DESTINATION: Emerald

This busy Central Highlands town lies 270km west of Rockhampton. Emerald is the centre of a prosperous pastoral and mining region.

Main Attractions

Built in 1900, Emerald Railway Station, with its beautiful facade, is one of the few remaining heritage buildings in the town. Emerald Pioneer Cottage and Museum, also classified by the National Trust, is a tribute to early settlement in the Highlands; open Mon-Fri, 2pm-4pm. Emerald's Botanic Gardens are located on the banks of the Nogoa River. There are many different areas in the gardens, including Palm Grove, Pine Plantation and the Rose Garden, which is home to over 200 varieties of roses. The gardens also have Marbles and Federation Pillars and offer a BBQ area and playground. Near the information centre is a 23m-high (painting and easel) replica of one of Van Gogh's famous sunflower paintings. There is also a mosaic footpath depicting 100 years of Emerald's history.

Nearby attractions

Around 45km west of Emerald are the gemfields of Anakie, Sapphire and Rubyvale, which have yielded some of the world's largest and most beautiful sapphires. These fields cover more than 100km and visitors are offered the chance to fossick for gems and then have them cut by one of the many gem-cutters, jewellers or goldsmiths in the area. Visitors must obtain a license first. There are also many gem shops and galleries to browse through. At Rubyvale, there are tours of an underground sapphire mine and gem-cutting displays. Lake Maraboon, 19km south of Emerald, is a popular watersports and fishing area. Day tours of nearby cattle stations can be arranged through the information centre.

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Region: Capricorn

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Straddling the Tropic of Capricorn, the Capricorn Region is an inviting combination of stunning beaches, rivers, subtropical reef islands and coastal rainforests. Inland, natural wonders include rugged volcanic outcrops, deep Outback gorges, estuarine mudflats, scenic headlands and wooded hills and vast cattle stations; the region is dotted with historic townships with elegant buildings that hint at the wealth of former times. more

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Clermont St, Ph: (07) 4982 4142

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