{"ok":true,"data":{"id":470,"slug":"cooee-bay-cooee-bay","name":"Cooee Bay","country":"Australia","state":"Queensland","city":"Cooee Bay","coords":{"lat":-23.14187,"lng":150.76001},"beachType":null,"tags":["family","scenic","hidden"],"article":{"hero":"The bay announces itself modestly: a narrow strip of tawny sand flanked by granite boulders, a concrete boat ramp at one end, and a grassy reserve where fig trees offer patchy shade. You won't mistake this for a pristine wilderness—houses perch on the hillside behind you, and local fishermen idle their tinnies at the ramp—but that familiarity breeds a particular ease. Parents let their kids splash unsupervised in the shallows; retirees set up folding chairs on the sand with thermoses of tea.\n\nThe headlands bookending the beach catch most swell, leaving the middle stretch glassy even when wind chops up nearby Yeppoon Main Beach. At low tide, rock pools appear along the northern edge, filled with tiny darting fish and the occasional blue swimmer crab. Pelicans loiter near the boat ramp, eyeing the catch being cleaned on wooden benches worn smooth by decades of filleting knives.\n\nYou're never more than fifteen minutes from Yeppoon's cafés and bottle shops, but Cooee Bay operates on a slower frequency. Locals time their visits around the tide chart rather than the clock, and the best vantage point—a weathered bench beneath the Norfolk pines—rarely stays empty past dawn. It's the kind of beach that rewards low expectations with surprising contentment.","teaser":"You'll smell the salt and seaweed before you see the water—that's how close the road hugs this compact crescent. Cooee Bay tucks itself between rocky headlands just south of Yeppoon, offering calmer water than its flashier neighbors and a shoreline where toddlers wade safely while anglers cast from the boat ramp.","uniqueAngle":"The sheltered bay offers dependably calm water when wind and swell batter every other beach along this stretch of coast.","accessType":"Drive-up","thingsToDo":[{"icon":"swim","title":"Wade the Shallows","subtitle":"Gentle slope, calm even windy"},{"icon":"snorkel","title":"Explore Rock Pools","subtitle":"Northern edge at low tide"},{"icon":"camera","title":"Sunrise from Headland","subtitle":"Fishing boats and pelican silhouettes"},{"icon":"food","title":"Picnic Under Figs","subtitle":"Grassy reserve with shade tables"}],"audience":{"surfer":"Don't bother bringing your board—the same headlands that shelter families also kill any rideable swell. On rare big easterly swells, you might catch knee-high runners near the southern rocks, but you'd do better driving ten minutes north to Yeppoon Main Beach or heading to the point breaks around Rosslyn Bay. The boat ramp sees steady traffic on weekends, so if you're desperate for a paddle, stay clear of the channel and respect the anglers who actually belong here.","couples":"Book a unit at one of the hillside apartment complexes overlooking the bay—you'll fall asleep to waves lapping the boat ramp. Mornings, walk barefoot along the sand to watch pelicans dive-bomb for baitfish, then drive into Yeppoon for flat whites at one of the espresso bars along Anzac Parade. Sunset here lacks the drama of westward-facing beaches, but the eastern sky turns violet and salmon as light fades behind you. For dinner, grab fish and chips from Yeppoon and eat them on the grassy reserve, sharing scraps with the lorikeets.","backpacker":"Free camping isn't happening here—it's too residential—but Capricorn Palms Holiday Village in Mulambin, ten minutes south, offers unpowered sites around twenty dollars. The beach itself costs nothing: park on Archer Street, swim all day, use the public toilets and cold-water shower near the boat ramp. Fill your water bottle at the tap. For cheap fuel, hit the Puma servo on Scenic Highway before you arrive. Pack a loaf and peanut butter from Coles in Yeppoon; the closest takeaway is Cooee Bay Fish Bar, where a minimum chips runs six dollars.","local":"You already know to avoid weekends when every tradie in Rockhampton launches his boat here. Midweek mornings between six and eight offer the beach at its best—glassy water, empty sand, and bream feeding near the rocks. The bench under the northernmost Norfolk pine gives you shade and a clear view of approaching weather. When the summer easterlies blow, this bay stays swimmable while Main Beach turns into a washing machine. After storms, check the northern rock platform for washed-up cuttlefish bones and the occasional octopus stranded in the pools.","family":null,"party":null,"diver":null,"explorer":null},"faqs":[{"a":"Cooee Bay is generally considered a safe swimming beach, particularly for families with children. The bay's sheltered position provides calm, protected waters that are ideal for young swimmers and paddlers. The beach is patrolled during peak holiday periods, though not year-round, so always swim between the flags when lifeguards are present. The gentle slope and typically mild conditions make it popular with families. However, always check local conditions before entering the water and supervise children closely, as with any beach.","q":"Is Cooee Bay safe for swimming and suitable for children?"},{"a":"Cooee Bay enjoys a subtropical climate making it suitable for visits year-round. Summer (December-February) offers warm water temperatures perfect for swimming, though this is also the wet season with occasional afternoon storms. Winter (June-August) provides mild, dry weather with pleasant temperatures around 20-23°C, ideal for beach walks and outdoor activities. Spring and autumn offer comfortable conditions with fewer crowds. The bay's sheltered nature means it's often swimmable even when nearby beaches experience rougher conditions, providing flexibility regardless of season.","q":"When is the best time to visit Cooee Bay?"},{"a":"Cooee Bay is located approximately 5 kilometres north of Yeppoon on Queensland's Capricorn Coast. From Yeppoon, follow Scenic Highway northward toward Emu Park; the bay is clearly signposted. There is convenient street parking available along Bowman Parade and surrounding residential streets near the beach. Parking is generally free and unrestricted, though spaces can fill during peak holiday periods and weekends. The beach is easily accessible on foot from parking areas. Yeppoon is about 40 kilometres from Rockhampton, the nearest major city.","q":"How do I get to Cooee Bay and where can I park?"},{"a":"Cooee Bay is primarily a residential area with limited on-site facilities. There's a small park area near the beach but no cafes or restaurants directly at the bay itself. However, nearby Yeppoon (5km south) offers extensive dining, shopping, and accommodation options including hotels, resorts, and holiday apartments. For basic supplies, you'll need to head to Yeppoon. The beach has no public toilets or change facilities, so plan accordingly. Many visitors stay in Yeppoon and visit Cooee Bay as a quieter alternative to the main town beach.","q":"What food, amenities, and accommodation options are near Cooee Bay?"},{"a":"Cooee Bay remains relatively quiet because it's a small, residential beach without the commercial development or extensive facilities that draw large crowds to Yeppoon's main beach. Its compact size means it doesn't accommodate large numbers of visitors, and the lack of cafes, shops, or major amenities nearby means it primarily attracts locals and informed travellers seeking a peaceful spot. The bay's appeal lies in its intimate, sheltered character rather than expansive sands or activities, making it a hidden gem for those who appreciate a tranquil beach experience.","q":"Why is Cooee Bay less crowded than other beaches near Yeppoon?"}]},"seo":{"title":"Cooee Bay Beach: Sheltered Swimming Near Yeppoon, Queensland","description":"This compact crescent of golden sand delivers calm waters for families, coastal walking trails, and sunrise views over the Coral Sea—without Yeppoon's crowds.","ogImage":"https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54300067742_6b4646303b_b.jpg"},"images":[{"id":"492300","url":"https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54300067742_6b4646303b_b.jpg","thumbnail":"https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54300067742_6b4646303b.jpg","alt":"Wagga. The old Fire Station opposite Victory Memorial Park. Built in 1903. Now offices for psychological services."},{"id":"492301","url":"https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54318197705_7205d310c2_b.jpg","thumbnail":"https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54318197705_7205d310c2.jpg","alt":"Wagga Wagga. The old Fire Station opposite Victory Memorial Park. Built in 1903. Now offices for psychological services."},{"id":"492302","url":"https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54301374155_866a261010_b.jpg","thumbnail":"https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54301374155_866a261010.jpg","alt":"Wagga. St George’s Court. Built in the late 1880s as a doctor’s residence with an arcaded veranda, and tiny bay window."},{"id":"492303","url":"https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54316884332_6f979ac039_b.jpg","thumbnail":"https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54316884332_6f979ac039.jpg","alt":"Wagga Wagga. The Light Horse Memorial statue in the Victory Memorial Park."},{"id":"492304","url":"https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54315704845_1e17e79e41_b.jpg","thumbnail":"https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54315704845_1e17e79e41.jpg","alt":"Wagga Wagga. On Fitzmaurice Street. Hunters on the Hill building."},{"id":"492305","url":"https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54317775531_3c346a41cb_b.jpg","thumbnail":"https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54317775531_3c346a41cb.jpg","alt":"Wagga Wagga.The nave of St Patricks Catholic Cathedral. Built 1887 as a parish church. Became the Catholic Cathedral in 1917 and then enlarged."},{"id":"492306","url":"https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54314393957_6818844bc9_b.jpg","thumbnail":"https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54314393957_6818844bc9.jpg","alt":"Wagga Wagga. part of the wooden railway viaduct used by the Sydney  to Melbourne railway over the Murrumbidgee River flats in North Wagga."},{"id":"492307","url":"https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54315704935_bf3131834d_b.jpg","thumbnail":"https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54315704935_bf3131834d.jpg","alt":"Wagga Wagga. The apparently never ending Murrumbidge River flat railway viaduct which is part of the Sydney to Melbourne railway route."},{"id":"492308","url":"https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54315508469_973d5e95ef_b.jpg","thumbnail":"https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54315508469_973d5e95ef.jpg","alt":"Wagga Wagga. Opposite Victory Memorial gardens a Federation house built for a local doctor c 1905. Lots of wood work and an Elizabethan touch."},{"id":"492309","url":"https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54314394232_5c34d0ff37_b.jpg","thumbnail":"https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54314394232_5c34d0ff37.jpg","alt":"Wagga Wagga. Part of the outside aircraft display the Wagga Wagga RAAF base Heritage Centre Museum."},{"id":"492310","url":"https://live.staticflickr.com/3417/4634599783_9d31f6a06b_b.jpg","thumbnail":"https://live.staticflickr.com/3417/4634599783_9d31f6a06b.jpg","alt":"procession"},{"id":"492311","url":"https://live.staticflickr.com/2450/3619389620_741dc2a63b_b.jpg","thumbnail":"https://live.staticflickr.com/2450/3619389620_741dc2a63b.jpg","alt":"Cooee Bay"}]}}