WHY CHOOSE ROCKHAMPTON?

Do you dream of an authentic Australian experience for your child? Sunshine, eucalyptscented air, green pastures, birdsong and unspoiled beaches? These things can be hard to find in Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane. With rapidly expanding populations, heavy traffic and some of the world’s most expensive schooling and housing, the experience of living in Australia’s biggest cities is not what it used to be.

Don’t despair. The Australia of your dreams still exists in a Central Queensland town called Rockhampton. Founded in 1853 on the banks of the Fitzroy River, the city is celebrated for its wide and quiet streets, British colonial layout, Victorianera architecture, and its friendly and welcoming community. You’ve no doubt sampled a tender Australian steak or hoped one day to see Australian animals and birds in their native habitat. Perhaps you’ve dreamed of visiting the world-heritage Great Barrier Reef – the largest and most beautiful coral reef in the world. All of these are available to you from Rockhampton. With a population of 83,000, the city is big enough to boast modern hospitals, schools, universities, restaurants, art galleries and infrastructure, while being small enough to retain the generosity and hospitality for which Australians – and Queenslanders in particular – are famous. Far from the smog and bustle of the big cities, there is no pollution in Rockhampton; no skyscrapers or endless streams of traffic. Surrounded by fertile pastureland, family-owned farms and homesteads, national parks, white-sand beaches and coral reefs, Rockhampton is blessed with unspoiled natural beauty. You might compare it with China’s Qinhuangdao, Japan’s Matsushima or Malaysia’s Kuala Terengganu. Life in Rocky, as the locals call it, will offer your child the opportunity to grow up in an authentic Australian atmosphere. As you walk along the street, you’ll be greeted with a smile and a friendly g’day (hello) by the local community. The city is safe with low crime rates and clean streets. Foreign visitors are made to feel welcome. Like all Australian cities, Rockhampton is an inclusive and multicultural place. Most residents have British, European or indigenous Australian backgrounds, but a growing proportion of the population comes from China, India, Sri Lanka, Korea, Vietnam, Malaysia and the Philippines. Here, you and your child can experience and study Australian history first-hand. The town’s architecture is some of the best preserved in Australia, with elegant public buildings and Victorian-era churches, post offices, banks, stores and homesteads.

Shanghai, Guangzhou or Tokyo

9 hours

Brisbane

Rockhampton is easily accessible from overseas. A direct flight from Shanghai, Guangzhou or Tokyo to Brisbane takes around 9 hours. After a brief transfer, you’ll arrive in Rockhampton 50 minutes later. From the airport, a city of stunning natural beauty, modern amenities, year-round warm weather and a thriving community is only a three-minute drive away.

ROCKHAMPTON AT A GLANCE

Established in 1853 Situated on the banks of the Fitzroy, Queensland’s largest river Population of approximately 83,000 Gateway to the Capricorn Coast to the east and outback to the west Famous for its golden beaches, pristine coral reefs, rainforests and sunsets One public hospital and two private hospitals Home of: CQUniversity Australia, University of Queensland Rural Medical School and James Cook University

50 minutes