Gympie | Attractions, accommodation, businesses, maps, festivals, markets

Gympie, located two hours drive north of Brisbane, in Queensland, Australia is a beautiful city surrounded by rolling green hills, abundant flowers and native birds, with the Mary River flowing through it.
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With affordable housing and a laid back atmosphere, Gympie is fast becoming a popular place to live, work and play. The city is the major hub for the region and offers all the conveniences of modern living. A short drive to Mary Valley, the Cooloola and Sunshine Coasts, Gympie is central to a relaxing lifestyle with great attractions, markets, events and festivals.

Shop in Gympie's historic Mary Street

After gold was found at Nash’s Gully in Gympie in 1867, a double line of prospector’s tents sprung up along side the bank. Over time, Mary Street has transformed into a picturesque shopping space with wide paths and shady trees.
Mary Street offers a fantastic blend of shopping, heritage and nearby parkland. Browse through an extensive selection of specialty shops which include jewelers, boutiques and cafes. From Mary Street wander through the mosaic theatres of war in Memorial Lane to Memorial Park.

Soak up Gympie's stunning 19th Century architecture
Restored buildings from the Gold Rush Era add character and charm to Gympie. Take a heritage walk or drive past traditional shop fronts and buildings such as Gympie's Town Hall, the Stock Exchange and Smithfield Chambers building.
To discover these and many more glorious examples of Gympie's 19th Century architecture call in to one of Gympie's Visitor Information Centres for your free copy of the Then and Now heritage trail brochure or click here to view Gympie's heritage buildings directory.

Discover the splendor of Gympie's parks and gardens
In the heart of the Gympie, take a stroll through Memorial Park’s formal gardens. Extensive playground areas, picnic tables and free barbecues are ideal for family gatherings at Nelson Reserve and Lake Alford.

Birdwatchers will be thrilled at the variety of species in Gympie. Spectacular displays can be seen at sunset with flocks of birds returning to roost in the tree tops of Memorial Park and Lake Alford. Pack some bread when visiting Lake Alford to feed the resident ducks, swans, water hens and turtles.

Take a spectacular train journey aboard the historic Valley Rattler
Experience history come alive as you ride on Gympie's famous attraction The Valley Rattler steam train. The Rattler departs from Gympie’s historic train station in Tozer Street and travels through Gympie, across the Mary River to the scenic countryside of the Mary Valley.

The Rattler stops at the fully restored, original stations where passengers can browse through country markets offering fresh produce and delightful crafts, sample local wine and cheese and enjoy country hospitality.

Experience the Gympie gold rush at the Gold Mining Museum
Browse through over 30 displays and pan for gold at the Gympie Gold Mining and Historical Museum set beside Gympie's beautiful Lake Alford. The museum houses memorabilia from the early gold mining era, as well as displays showcasing military, rural, transport, hospital, communications and steam development in Australia.
Extensive parks with picnic and barbecue areas surround the museum. For a great family day out pack a picnic and relax by the lake or dine in the museum café.

Gain an insight into the timber industry of yesteryear
Situated just north of Gympie, WoodWorks: the Forestry and Timber Museum is a living historical museum focused on the timber and forestry industries from their colonial beginnings up to the 1950`s. The Museum provides a fascinating insight into the role of forestry and timber in Queensland`s and Gympie region`s colonial beginnings through a significant collection including pioneering handtools, timber samples, timber getting and forestry equipment and associated transport.

Features include a 619 year old Kauri Pine disc section, bullock wagons, a blacksmith shop, a replica timber getter`s hut, a replica of a 1860s steam driven bush sawmill and a 1925 Republic truck.

Cool down at Mothar Mountain rock pools near Gympie
Picnic beside the cool rock pools where Boulder and Woondum Creeks meet. Relax and unwind to the sound of water gently cascading over ancient granite outcrops. Tables, barbecues, firewood, water and amenities are provided at the rock pools.

Take a short walking trail through tranquil rainforest. Mothar Mountain is just fifteen minutes south east of Gympie. Take the Old Noosa Road
then turn left into Hill Road.

Choose from a wide variety of recreational activities in Gympie
In 1867 a discovery of alluvial gold in a gully near the Mary River began the first major gold rush in Queensland. Try your luck panning for gold at the Deep Creek fossicking area. Obtain fossicking licenses and equipment from Lake Alford Visitor Information Centre on the Bruce Highway.

On Gympie’s Southside you can hand feed alpacas and purchase hand crafted fine fleece products in the farm shop. Travellers can work on the farm in exchange for board (WWOOFer).

If you love golf Gympie has two fantastic golf courses to choose from.
On the Southside, Gunabul’s Par 3 layout makes exciting use of the undulating landscape and natural watercourses.
The Gympie Pines Golf Course situated on the northern outskirts of Gympie features undulating fairways lined with majestic hoop pines, ancient gums and mature natives, home to abundant bird life.

An inspiring cultural attraction, the Gympie Regional Gallery is housed in the beautiful and original School of Arts Building, built in 1905.

The Mary River is the major river system in Southern Queensland. Canoe along the Mary River through picturesque countryside. The land along the river has a feeling of isolation to it and its scenic beauty makes for a great canoe voyage.

For a birds eye view of the Mary River and Gympie's beautiful country scenery take a flight in a glider. The Gliding Club is located at the Gympie Air Strip at Kybong about 10 kilometres south of Gympie on the Bruce Highway. Visitors have the opportunity to fly with a qualified instructor.

Enjoy country racing at it's best. The Gympie Turf Club holds eight horse race meetings throughout the year on Gympie's Southside.

Markets with everything from fresh produce, plants, bric-a-brac and pony rides are held every Sunday morning in Gympie.

Visit Cooloola Rocks and Minerals at Kybong south of Gympie to view an extensive collection of rocks, minerals, crystals, fossils, petrified wood and more. CoolRocks is host to the annual Rock Fest, in August.

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Join in the many celebrations throughout the year

In March, the feel good Heart of Gold International Film Festival screens short films, special features, documentaries from around the world. Enjoy an entertaining weekend of music, camping and self indulgence at the Dingo Creek Wine, Jazz and Blues Festival in May.

Don't miss Australia's biggest outdoor celebration of country music, the 6 day National Country Music Muster, held each August under the towering gums of Amamoor Creek State Forest near Gympie.

Join us as we celebrate Gympie's Gold Rush
The Gold Rush Festival is Gympie's premier annual event, celebrating Gympie’s gold mining history with an exciting line up of diverse events which incorporate arts, culture, history and live performances over 12 days in October. Highlights of the festival include the official opening of the festival at Gold Rush Gala Ball, the Gold Rush Art Competition, the Lady Mayoress Charity Concert and Gold Panning Family Fun Days at the Gold Mining Museum. The festival culminates with a colourful Street Parade down Mary Street, followed by the Festival in the Park at Nelson Reserve.

From Gympie, discover amazing natural attractions and delightful towns
A self drive tour through Gympie’s scenic northwestern hinterland will lead you to the country towns of Kilkivan and Goomeri, where you can shop for antiques and art, enjoy delicious regional cuisine and visit farms and wineries. Travel east to the Cooloola Coast and explore the National Park, Rainbow Beach, Tin Can Bay, Fraser Island and the stunning aquatic playground of the Great Sandy Strait. This area is rich in bird and marine life, including sea turtles, dugongs and dolphins. Head south west from Gympie though Mary Valley’s rolling green hills to Lake Borumba. On the way you’ll find country markets, art and craft and wonderful country hospitality in the towns of the valley.

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