Rockhampton's Heritage Village was a highlight for students visiting from Japan's Toyo University recently, as they took the chance to experience pioneering Australia.

CQUniversity is on the radar for Japanese university students keen to study English while enjoying a starkly different lifestyle and environment.

In the first quarter of this year, around 100 language-tourism students are visiting Rockhampton from Japanese universities including Toyo, Asahi, Meikai and Miyagi.

In addition, Japan's Kwassui University is sending a cohort of 20 nursing students for a nursing-English experience in Rockhampton and Thailand's Universal Cultural Exchange is sending 38 young Thai students for a cultural experience in Rockhampton.

Apart from the region's status as being 'where the Outback meets the Reef', a common magnet for all groups is the availability of the English Language Centre at CQUniversity Rockhampton Campus.

The Language Centre has a fine tradition of arranging local homestay families to host the visiting students, so they get to experience normal life as an honorary Aussie for a few weeks. Many of the visitors get the chance to sit in on local school classes to experience Australia's lesson format.

From Rockhampton they are able to go on excursions to visit Great Keppel Island, a golf driving range and other sports facilities, Capricorn Coast beaches, Koorana Crocodile Farm, Cooberrie Park wildlife sanctuary, the Myella Farmstay working cattle station, the Heritage Village, the Botanic Gardens and the Capricorn Caves.

There are also cultural experiences like visits to the law courts, the regional council chambers, Stanwell Power Station, or the Dreamtime Cultural Centre.