LIST: 20 best family activities within an hour of Gympie
The Gympie region is green and picturesque, and dotted with a rich variety of family friendly destinations and activities, many of which will not cost a thing. Here are 20 of the best within an hour’s drive of the city:
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The Gympie region is green and picturesque, and dotted with a rich variety of family friendly destinations and activities, many of which will not cost a thing.
After the excitement and minor flooding caused by Cyclone Alfred and its aftermath, and the onset of the more mellow temperatures of autumn, the time is perfect for getting out and about and experiencing everything the region has to offer.
The diverse and significant heritage associated with grazing, timber getting and the gold rush days of the Gympie area is still evident in many places, and the stunning beaches and natural beauty offers endless options.
These activities offer a mix of nature, adventure, and cultural experiences, ensuring a memorable family outing.
1. Mary Valley Rattler
Take a scenic train ride on the region’s famous steam train from Gympie, through the beautiful Mary Valley and hamlet of Dagun to Amamoor and back.
Guests can design their own experience: choose your train journey from a fleet of heritage steam and diesel locomotives, or railmotors on the Classic Rattler Run, Ride with the Driver or Silver Bullet High Tea. Then, continue your romance of the railway, upgrading your ride with a VIP experience package designed to suit the whole family – fur-friends are welcome.
2. Gympie Gold Mining and Historical Museum
Explore the rich history of the Gympie gold rush at the Monkland site, which includes the now famous gantry linking the museum to the poppet head which was recently saved from demolition.
The museum has an extraordinary collection of artefacts, memorabilia and machinery from the gold mining era to today, and is adjacent to the beautiful Lake Alford, with bike paths, off-leash dog park, playgrounds and loads of bird life.
3. Amamoor State Forest
Enjoy bushwalking, picnicking, and wildlife spotting. Amamoor’s forests include dry forests, riverine rainforests, and hoop and bunya pine plantations.
Camping areas and short walks are provided (and some very long hikes), and you can check out or even go camping at the site of the iconic Gympie Music Muster.
4. Lake Alford Recreational Park
A great spot for picnics with playgrounds and walking trails.
Lake Alford Recreational Park, affectionately known as the ‘duck ponds’, welcomes you at the southern entry into the Gympie Region. Preserving the rich history of the gold miners who saved Queensland in 1867 is the iconic ’Goldminer’s Monument’ statue standing at the park’s entrance.
Designed with families in mind, the park boasts fantastic amenities, including an all-abilities playground, barbecues, restrooms, an off-leash dog park, and ample off-street parking.
The tranquil lake is a highlight, offering a serene setting for families to enjoy. Please refrain from feeding the wildlife to maintain the park’s natural balance.
Every first, third, and fifth Sunday of the month, markets are held at the park which showcases a diverse range of stalls including handmade goods, fashion, crafts, accessories, and fresh produce. The park is also home to the Gympie Gold Mining and Historical Museum.
5. Borumba Dam
Perfect for fishing, kayaking, picnicking and camping, Borumba Dam is located just south of Gympie and stores water for drinking as well as irrigation as part of the Mary Valley irrigation scheme. Built across Yabba Creek, the Borumba Dam was originally completed in 1963 and upgraded in 1997. It is now the likely site of the new multibillion-dollar pumped hydro scheme.
6. Noosa National Park
Discover beautiful coastal walks and stunning beaches.
Noosa National Park features the spectacular coastal scenery of Noosa Headland, and nearby areas around Lake Weyba, Peregian and Coolum. Surrounded by development, this park is a wildlife sanctuary, protecting beautiful stands of eucalypt forest, woodland, melaleuca wetland, colourful wallum heathland and pockets of dense vine-strewn rainforest.
7. Rainbow Beach
Visit the famous coloured sands and enjoy beach activities, not to mention camping at the incredible Inskip Point and Teewah Beach. Inskip is one of the two gateways to K’gari. Look out for The Rocks at Rainbow Beach, which have been exposed by the cyclone and are currently impassable.
8. Tin Can Bay
Experience dolphin feeding and explore the coastal township with its quaint coffee shops and beautiful bayside walkways.
Tin Can Bay is known for its abundant wildlife, easy atmosphere and magnificent wild-catch seafood harvested from the pristine waters of the Great Sandy Strait (Great Sandy Marine Park) and Pacific Ocean. It’s one of only two places in Queensland where you can hand feed a rare Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin. The dolphins generally arrive around 7-7:30am and you can feed them from 8am. Unauthorised dolphin feeding is not permitted.
9. K’gari
Take a day trip to the world’s largest sand island, though it too is under some repair from the erosion caused by Cyclone Alfred so check ahead.
K’gari stretches over 123km in length and 22km at its widest point, and has an area of 184,000ha.
Beyond K’gari’s ancient sand dunes and long stretches of beautiful beaches are crystal clear freshwater lakes and creeks (did someone say Lake McKenzie?), lush rainforests and an abundance of native flora and fauna to explore.
Fraser Island offers camping, cabin and resort-style accommodation; and eco-adventures include cruises discovering the untouched beauty of the remote western side, a 90km Great Walk adventure and guided or self-drive tours. Stay dingo safe while on K’gari.
10. Noosa River
Rent a boat or kayak for a day on the water, go fishing, sailing, jet skiing, stand up paddle boarding or swimming, or take in the shops and restaurants. From the Noosa Everglades to the ocean shoreline, the Noosa River is a natural playground.
11. Eumundi Markets
The Original Eumundi Markets is the biggest and the best art and craft market in Australia. Explore the vibrant markets with local crafts and food on every Saturday and Wednesday, 7.30am-2pm.
Step into an ever-evolving collaboration of talented locals seeking to share their gifts with the world.
12. The Big Pineapple
Visit this 16m high iconic attraction at Woombye and enjoy the zoo and train ride.
The Big Pineapple site is open every day from 9am-4pm. The Pineapple Train is open every day from 9am-4pm with the last train leaving at 3:30pm.
Currently guests are unable to climb inside the Big Pineapple structure. There is no entry fee to visit the Big Pineapple site. To ride on the train, everyone pays the kids’ price of $10, and there are separate charges to visit the zoo and to complete the TreeTop Challenge course.
13. Maleny Botanic Gardens & Bird World
Wander through beautiful gardens and interact with exotic birds. Experience the guided interactive tours amongst 600 native and exotic birds in Maleny Bird World - most of them unwanted, donated pets to the sanctuary.
Enjoy a Devonshire Tea or picnic from our onsite caf with panoramic views across the iconic Glasshouse Mountains to Brisbane. You can get around in style over the 9ha of stunning gardens and rainforest by hiring a golf buggy.
14. Kondalilla National Park
During the summer wet season, Kondalilla National Park features one of Blackall Range’s most spectacular waterfalls.
From the top of Kondalilla Falls, Skene Creek drops 90m into the rainforest valley below. Walking tracks lead to features including rock pools, lookouts and waterfalls.
Above Kondalilla Falls, tall open eucalypt forest mingles with rainforest species in wetter areas. A drier forest grows on the western escarpment, featuring casuarinas with a grass tree understorey.
Subtropical rainforest grows below the escarpment, where soil and aspect are suitable, and riparian rainforest lines the creek. From viewing points, emergent bunya pines Araucaria bidwillii can be seen towering above the rainforest canopy. The Sunshine Coast Hinterland Great Walk travels through Kondalilla National Park and there are opportunities for shorter day walks along this track. The Park is an important refuge for many animals and plants including the pouched frog Assa darlingtoni, and the bauple nut Macadamia ternifolia which is vulnerable to extinction.
15. Mothar Mountain Rock Pools
Swim and relax in natural rock pools just a stone’s throw (pun intended) from Gympie.
Located in the Woondum National Park, about a 20 minutes, 16 kilometres drive from Gympie’s Central Business District, the Mothar Mountain Rock Pools day area provides the perfect family friendly location for a barbecue or picnic. Tables, wood fire barbecue, water and public amenities are all provided for your use on site.
16. Kenilworth Dairies
Taste delicious local cheeses, award winning chocolate mousse and other dairy products. Established in 1952 as one of the many rural cheese factories owned by the Kraft Corporation, it was June 2017 that saw the change of new ownership to local, fourth-generation dairy farmer John Cochrane.
17. Great Sandy National Park
Explore diverse landscapes and wildlife of this incredible world heritage listed park.
The Great Sandy National Park offers something for everyone - 4WD past towering coastal sand cliffs and coloured sands, fish straight from the ocean, canoe on tranquil waterways, hike through rainforest remnants and across vast sand blows, and camp among blooming wildflowers.
Massive dunes, towering cliffs of coloured sands and wide ocean beaches have been etched by wind and water. Tall forests, fragrant wildflower heaths and paperbark swamps decorate the sands.
Water features abound, including surf, freshwater lakes and the undisturbed upper Noosa River. Walk one of the many scenic tracks to explore the historic Double Island Point lighthouse. Pack a tent to hike the two to four day Cooloola Wilderness Trail. Paddle peacefully through the serene reaches of the Upper Noosa River.
18. Goomboorian National Park
Enjoy bushwalking and nature observation.
The park is split into two sections, separated by 500m of freehold land and connected by Tristam Bath Road.
It provides bushwalking opportunities through the attractive forested hills. Recreational horse riding occurs in the park and is to be managed according to the South East Queensland Horse Riding Trail Network Management Plan 2011. Unsuitable four-wheel-drive vehicle and trail bike use occurs at low levels throughout the park.
19. Pomona
Visit the historic Majestic Theatre and explore local shops in Pomona, climb Mt Cooroora and enjoy the walking tracks.
Pomona is a gorgeous hinterland town with cafes, a country hotel, distillery, art galleries, and a cute weekly country market. It’s also an ideal launching pad for the nearby Noosa Trail Network, a haven for bike and horse riding that snakes its way throughout the hinterland. See historical and indigenous displays at the Noosa Shire Museum. If you’re feeling super fit, climb the challenging 439m high Mt Cooroora, home of the King of the Mountain.
20. Cooroy
Discover local art galleries and enjoy a leisurely day in the town just 20 minutes south of Gympie on the first class upgraded stretch of the Bruce Highway.
Settled in the 1880s as a timber town, it now attracts creatives, artists, foodies, producers and nature lovers. Enjoy hinterland hospitality at cafes, restaurants, farm gates, a boutique brewery, distillery and clubs. Browse boutiques, homewares, galleries, gifts, antiques and vintage treasures – even play a game of golf. B&Bs, country cottages, rural retreats and RV stopovers dot the countryside around Cooroy.
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Originally published as LIST: 20 best family activities within an hour of Gympie
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