GYMPIE VISITOR INFORMATION CENTRE

Gympie Visitor Centre

Welcome to Gympie, the goldmining town that saved Queensland.

The Gympie region is a place of colourful contrasts which beckons your exploration. From the beautiful beaches and sparkling ocean of the Cooloola Coast in the east, to the trail of pioneering country towns in the west, the region invites you to experience adventures in nature and laid-back country hospitality in unspoilt surrounds. To the south of the city, the fertile fields of the Mary Valley serve up a smorgasbord of fresh local produce. And in the heart of the region lies the heritage city of Gympie itself, exhibiting enduring remnants of its proud pioneering past.

To discover the hidden gems of this emerging tourism destination, be sure to pay a visit to the Gympie Visitor Information Centre. This beacon of local knowledge is located within the sprawling grounds of Lake Alford. Upon your arrival, you will be greeted by the serene greenery of surrounding Lake Alford duck ponds, where you can follow the concrete winding path under a shady canopy of trees to the front entrance of the Visitor Information Centre. The water dragons and birdlife are frequent visitors, and the parklands are a popular spot for a well-deserved lunch or rest stop on a long drive. As you approach the Gympie Visitor Information Centre, there are signs indicating a Driver Reviver point, beckoning drivers inside for a free cup of tea or coffee.

Inside the Centre

Once inside, if you head to the right, you will come across the main counter, which is usually staffed by a friendly volunteer. Let our local tourism ambassadors assist you in your travels and help you discover that there is more to the Gympie region than you might think. There are also a range of local souvenirs available to purchase from this counter. Additionally, if you are interested in purchasing a fossicking licence or hiring out gold-panning equipment, this is where to do it.

The interior of the Gympie Visitor Information Centre is large, airy, and open with brochures and information lining each of the walls to help guide you on your travels. The brochures are displayed by region, and also by their content. For example, Gympie accommodation brochures are grouped together, as are brochures detailing Gympie experiences. Along the back wall, you will find brochures with information about other regions, including the Sunshine Coast and other areas in greater Queensland. A heightened map table is a great resource for finding your bearings or enabling us to point you in the right direction for your ongoing adventure.

Large colourful prints adorn the walls, depicting the beauty of the Gympie region and its key attractions. These include views of beachside bliss at Double Island Point, the kaleidoscope of colourful sands at Rainbow Beach, and imagery of volunteers welcoming visitors aboard the Mary Valley Rattler – an iconic historic train experience. There’s also a television depicting images from around the region. This television display does not incorporate audio, so if you would like a more detailed description of the changing images, please ask one of the friendly volunteer staff members. To make you feel at home, there is a couch which you can relax on to either use the free Wi-Fi or enjoy a free cup of tea or coffee as part of the national Driver Reviver program.

History

The local custodians of the Gympie area are the Kabi Kabi, Wakka Wakka, and Butchulla people. The name Gympie is derived from a Kabi Kabi word meaning a stinging tree which grows primarily around the Mary River. The town adopted the name Gympie in 1868. Previously, it had been known as Nashville, after James Nash, a prospector who quickly became infamous for being the first person to find gold in Gympie.

Because of Nash’s discovery, Gympie is today known as the town that saved Queensland. Queensland had been on the verge of bankruptcy when Nash made his discovery, which subsequently sparked one of the wildest goldrushes in Queensland’s history, and single-handedly saved the state. Gold is still found in Gympie today, and one of the most accessible fossicking areas can be found right in the heart of town.

On the opposite side of Lake Alford Duck Ponds, you can opt to explore the Gympie Gold Mining and Historical Museum, where you can take a step back in time and discover the region’s reimagined past preserved through various buildings and machinery restorations.

Prior to the state-saving discovery of gold, timber was a key industry for the area. By the 1860’s, the Gympie region was renowned for its quality and abundance of timber, particularly its prized red cedar. Pay a visit to the Woodworks Museum and Interpretive Centre to immerse yourself in old-world atmosphere and discover intriguing insights into the role of forestry in Queensland. Static information boards and working exhibits share the story of the growth of the timber industry, and live demonstrations bring history to life, primarily on a Friday. A large collection of pioneering hand tools, equipment and transport is also on display.

Local Highlights

Panning for gold is an exciting and inclusive activity and a major attraction in the region. To pan for gold in Gympie, you will need a fossicking licence. These can be purchased from the Gympie Visitor Information Centre, where you’ll also find panning equipment available for hire. Then, you can try your luck at panning for gold at nearby Deep Creek.

The Mary Valley Rattler is also a highlight for visitors. Take a nostalgic train ride back in time through the scenic Mary Valley. Climb aboard this iconic train pulled by either a steam or diesel engine (depending on the day) and discover Gympie's rich industrial history, ranging from gold, timber, farming, dairy and much more. Learn from passionate volunteers at all three stops and piece together what life was like in Gympie’s early days.

If you’d like to explore some of the natural beauty of the area, the Mothar Mountain Rockpools, located within Woondum National Park, are worth adding to your itinerary. This glorious haven of tranquillity is located about a 20 minutes’ drive from Gympie’s CBD. The Rockpools will impress the avid adventurer, as well as the traveller who just wants to sit back, relax and unwind to the soothing sound of water flowing over granite outcrops. Please note that the flow of water is dependent upon rainfall. You will love the mixture of rainforest and tall Eucalyptus trees, which provide a shady canopy bursting with native birdlife. If you came to hike, you can choose from a short 500 metre forest walk or a more intense 3.5 kilometre walk to really explore your surroundings. It’s the perfect place to enjoy a picnic, or to cook up a feast on the on-site wood fire barbecue.

Gympie also plays proud host to an exciting line-up of annual events, including the Gympie Music Muster (held each August), rally car racing, monthly markets and much more!

Accessibility

Gympie is located 169 kilometres north of Brisbane, on the Mary River, and is accessed via the Bruce Highway. Gympie can also be reached via Queensland Rail’s Gympie North line which operates daily out of Brisbane, or by coach from Brisbane with Greyhound Australia. Local bus services are limited in the area. However, TransLink buses and Polleys Coaches do operate in the region.

Gympie Visitor Information Centre is located at Lake Alford on the Bruce Highway, at the southern entrance to Gympie City. For guests who are self-driving or arriving by car, accessible parking is located in close proximity to the main entrance of the Gympie Visitor Information Centre. A winding, accessible concrete pathway leads from the carpark to the main door.

The Gympie Visitor Information Centre is wheelchair accessible, and the venue is all on one level. Although there is not an accessible bathroom located within our building, there is a public accessible bathroom within the grounds of Lake Alford Park. Conveniently, the park also has an all-abilities playground, which has many options for young people to explore!

For guests who have a service animal, there are plentiful grassy areas outside the centre. There is also a fully enclosed dog park located directly behind the centre.

The Gympie Visitor Information Centre is open from 9AM until 4PM Monday to Friday, and from 10AM until 2PM on weekends and public holidays. They can be reached by phoning 1800 444 222.