As part of a comprehensive project to develop a remote sensing tool for evaluating the mechanical properties of rocks, one must obtain a rapid indication of these properties using conventional field methods. A common method for evaluating the mechanical properties of rocks in the field is to use a Schmidt hammer, a portable device that measures the rebound (R) of a spring-loaded mass impacting against the rock surface. Since the 1960s many studies have been made to find empirical correlations between the R value measured by the Schmidt hammer and mechanical and physical properties such as uniaxial compressive strength (UCS), elastic modulus, density, and porosity. Despite the existing correlations in the literature, this work is required to establish detailed empirical relationships for the carbonate rock units in Israel. To do so, 150 rock samples were collected from 38 different outcrops of carbonate rock units. In each outcrop, 20 impacts were made using a Schmidt hammer at different but adjacent points. The impacts were done horizontally perpendicular to the vertical rock walls. In the laboratory, we measured the density, effective porosity, water absorption, UCS, and elastic modulus. The rock samples we selected contained a wide range of UCS: from 7 to 270 MPa. Our empirical correlations indicate an exponential relationship between R and UCS and the elastic modulus, and linear relationships between R and density, porosity, and water absorbance. The most reliable index is the average of the five maximum impacts out of the 20 made in each rock outcrop. The correlation equations obtained from this work will make it possible to effectively evaluate the mechanical properties of the intact rock in the field, thereby aiding development of advanced tools for rock mass characterisation by means of remote sensing.