Nestled in the middle of the breathtaking Great Sandy Biosphere is the Gympie Region - an area awash with natural beauty and Sunshine Moments that are just waiting to be discovered.
To the east of the region you’ll find the Cooloola Coast, home to the sparkling waters of Rainbow Beach and Tin Can Bay and the closest gateway to K’gari (formerly Fraser Island). To the west are the pioneering towns of Kilkivan and Goomeri. And to the south, you’ll find the lush rural communities of the Mary Valley, home to a cluster of beautiful country villages, trails and drives that will have you whipping out your phone and taking a snap before you can say ‘wow’.
What The Locals Love
❤️ Jump in a 4WD for a bucket list-worthy drive along the great sandy highway of Rainbow Beach.
❤️ Traverse through rural country villages aboard the Mary Valley Rattler.
❤️ Go off the beaten track and explore Gympie’s leafy backyard with the River to Rail Trail.
Try your luck at gold panning in Deep Creek
Deals
Immerse yourself in the beauty, nature and fresh food of the Sunshine Coast with some great deals from all over the region. There has never been a better time to plan your escape.
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This postcard-perfect region is steeped in history - it was founded back in 1867 after prospector James Nash discovered gold at the site now occupied by the town hall. These days, Gympie is the perfect place for wanderlust-seekers to base themselves as they explore the rolling hills and peaks of the Mary Valley, treat their taste buds with visits to local markets and food producers and see a whole new perspective on the Cooloola Coast with a bucket list-worthy drive along the great sandy highway of Rainbow Beach.
Soak up the region’s history and rediscover the magic of a bygone era onboard the Mary Valley Rattler. Settle into your carriage on the old steam train and make like you’re an extra on Netflix’s latest historical drama as you traverse over bridges, around green-covered hills and through the quaint country towns of Dagun and Amamoor, hidden amongst the lush centre of the Mary Valley.
Mary Valley Rattler
For those who love the outdoors, go off the beaten track and explore Gympie’s leafy backyard with the River to Rail Trail. Put your phone on aeroplane mode and bliss out to nature’s soundtrack of rustling trees and native birds as you cover nine kilometres of sealed and unsealed pathways that wind along the Mary River, past old churches and fire stations and through to Gympie City and the Historic Gympie Station. Walk it in sections or pack your bikes and do the entire loop with a café stop along the way - you can even cool off with a dip at the Aquatic Centre.
Carlo Sandblow, Rainbow Beach. Credit: Tourism & Events Queensland
Have more time in your itinerary? When in Gympie you can’t go past a visit to the Gympie Gold Mining and Historical Museum, Woodworks Museum and Interpretive Centre and the Gympie Regional Gallery. And if you really want to embrace the region’s unique past, you can even try your luck at gold panning in Deep Creek.
Epic Ocean Adventures, Rainbow Beach
And keep your calendars clear for the annual Gympie Music Muster, Australia’s original and most loved camping and music experience. Staged deep within the natural surrounds of the Amamoor State Forest, you’ll dance among eucalyptus and riparian rainforest, swaying to the tunes of country crooners, roots, blues, folk and rock music.
