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

In coming months, around 100 language-tourism students are heading to Rockhampton from Japanese universities including Toyo, Asahi, Meikai and Miyagi.

LINK HERE for the latest photos of the Toyo University visit

In addition, Japan's Kwassui University is sending a chort 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's also cultural experiences like visits to the law courts, the regional council chambers, Stanwell Power Station, or the Dreamtime Cultural Centre.