Living in Rockhampton
Published on 23 June 2025
Rockhampton is an exciting and welcoming place to call home, built on a lifestyle which comes from living in Queensland with beaches and the southern Great Barrier Reef just a short drive away.
Locals welcoming you to Rockhampton (or Rocky as we call it), will tell you about the diversity of landscapes to enjoy, the free family friendly activities to fill your weekends, the laid-back lifestyle and the short commutes.
Whether you’re looking to move to Central Queensland, or have already made the switch, welcome to Live Rockhampton – your companion to guide you through your new hometown and the opportunities which Rockhampton offers!
Why should I live in Rockhampton?
Find the work/life balance you've been searching for
With Queensland’s famous beaches and island escapes just a short drive away, national parks in the centre of town and an abundance of family activities such as the free Rockhampton Zoo, Rockhampton promises to never leave you bored.
As the capital of the Central Queensland region, Rockhampton provides a perfect blend of city practicality with country hospitality and lifestyle. Switch your city commute for a short drive over the mighty Fitzroy River, enjoy a variety of restaurants and cafes and have easy access to all the services and shops you’d expect to find in any city.
Rockhampton also offers a broad range of job opportunities in health and essential services, retail and hospitality, mining and resources, energy, construction, tourism and more. The region is well known for its economic strength and diversity and will continue to grow due to a multi-billion dollar pipeline of major projects over the coming years.
Best of all, the people of Rockhampton are welcoming and supportive and will go above and beyond to make you feel like a member of the community.
Is Rockhampton a good place to live?
Rockhampton has activities the whole family can enjoy
Rockhampton is an ideal place to raise a family thanks to its comparatively affordable housing, sunny weather, easy commutes, strong job prospects and variety of activities and tourist attractions.
The median house price in Rockhampton is well below what you’d expect to pay in Brisbane, or Queensland more broadly. You can find basic homes for less than $350,000 and newly built family homes from $630,000.
Rockhampton’s weather is a major drawcard for new residents! We enjoy around 300 days of sunshine every year, with daytime temps typically ranging from 23 to 32 degrees. While Rockhampton does have a ‘wet’ and ‘dry’ season, it usually comes without the oppressive humidity you’d experience living in northern Australia.
Throw in perks like the free Rockhampton Zoo, world class fishing and boating, plenty of natural escapes and walking trails and Rockhampton becomes the ideal home for anyone who loves spending time in the outdoors.
In fact, the 2024 National Community Views Survey ranked Central Queensland above the capital cities of Hobart and Darwin for liveability, based on the views residents have of their own region.
So what is 'Live Rockhampton'?
We're here to help you settle in
Live Rockhampton is a campaign delivered by Advance Rockhampton, the economic development unit of Rockhampton Regional Council. The aim of Live Rockhampton is to support new and prospective residents as they settle into their new life in Rockhampton.
We’re passionate about our community and hope to share that passion with you by showcasing all that the Rockhampton Region has to offer. As you find your place here, be sure to follow Live Rockhampton on Facebook.
It’s a collaborate community noticeboard where you can keep up to date on community events, achievements of people within our community and engage in friendly discussions with like-minded locals.
Business Recruitment Support
Live Rockhampton also provides a range of materials for businesses seeking to attract new workers. Our Business Toolkit has brochures, social media material, videos, email banners and more to promote Rockhampton as a play to live, work and grow.
Businesses in the Rockhampton Region are welcome to access this material for use in their recruitment efforts, and to contact the Live Rockhampton team should they have suggestions for the creation of additional material which may be beneficial.
Need more information?
The Live Rockhampton blog will be updated monthly with everything you need to know about life in Rockhampton.
If you need general help in relocating to the Rockhampton Region, or have questions now you’re here, please reach out to the Live Rockhampton team and we’ll be in touch!
Your new colleagues can also be a good source of local knowledge and information, as can the range of community groups operating in Rockhampton.
Otherwise, look around the Live Rockhampton website and discover the benefits that come with living in the heart of Central Queensland!