If you love the idea of a treasure hunt or fancy a spot of fossicking , the many hidden treasures to be found along the Dig the Tropic trail that connects the outback to the reef make a fantastic road trip the entire family will enjoy .

The 15 points of interest spanning over 1200km include gemstones , dinosaurs and volcanoes , and provide a wonderful opportunity to experience a living museum created by ancient events .

We broke the trail up into a number of shorter road trips , and recently followed the Tropic of Capricorn between Yeppoon and Emerald to discover some of Mother Nature ’ s finest creations . Here ’ s our top three experiences from this section of the trail .

CAPRICORN CAVES

More than 400 million years in the making , Capricorn Caves are an awe-inspiring example of nature at its finest . Located an easy 30-minute drive north of Rockhampton , the caves boast the highest concentration of fossils found anywhere in the world .

They offer a number of different tour experiences that cater for every member of the family , including daily wheelchair-accessible guided cave tours , wild caving adventures that had our hearts racing , and abseiling down through the caves for the very brave !

Onsite accommodation options include selfcontained cabins , the Lodge , and a great bush camp with powered and unpowered sites for tents , caravans and motorhomes .

+ MORE INFO

MT HAY GEMSTONE TOURIST PARK

Located 30 minutes west of Rockhampton ,

Mount Hay is an internationally known destination for thunderegg fossicking and the purchase of semi-precious Australian gemstone products , cut and polished in the Mount Hay factory .

60 \