Good questions Frequently asked
Frequently asked
questions.
No surprises. Everything our front desk actually gets asked — from after-hours check-in to trailer parking, AgGrow week and where to get a 5:30 am breakfast. Answers confirmed by our team, July 2026.
Booking, rates & payment.
How do I get the best rate at Emerald Inn?
Book direct — at book-directonline.com, by phone on (07) 4980 0600, or by email to bookings@emeraldinn.com.au. Direct bookings always carry our best available rate, with no booking fees.
Roughly how much does a night cost?
Apartments start from around $170 per night booked direct — indicative only; live availability and pricing are always at the booking link. Rates vary with demand, and AgGrow week books out well ahead.
What payment methods do you accept?
EFTPOS, Visa, Mastercard and American Express. Card surcharges reflect our card-acceptance cost only: EFTPOS (cheque/savings) no fee, Visa & Mastercard (credit and debit) 1.95%, American Express 3.95%. These surcharges end on 1 October 2026 under the RBA surcharge reforms.
What is your cancellation policy?
The Travellers Group standard policy applies: changes and cancellations are permitted until 2:00pm (our local time) 48 hours before arrival. After that, a fee equal to one night applies, and no-shows are charged in full. Non-refundable and long-stay rates carry their own terms — they're shown clearly before you confirm.
Do you offer weekly or long-stay rates?
Yes — weekly and extended-stay rates are arranged case by case depending on length of stay. Contact us with your dates and we'll quote directly. Extensions are always welcome, subject to availability.
Can my company set up an account with direct billing?
Yes. Emerald Inn is part of Travellers Group, so one corporate account covers all five Travellers properties across regional QLD and NSW — negotiated rates, direct billing and consolidated invoicing. Setup takes about five business days.
Arrival & reception.
What time is check-in and check-out?
Check-in is from 2:00pm and check-out is by 10:00am. If you need flexibility, call us — we'll help where we can.
What are reception hours?
Reception is open 7:00am–7:00pm daily, and the team is always close by outside those hours.
What if I arrive after reception closes?
You'll never be locked out. If you haven't checked in by 5:00pm we call you, and if you're arriving late we set up a key lock-box with a code so you can let yourself in.
I start early for work — can I get breakfast before dawn?
Yes. The Capricornian is on our own street (17 Esmond Street, one minute's walk) and opens from 5:30am. Pre-order the night before and they'll deliver breakfast to your apartment (Monday–Friday) — made for mine-site starts.
Apartments & facilities.
What apartment types do you have?
32 self-contained apartments across three types: the Deluxe Apartment (42m², queen + sofa bed, 2 guests), the Executive Apartment (42m², queen + sofa bed, 3 guests, with desk, Nespresso and a second TV in the bedroom) and the Two Bedroom Apartment (80m², queen + 2 singles + sofa, 4–6 guests, separate living/dining and private balcony).
Do the apartments have full kitchens?
Yes — every apartment has a genuinely full kitchen: full-size fridge/freezer, oven, stovetop, microwave, toaster and full cookware. There are no dishwashers, but everything else you need to cook properly is there.
Is there a washing machine?
Every apartment has its own washer and dryer — no shared laundry, no coins. Linen and towels are provided, with weekly housekeeping on longer stays.
Is WiFi included?
Yes — free, unlimited high-speed WiFi throughout the property, with no data caps and no charges.
What about TV and air-conditioning?
Every apartment has a Smart TV with streaming (including Netflix) and reverse-cycle air-conditioning.
Do you have a pool or gym?
No — there's no pool or gym on site. The Emerald Aquatic Centre is 900 metres away (an 11-minute walk) and is where we point guests who want to swim, and there are gyms in town. What we do have: a BBQ and garden area with a 65-inch outdoor TV for the footy.
Do you have accessible apartments?
No — we don't currently have a purpose-built accessible apartment. Call us on (07) 4980 0600 before booking and we'll talk honestly about whether our ground-floor apartments suit your needs.
Can we get a cot or an extra bed?
Yes — cots and rollaway beds are available at no charge. Just ask when you book.
Is Emerald Inn smoke-free?
Yes — the property is smoke-free throughout.
Parking & vehicles.
Is parking free?
Yes — free undercover parking in the centralised guest car park on site.
I have a trailer / boat / large work vehicle — where do I park?
Larger vehicles use street parking around the property — our contractor guests do this routinely without issues. If you're unsure, call ahead and we'll talk you through the options before you arrive.
Location & getting around.
How far is the town centre?
About 1.6 km — a flat 20-minute walk or four minutes by car. See every measured distance.
How close are the supermarkets?
Very: IGA is 500 m (an 8-minute walk), Woolworths 800 m, and Coles a 4-minute drive. Woolworths, Coles and IGA are all open until 9pm Monday–Friday — handy when you're self-catering.
How far is Emerald Hospital?
1.2 km — a 15-minute walk or four minutes by car. Many of our guests stay while visiting the hospital, and our self-contained apartments suit week-plus stays; we regularly host out-of-town couples awaiting the birth of their children.
How far is Emerald Airport?
About 7 km via the Capricorn Highway — roughly a 12-minute drive. QantasLink flies direct to Brisbane.
Can I get to Emerald by train?
Yes — the Spirit of the Outback (Brisbane–Longreach) stops at Emerald railway station, 1.5 km from us (a 16-minute walk or 4 minutes by car).
Eating & drinking.
Where should we eat near Emerald Inn?
Our front-desk picks: The Capricornian (17 Esmond Street — our own street, one minute's walk), the Maraboon Tavern (8 minutes' walk, with a big outdoor beer garden and mini golf for young and old), The Star Hotel (15 minutes' walk) and Hops & Vine tapas bar on Opal Street.
Where do you send guests for good coffee?
Roses & Beans at The Village Shopping Centre on Hospital Road — an 8-minute walk. Café, florist and gifts under one roof.
What's open late in Emerald?
Woolworths, Coles and IGA are open until 9pm Monday–Friday. For dinner after 8pm your best bets are the pubs — the Maraboon Tavern and The Star.
Working stays.
Do you take mining and FIFO crews?
Yes — Bowen Basin rosters are a big part of who we host. Full kitchens, own laundries, early-start breakfast delivery from The Capricornian, and street parking for work vehicles. See FIFO accommodation and construction crews.
Do you host healthcare workers and locums?
Constantly — the hospital is a 15-minute walk. See healthcare workers and locum doctors. Flexible arrangements for shift hours.
Do you support government travel rates and receipts?
Yes — detailed receipts and ATO per-diem-friendly invoicing. See government travel.
Events & busy periods.
When does Emerald Inn book out?
AgGrow Field Days is the big one — it's our main sell-out every year, so book as far ahead as you can. The Emerald Show, race days and Gemfest at the Gemfields also fill the town. See what's on in Emerald.
When is sunflower season?
Summer — the fields around Emerald flower over the warmer months and the Big Easel (a 15-minute walk from us) celebrates them year-round with its 25-metre Van Gogh. Timing varies with planting, so check locally before building a trip around it.
The Gemfields & touring.
How far are the Sapphire Gemfields?
Anakie is 46 km (about 44 minutes), Sapphire 56 km and Rubyvale 66 km. Fossicking parks, underground mine tours and gem galleries — see our Gemfields visitor guide.
Is Lake Maraboon worth visiting?
Yes — Fairbairn Dam and Lake Maraboon are about 20 km away: swimming, boating and Queensland's famous red-claw. See the Fairbairn Dam guide.
Can we do Carnarvon Gorge from Emerald?
As a long day trip or better an overnighter — it's about 200 km, roughly three hours each way. See our Carnarvon Gorge day-trip guide. Our front desk's tip: if you can't get to Carnarvon, Blackdown Tableland National Park (via Dingo) has waterfalls, gorges and lookouts on Ghungalu country and makes a rewarding alternative.
Policies.
Do you accept pets?
No — Emerald Inn is a non-pet property, in line with the Travellers Group standard. Assistance and support animals are always welcome; please let us know before arrival so we can prepare.
Still have questions?
Call us on (07) 4980 0600 or email bookings@emeraldinn.com.au — we’ll always reply.
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