📍Gayndah, QLD Visitor Guide To The 13 Best Things To Do. (2024.)

WANT TO KNOW THE BEST THINGS TO DO IN GAYNDAH, QUEENSLAND?

Gayndah is the bustling heart of the naturally beautiful North Burnett region. It also lays claim to being Queensland’s oldest town having first been settled in 1849 during the great pastoral expansion that took place in the later part of that decade. The agricultural industry of choice was oranges, mandarins and lemons and competes in friendly competition with neighbouring Mundubbera as the Citrus Capital Of Australia.

While it’s a must to stock up on some locally-grown fruits at the Big Orange and admire the beautifully maintained heritage buildings in the business centre, they’re only a small part of this town’s appeal. From walking down memory lane at the exceptionally maintained historical museum to enjoying views of the landscape from its two breathtaking lookouts and nearby national park, there are plenty of incredible things to do in Gayndah that I loved discovering during my two-week tour through the region.

1. Walk Amongst A Geographically Unique Landscape.
Coalstoun Lakes National Park.

One of the highlights of visiting Queensland’s oldest town is that it’s close to a breathtaking national park with some unique geography. Coalstoun Lakes National Park lies half an hour’s drive west of Gayndah along the Burnett Highway and is home to one of Australia’s youngest and most recently extinct volcanoes despite last erupting over half a million years ago.

The 4.4km return, grade 4 hiking trail makes its way to the rim of the long-dormant mountain, named Le Brun, and descends to the two perfectly preserved craters that once spewed out basalt lava, but are now shallow, typically dry lakes that are a mecca for birdlife when there’s water. While there was none when I visited and, therefore, not much on the bird front, two wallabies bounded around play fighting in the first lake, which was a lovely sight to see from the bird hide, so bringing binoculars along is a great idea either way.

Along with being a fascinating ecological heritage site, the car park and the steep ascent to the caldera’s edge at the start both have gorgeous views of the countryside, including the dramatic peaks of Mt Walsh National Park, while halfway along the trail is even more lovely scenery, this time of the Seven Sisters, which lies between the Coalstoun Lakes township and Ban Ban Springs.

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2. Get Panoramic Views Of The Town & Surrounding Landscape.
Archers Lookout.

At the end of a steep and narrow, one-lane road atop a hill at the edge of town lies Archers Lookout. Despite its closeness to the bustling business centre, this vantage point seriously packs a visual panoramic punch.

Before even needing to leave the car, the turnaround area has breathtaking scenery showcasing the countryside south and the picturesque cultivated mountains of the lower North Burnett region. Up the steep ramp to the official lookout lie even more gorgeous views, this time north overlooking the township, where the Les Baker Bridge crossing the Burnett River is easy to spot and the nearby hills and distant mountains of the region’s interior close out the picturesque landscape.

While there, keep your eyes peeled for wildlife too. There was even a sign saying kangaroos are around and sure enough, wallabies were hanging around as I was driving up and once again on return just before and after sunset, which was a lovely sight to see. I also spotted an echidna rustling in the bushes walking down the ramp, so it’s quite the wildlife spot.

Lastly, given its proximity to an urban centre, the broad terrain it covers (almost 360-degree views) from its two vantage points, including one you can stay in the car for, it is the perfect all-weather lookout for visiting at both sunrise and sunset, plus if any weather events are happening like blanketing fog, lightning storms, or even in the unfortunate event of a flood. (Or snow. Who knows, it could happen.)

Note: This road also has limited areas to pass other vehicles and is not suitable for big rigs, but there’s plenty of room on Pineapple Street to park anything you need to detach before heading up.

3. Discover The Town’s Heritage-Listed Buildings.
Capper St.

Historically, Gayndah’s big flex is that it is Queensland’s first town. It was founded in 1849 while the pastoral expansion inland was in full swing. Today, it’s like a living museum with gorgeous old buildings helping retain its old-world charm.

A relaxing stroll through the business centre is a great way to appreciate the architecture, with the Gayndah Soldier’s Memorial
Hall (Town Hall and Council Chambers), the Grand Hotel, the Burnett Hotel, NAB Bank, the Nourish Cafe and Mellors Drapery being some of the most striking buildings reminiscent of yesteryear.

The latter is one of the most unique stores as it is one of the few places left in the country that still uses a flying fox machine to dispense change. Unfortunately, I didn’t get to see it as the sign said they were closed for the foreseeable future and even if they were, people on Google said that the workers/owners weren’t the friendliness.

Note: There is also a windmill at the park a block south worth having a look at too,

4. Reminisce About A Bygone Era.
Gayndah Museum and Information Centre. – $.

To explore a deeper dive into the town’s history, one of the best things to do in Gayndah is visit the museum. This maintenance attraction has many faithfully restored heritage buildings of significance ranging from storefronts and homesteads to industrial sheds containing various artefacts, equipment, machinery and vehicles that were unique to the era they came from. It’s a fantastic walk down memory lane to appreciate the gadgets, gizmos and other memorabilia to remember a time gone by.

Plus, it’s also the Visitor Information Centre, so you can stock up on local knowledge and get all your questions answered at the same time.

5. Taste The Fruit The Town Is Famous For.
Gayndah’s Big Orange.

Agriculturally, the town is renowned as Australia’s Citrus Capital, growing juicy oranges, mandarins, lemons, limes and grapefruit. To ensure everyone is aware of its acidic fruit-growing capacities, one of Gayndah’s biggest attractions is the Big Orange (which is in friendly competition with its neighbour Mundubbera, and has the Big Mandarin), where visitors can get a classic fun photo at one of the country’s many BIG THINGS, get a brief overview of the industry and stock up on produce and products made from it and souvenirs to signify you’ve been to these quintessentially Australian tourist attractions.

Its oranges and mandarins are typically available between May and August and are super juicy and delicious. I also recommend getting the Special Sauce and Australian Pickled Garlic, which my family and I loved incorporating into our meals.

Open: 8am-2pm daily.

6. Get Orange Fever.
Orange Festival.

Celebrating its status as the nation’s citrus capital, Gayndah hosts the Orange Festival to remind people of its elite status as the best orange and mandarin-growing town. The bi-annual event typically takes place in April and has an enthralling cornucopia of stalls, markets, live music and entertainment, games, floats and displays, floats, entertainment, games, and displays focused around the brightly-coloured acidic fruit, which has been delighting festival-goers since 1957.

7. See More Sweeping Views Of The Countryside.
McConnell Lookout.

Another incredible scenic attraction not to miss while visiting Gayndah is McConnell Lookout. Located west of the township, this quaint vantage point on a hilltop in the countryside is a gorgeous place to appreciate the lay of the land. Get sweeping panoramic views overlooking the farmlands, hilltops and distant mountains with the mighty Burnett River cutting through the terrain creating a visually striking landscape.

It is a gorgeous scene of its own, but at sunrise when fog is blanketing most of the scenery with parts of it peeking through, there’s something very ethereal and almost otherworldly about it that makes visiting at this time of day a must.

Note: The site also have free BBQ’s and sheltered picnic tables, so it’s a gorgeous place to recharge and refuel.

8. Discover A Unique Heritage Bridge.
Historic Iderway Creek Upside Down Bridge.

As Queensland’s oldest town, Gayndah has nostalgic heritage sites left, right and centre. But one of the best places that’ll help visitors appreciate its place in Australia’s history isn’t in town, but outside it along the old train line.

What makes the historic Iderway Creek Railway Bridge a must-visit is its unique architectural design. The way that the spans come together suspended over the creekbed makes it look like the construction workers had a grave oversight into how it was supposed to be put together and built it upside down instead, only it was intentionally meant to look like this. It certainly makes for an eye-catching sight which is what makes visiting it a must.

9. Spend Time On The Water.
Claude Wharton Weir/Gayndah Weir Boat Ramp.

If you’re looking for a change of scenery, the Claude Wharton Weir is a beautiful place to swap the countryside for the water. The weir impounds the Burnett River and has a lovely picnic area and BBQ for the perfect lunchtime break from driving, and a boat ramp for those looking to swap the car for the boat.

It is also a fantastic place to birdwatch, particularly for birds of prey like wedge tail eagles who love to fly on the thermals above the waterway.

Note: The exit for it is odd. Look for a narrow dirt road going uphill (left if driving away from Gayndah, right if towards), which is where you need to turn off. You might miss it because it looks like it goes to private property, but you’ll likely see the street sign saying boat ramp just after it.

10. Enjoy Quiet Time At The Local Park.
Pioneer Place.

One of the best places in Gayndah to enjoy a traditional picnic in a picturesque setting is Pioneer Place just on the outskirts of town. At the bottom there is plenty of grassy area to lay down a blanket and enjoy filling the belly with some snacks, go for a walk to stretch the legs after the drive between towns or play some games or do some activities with the family.

But where this place really shines is up the top. Follow the right dirt road up the hill where lovely views of the Burnett River and the hills behind it await.

11. Auburn River National Park.

Aside from being in friendly competition with Gayndah as the Citrus Capital Of Australia, Mundubbera, the town next over, also has one of the most breathtaking national parks with unique geography that I’ve come across so far. Auburn River National Park lies a short distance south of the sleepy town and is an absolute must-visit for nature lovers thanks to the way water erosion has eroded the slab of pale pink granodiorite boulders around the river, creating a striking landscape that is as visually rewarding as they come.

It also has a rustic campground making it the perfect place to park up and enjoy an overnight adventure under the stars.

12. Mt Walsh National Park.

Over near Biggenden, the town next over in the other direction, the spectacular mountains of Mt Walsh National Park are a sight to see. These formidable peaks are observable from far and wide and are a mecca for nature-lovers. Experienced hikers with proficient navigational skills can make their way up the unofficial trail to the summit, where magnificent views of the countryside from the exposed rock slab await. Meanwhile, casual walkers can explore and swim in the beautiful rock pools of Utopia Falls in the Waterfall Creek section and lastly, 4WDers can enjoy a rugged off-road adventure to the remarkable Coongara Rock, so there’s something for everyone.

13. Burnett Circle Touring Route.

To experience even more beautiful scenery, undertaking the Burnett Circle Touring Route is a must. With towns like Gayndah, Biggenden, Mt Perry, Monto, Mundubbera being the gateway to national parks such as Coalstoun Lakes, Mt Walsh, Cania Gorge and Auburn River and the lakes of Paradise Dam/Mingo Crossing, Cania Dam and Wuruma Dam, it is a fantastic region to tour, especially from coastal cities such as Bundaberg, Maryborough, and Gladstone.

Better yet, because it’s a far way west, there are many free or cheap places to stay overnight in your vehicle or even camp in tents, making it a great place to go for a super affordable or spontaneous multi-day adventure in the countryside. I spent a generous two weeks doing so and less than $20 total for this.

Gayndah Attractions Map.

Accommodation: Where To Stay In Gayndah.

• Budget: Zonhoven Park. (Free Rest Area.)
• Mid Range: Gayndah A Motel.

Beyond being Queensland’s first town, the epicentre of the North Burnett region and Australia’s citrus capital, Gayndah is a fantastic place to visit for those who love nature, heritage and road trips.