No two days are ever quite the same at the Capricorn Coast Visitor Information Centre.
One minute, our volunteers might be helping a first-time visitor find the perfect beach, walking track or lunch spot. The next, they could be swapping stories with a returning traveller, helping plan a future car rally or welcoming a group of historic vehicles into town.
At the Capricorn Coast Visitor Information Centre, every visitor has a story and some are particularly memorable.
Recently, one of our valued volunteers met a father and daughter who moved to Brisbane from China several years ago. A keen photographer, the father has fallen in love with the Capricorn Coast and now returns for a few weeks every year to capture the region through his lens.
Then there was the arrival of the Model T Ford Club from Brisbane, who brought a little motoring history with them during a weekend trip to the Capricorn Coast in July. Around 25 members gathered at the Capricorn Coast Visitor Information Centre before visiting Shell World, with the oldest vehicle in the group dating all the way back to 1910.
History came through the doors in another very personal way when a 92-year-old local called into the Centre and Shell World for the first time. With a well-known local location named after his family, his connection to the area stretches back generations. He was pleasantly surprised by the experience and left promising to tell others they should visit too.
Sometimes, a conversation begins hundreds of kilometres away. Volunteer Gary first met a couple at the Adelaide Caravan and Camping Show in February, where they mentioned they were planning a road trip to Yeppoon. They were surprised to discover Gary was from Yeppoon himself and could send them on their way with a visitor guide and plenty of local tips. Months later, the couple are now enjoying a three-week stay at Seaspray and have already dropped into the Capricorn Coast Visitor Information Centre twice to catch up and gather more ideas.
The centre also welcomes visitors with connections to arts and culture. Darwin artist Karen Mills recently called in while visiting the region. Her work features in Too Deadly: Ten Years of Tarnanthi, adding another fascinating story to the mix of people passing through our doors.
And sometimes a simple enquiry can help shape an entire future event. A Victorian couple belonging to the Veteran Car Club, for vehicles built before 1919, recently visited while planning a Capricorn Coast rally for September 2027. They were looking for cafés and restaurants capable of welcoming around 40 people, along with suitable parking. Their reason for choosing the Capricorn Coast? Good roads, friendly people and the variety of things to see and do.
These interactions are all part of a typical day at the Capricorn Coast Visitor Information Centre. Behind every map handed over, recommendation shared or question answered is a chance to make a visitor feel welcome, encourage them to stay longer and help them experience more of the Capricorn Coast Region.
And thanks to the local knowledge and friendly faces of our Visitor Information Centre volunteers, many of those visitors leave with much more than a brochure, they leave with a story of their own.
The Capricorn Coast Visitor Information Centre is open seven days a week from 9am–5pm. Visit us at the Ross Creek Roundabout in Yeppoon.
Volunteers are always welcome at the Capricorn Coast Visitor Information Centre. If you’d like to find out more about volunteering, we’d love to hear from you. Please call Susan Baylis, Visitor Information Centre Supervisor, on 07 4939 4888, or drop into the Centre for a chat and more information.
