properties became the mega expensive trendy areas?

Rockhampton is situated 633 kms north of Brisbane and is known as the beef capital of Australia. There are a number of things to see including six bull statues, Archer Park Station and Steam Train Museum or for the real thrill seeker a Mig Jet Adventure. Visit Kershaw Gardens or the Rockhampton Zoo. Rocky has numerous large shopping complexes, good schools, a Tafe campus and a campus of the central Queensland University. There are good sporting facilities and you are not too far from the coastal area of Yeppoon. Housing prices here are realistic and good bargains can still be found in many areas around the CBD.

Rocky, as it's known to the locals, is famous for bulls. Big bulls. Tasty bulls and cutting the balls off bulls. That's right, it's an interesting signifier of a town that just can't keep its balls on. Local kids find it hilarious to cut off the testicles of the towns iconic giant bull. Cows are pretty much the best part of Rockhampton, unless you like crocodiles in your swimming holes or heat so all invading that you start to actually want to go swimming in them. You may have picked up that I'm not a fan of Rockhampton. I find the community lacking in spirit and the cultural scene non-existent. I do however recommend a nice drive, straight out of town.