Rockynats 2024: Full program, road closures, opening times
From a full timetable to road closures, here’s all you need to know as Queensland gears up for three days of high-octane events with Rare Spares Rockynats 04 kicking off this long weekend.
Community News
Don't miss out on the headlines from Community News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
With hundreds of cars rolling into town and a jam-packed schedule of high-octane events for attendees, Rare Spares Rockynats 04 is set to kick off this long weekend.
Events at this year’s Rockynats will include burnouts, cruising, drifting, show ‘n’ shine, street drags, the street parade, Rockabilly-Nats pinup competition, Mulletfest, a tattoo competition and much more.
With more than 57,000 people expected to attend this weekend’s event in the heart of Rockhampton, Advance Rockhampton Tourism and Events Manager Zac Garven said businesses and communities were prepped and ready for the high-octane action.
“Rockhampton is rapidly growing into a hub for high-quality events in Central Queensland, and as the largest car and bike festival in Queensland, we can expect over $6 million in economic impact,” Mr Garven said.
“We’ve already had more than 1,600 car and bike entrants, a 15% growth compared to 2023, and will be opening two new food hubs in the CBD precinct, to complement our existing iconic hospitality scene, due to the high number of attendees expected this year.
“With an 8 per cent increase in retail and food vendors across the entire event this gives businesses a chance to make the most of the busy three days,” he said.
There are still general admission tickets available, however, platinum passes are sold out.
Visit the Rockynats website to purchase tickets or passes.
See the full guide of what’s on, road and car park closures and photos from the event below.
EVENT PHOTOS
ROAD CLOSURES
Throughout the Rockynats event there will be a number of road closures especially around the CBD.
See the full list of road closures below.
Dates and times may be subject to change.
CBD EVENT OPERATING HOURS
Saturday, March 30
6am: CBD closes to general foot traffic
8am: CBD opens to entrants and platinum ticket holders
9am: Spectator gates open
6pm: Gates reopen to general foot traffic
Sunday, March 31
6am: CBD closes to general foot traffic
7am: CBD opens to entrants
9am: Spectator gates open
5pm: Gates reopen to general foot traffic
STREET PARADE ROUTE
Traffic control and police will be onside to facilitate the road closures.
Road closures for the street parade will take place from 10am until 2pm on Friday, March 29.
- Lion Creek Road/New Exhibition Road (Showgrounds entry)
- Lion Creek Road and Savage Street, Luck Avenue, Pattison Street, Huet Street, Harman Street, Sheehan Avenue, Dally Avenue, Duncan Street, Barry Street
- Lion Creek Road and Garris Street, Pershing Street, Allenby Street, Bracher Street, Cran Street
- Cnr Lion Creek Road and Wandal Road
- Wandal Road and Western Street, Cran Street, Bracher Street, Naughton Street, Jardine Street, Dibdin Street, Norman Street, Haig Street, Wilkinson Street, Bevis Street, Woodville Street
- Roundabout at Wandal Road, Campbell Street, New Exhibition Road
- New Exhibition Road and Morgan Street, Cavell Street
- North Street and Campbell Street, Kent Lane, Kent Street, Denison Lane, Denison Street, Alma Lane, Alma Street, Bolsover Lane, Bolsover Street, Victoria Parade
- Victoria Parade and Cambridge Street, Archer Street
- Quay Street and Denison Street, William Street
- East Street and William Street, Denham Street, Fitzroy Street
- Graeme Acton Way and Exhibition Road (Showgrounds entry)
- Hall Street and Lion Creek Road
- Rove Area – no fixed location
OTHER ROAD CLOSURES AND PARKING RESTRICTIONS
Archer Street between East Street and Victoria Parade will be closed until 5am on April 1.
Rolling road closures will be in place on Quay Street between Fitzroy and Francis Streets, including the lower carpark, until 6pm on April 3.
The Northside Boat Ramp Car Park will be partially closed until 5pm on April 4 with car park area traffic management in place.
The Victoria Parade Lower Car Park will be closed until 6pm on April 10.
Goodsall Street at the railway crossing, Victoria Parade between Archer and Fitzroy Streets will be closed from 5am on Friday, March 29, until 7pm on Sunday, March 31.
William Street between Alma and Quay will be closed from 6pm on Friday, March 29, until 7pm on Sunday, March 31.
Reaney Street at intersection with Goodsall Street and the Northside Boat Ramp Car Park will be closed from 5am on Friday, March 29, until 10pm on Sunday, March 31.
Victoria Parade between Cambridge and Archer will be open to local traffic only from 5am on Saturday, March 30, until 7pm on Sunday, March 31.
The following roads will be closed from 5am on Saturday, March 30, until 7pm on Sunday, March 31:
- Denham Street between Alma and Quay
- Derby Street between Alma and Quay
- Stanley Street between Alma and Quay
- South Street between Bolsover and Quay
- Royal Street between East and Victoria
- Quay Lane between Fitzroy and Francis
- East Street between 180 East and Francis
- East Lane between Denham and South
- Bolsover Street between Denham and Francis
- Fitzroy Street Bus lane between Quay and East
- Fitzroy Street (small) between East and Victoria
WHAT’S ON
FRIDAY
SHOWGROUNDS PRECINCT
10am – 10.40am: Larren Bean
11am – 11.45am: Kenny and the Nitro Rockers
11am – 1pm: Street Parade
1pm – 1.40pm: Raining Roses
2pm – 2.45pm: Hot Wheels Drift Gymkhana
2pm – 2.40pm: Kenny and the Nitro Rockers
2pm – 2.45pm: Pro-Wrestling
2pm – 6pm: Dyno Exhibition
3pm – 4pm: RockabillyNats Pin-Up
3pm – 8pm: Elite Show
4pm – 4.30pm: CQ Mower Racing Club Demo Race
4pm – 4.30pm: Kenny and the Nitro Rockers
5pm – 5.25pm: Hot Wheels Motorbike Stunt Show
5pm – 5.40pm: MATH
5pm – 6pm: Unveil Show
6pm – 6.40pm: Tennessee Lights
6pm – 7.45pm: Drive-In Movie Spies in Disguise (PG)
6.30pm – 7.30pm: Pro-Wrestling
7pm – 8pm: The Filthy Animals
BUDDY’S FIRE BURNOUT PRECINCT
4pm – 7pm: Skid Row
7.30pm – 9pm: Burnout Pro Qualifying Round 1
SATURDAY
BUDDY’S FIRE BURNOUT PRECINCT
9am – 10am: Spectator Early Access
10am – 12.30pm: Burnout Qualifying Open Class
1.30pm – 3pm: Expression Session Test and Tune
3.30pm – 5.30pm: Burnout Qualifying Open Class
6.30pm – 8.30pm: Burnout Qualifying Pro Class
CBD PRECINCT
9am – 4pm: Show N Shine, Quay Street
9am – 4pm: Bike Showcase
9am – 4pm: 4X4 Zone
9am – 5pm: Cars, Coffee & Cruising
9am – 5pm: Street Drags
9am – 5pm: Drift World Passenger Hot Laps
11am – 11.30am, 1pm – 1.30pm, 3pm – 3.30pm: Drift World Exhibition
OVER THE FITZROY
12.50pm – 12.58pm: Matt Hall Racing Stunt Show
SHOWGROUNDS PRECINCT
9am – 6.30pm: Elite Show
10am – 5pm: Dyno Competition
11am – 11.30am: CQ Mower Racing Club
11am – 11.40am: Larren Bean
12pm – 12.25pm: Hot Wheels Drift Gymkhana
12pm – 12.40pm: Louise James FX
12pm – 12.45pm: Pro-Wrestling
1pm – 1.30pm: CQ Mower Racing Club Demo Race
1pm – 3pm: Mulletfest
2.30pm – 3pm: CQ Mower Racing Club Demo Race
3pm – 3.25pm: Hot Wheels Motorbike Stunt Show
3.30pm – 4.45pm: Tattoo Competition
4pm – 4.45pm: Pro-Wrestling
5pm – 5.40pm: Chris Bax Band
6pm – 6.40pm: Jason Rigby Band
6pm – 6.45pm: Pro-Wrestling
6pm – 8pm: Drive-In Movie Mad Max: Fury Road (MA15+)
7pm – 7.40pm: Tennessee Lights
8pm – 9pm: Choirboys
SUNDAY
BUDDY’S FIRE BURNOUT PRECINCT
10am – 4pm: Spectator Early Access
10.30am – 11.30am: Road to Rockynats Champion Slalom
11.30am – 12pm: Ultimate Redemption Round Burnout Opens
12.30pm – 1.30pm: Burnout – Open Class Finals
1.30pm – 2pm: Ultimate Redemption Round Pro Class
2.30pm – 3.30pm: Burnout – Pro Class Finals
CBD PRECINCT
9am – 9.30am: Road to Rockynats Champion Street Drags
9am – 4pm: Cars, Coffee and Cruising
9am – 4pm: Street Drags Finals
9am – 4pm: Drift World Passenger Hot Laps
9am – 4pm: Show N Shine, Quay Street
9am – 4pm: Bike Showcase
9am – 4pm: 4X4 Zone
11am – 11.30am, 1pm – 1.30pm, 3pm – 3.30pm: Drift World Exhibition
1pm – 4pm: Grudge Runs
OVER THE FITZROY
12.50pm – 12.58pm Matt Hall Racing Stunt Show
SHOWGROUNDS PRECINCT
10am – 10.40am: Larren Bean
10am – 4pm: Elite Show
11am – 11.40am: Louise James FX
11am – 11.45am: Pro-Wrestling
12pm – 12.25pm: Hot Wheels Drift Gymkhana
12pm – 12.40pm: Raining Roses
12.30pm – 1pm: CQ Mower Racing Club Demo Race
12.30pm – 4pm: Rockynats Champion Display
1pm – 3pm: Dyno Competition
1.30pm – 2.15pm: Pro-Wrestling
2pm – 2.30pm: CQ Mower Racing Club Demo Race
2pm – 2.40pm: Average Like Barry
3pm – 3.25pm: Hot Wheels Motorbike Stunt Show
3pm – 4.15pm: Beginners Fashion Parade
4.30pm – 5.30pm: Jason Rigby Band
5pm – 5.30pm: CQ Mower Racing Club Demo Race
6pm – 7pm: Full Throttle Awards
7pm – 8pm: Pit Stop Party
8pm – 8.10pm: Fireworks
Rocky Zoo says goodbye to two beloved members of Chimpanzee family
Some of Rockhampton Zoo’s most popular faces will soon be moving interstate as part of conservation efforts.
‘I’d wake up screaming’: Heroic doctor reveals scars from her crowning moment
A rural doctor who helped save the lives of five men after an horrific underground mine explosion has revealed how she was plagued by nightmares of ‘burning boys’ as she spiralled into post-traumatic stress disorder from her heroic efforts.