Brimming with fresh produce, from the land to the sea, the Southern Great Barrier Reef puts the reef into reef and beef. Here’s 5 delectable dining experiences in the Capricorn region.
1. The Waterline Restaurant
It’s not just the views of Keppel Bay Marina that keep diners coming back for more here. It’s the service, and the steak. Owned by beef barons Richard and Libbie Wilson, who own a cattle station out at Banana, The Waterline serves the likes of Cowboys Benedict for breakfast – Banana Station rib fillet with smoked belly bacon, poached egg, ciabatta, bearnaise and black bean tomato salsa. For lunch and dinner, try the Signature Banana Beef Station prosciutto wrapped eye fillet with local prawns, seasonal vegetable and rice wine hollandaise.
2. Beaches Restaurant Rosslyn Bay Resort
It doesn’t come any fresher than this. Beaches Restaurant owner Ross O’Reilly originally set up an organic garden to service his Kemp Beach restaurant, down at Yeppoon. Now, it’s spiraling into a full-blown farm. Feast on fresh herbs, garden salads and vegetables plucked straight from Ross’ 56ha farm, perched five minutes away, and paired with sustainably-caught seafood, and local beef. Enjoy a lazy breakfast looking out to the Keppel Islands in the Southern Great Barrier Reef, with flamed salmon, cassava chips, beef relish, house soured cream and poached eggs; granola and poached pear raspberry, coconut yogurt and nuts. Afterwards enjoy a stroll along Kemp Beach.
3. Vue Wine Bar and Restaurant
There’s a striking mural on the wall of Vue Wine Bar & Restaurant, along the Yeppoon esplanade with ocean views out to the Keppel Islands, the restaurant serves everything from tapas to pastas and pizzas. For something more filling, try the crispy skinned salmon with roasted pumpkin, Israeli cous cous and pea puree; lamb rump on asparagus, beetroot and wild mushroom risotto with red wine jus; make sure you save room for their amazing desserts such as housemade warm churros with hazelnut chocolate dipping sauce and cream; orange blossom creme brulee with bisoctti.
4. Boathouse
An exciting new addition to Rockhampton’s dining menu, check out Boathouse, an attractive building with an expansive deck overlooking the Fitzroy River. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, you can start your day with a Boathouse breakfast; before moving on to Angus rump for lunch; and finishing with Seafood tower for two, for dinner.
