On the coast 110 km east of Rockhampton, east off Bruce Highway. Gladstone is a thriving commercial port with a population of more than 30,000. The locals claim that Gladstone harbour handles more tonnage than the port of Sydney. Otherwise there’s not much here, apart from ‘the world’s largest aluminium plant’, which processes bauxite ore mined up in the Cape York Peninsula. It’s also very hot, but don’t let all this put you off. It is from Gladstone that you can take a boat out to some of the Capricorn Islands, which form the southern outcrop of the Barrier Reef. There are regular services to Wilson Island, the Masthead Islands and Heron Island, which lie 80 km or so offshore (see separate entries for details). For boat timetables, contact the visitor information center at the Marina Ferry Terminal, Bryan Jordan Drive, tel. +61 7 4972 9000.

If you find yourself stuck here with time on your hands, you can catch the local ferry to nearby Quoin Island, which has some rather ordinary beaches. Or if you’re feeling energetic you can drive 10 km north-west of town to the foot of Mount Larcom, and then climb to the summit, which is more than 600 m high. There’s a marked trail and there are superb views along the coast from the top.