📍Mt Perry, QLD Visitor Guide To The 10 Best Things To Do From A Road Trip Enthusiast. (2024.)

WANT TO KNOW THE BEST THINGS TO DO IN MT PERRY?

Mt Perry is a gorgeous township in Queensland’s beautiful North Burnett region. Located southwest of Gin Gin, northwest of Biggenden and north of Gayndah, it is one loveliest detours off the Bruce(A1), Burnett(A3) or Isis Highways(52) from visiting these places or to take a day trip to from regional cities such as Bundaberg and Maryborough, thanks to its two breathtaking lookouts, notable heritage sites and proximity to the region’s newest lakeside facility, which are just some the best things I discovered to do while roadtripping through there.

1. Get Incredible Views From The Local Lookout.
Normanby Lookout.

Something that surprises me about small towns is their local lookouts. Often, the closer to an urban centre a viewpoint or hiking trail was, the less picturesque it would be. Or so I thought. However, I have been delighted to be proven wrong on many occasions and nowhere more than from atop Mt Perry’s Normanby Lookout.

Also known on maps as Mt Perry Lookout, this breathtaking vantage point at the end of Normanby Road, has expansive, uninterrupted views overlooking the rugged mountains of the continent-spanning Great Dividing Range, including the town’s easily-identifiable Mt Perry, which dominates the view as the tallest natural landmark in the observable area.

What is great about this spot is that it is not just gorgeous during sunset when the soft golden sunlight highlights all the crests and dips, but also at sunrise when the backlight creates beams of light as it passes between the ridgelines, creating the perfect backdrop for proposals and romantic photoshoots.

Furthermore, just after finishing filming a panoramic, the moon rose from behind the town’s namesake peak, making a fantastic place to incorporate the celestial body into a photo with the landscape when it’s out or just the stars when it’s not, or to simply marvel at the universe.

Capitalising on the stunning scenery, there is also a sheltered picnic table, so you can bring something you bought from town, or cook something at the free BBQ next to it, while enjoying the unforgettable view. Or if it’s too cold or windy to go outside, appreciate the landscape from inside the car, making this the perfect all-season lookout for day or nighttime viewing. Plus, it’s the only place I found with mobile phone reception, which is the ultimate bonus.

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2. Walk Through Queensland’s Longest Unsupported Tunnel.
Booldoonba Tunnel.

The main route to Mt Perry is along the Gin Gin-Mt Perry Road. And just off that road lies one of Queensland’s most prolific pieces of railway heritage. Stretching 192m end to end, the Booldoomba Tunnel is the state’s longest unsupported man-made tunnel. On the eastern end, visitors can learn a brief history of the mountain underpass through audio recordings on the information board and even drive through it.

However, the best thing to do is walk through it as if you look closely you can still see the pickaxe marks on the walls from where it was hand dug by tunnellers during its construction between 1881 and 1884! Plus, since it was abandoned as a railway passage for trains on the now defunct Bundaberg-Mt Perry line to transport copper from the small town to the regional city, it is now home to an adorable colony of bent-wing bats, which won’t be as easily spottable if you’re driving through. I recommend going at sunset. There was something very special about seeing them when they were flying out to find food for the night.

3. Spend Time Out At The Lake.
Mingo Crossing.

For a change of scenery, Mingo Crossing is a must-visit. Swap views of the countryside for the water at this beautiful spot on the road to Biggenden and Gayndah. What’s great about this place on the western side of Paradise Dam (also known as the Burnett River Dam) is the expansive new facility created for people to enjoy this tranquil place.

It’s a gorgeous place to get out of the car, stretch the legs, enjoy a traditional picnic with a blanket, cook up on storm on the free BBQs, and dine at the sheltered tables, lay on the grass watching the clouds go by or the birds fly by, rolling down the grassy hill into the drink or launch a boat, kayak, or stand-up paddleboard, perfect for getting out of the car for a few hours and enjoy nature at its most peaceful.

Plus, after you’re done splashing around in the water, the toilet block has hot showers, so you don’t have to leave sticky with sweat or lake water. Or if you want to make a night out of it, there is a caravan park right behind it! Talk about convenience.

4. Hike The Friendly Neighbourhood Mountain.
Mt Perry.

If the two lookouts weren’t showcasing enough picturesque scenery, one of the best things to do in Mt Perry to bask in even more of its natural beauty is to hike the friendly neighbourhood mountain, which shares the same name as the town. This peak, the tallest observable landmark from the aforementioned Normanby Lookout is a challenging 6.9km return hike starting Scrub/Seedy Road.

The first 900m goes through someone’s private property before the rest continues through the conservation park. However, there was no signage or discernable tracks, so I had no idea which way to go. I ended up on a ridgeline where in the distance, there were distinct treeless areas going up the hill. Heading that way, I saw two wild emus, who were surprisingly calm and completely unfazed by my presence with one even coming within ten metres of me!

The top of the deforested area was overgrown with grass, but it was the correct place on the map to be the edge of the conservation park, but the trail narrowed to be enough for one person. But as that didn’t look maintained either, and I had read on WikiCamps that the view further doesn’t get any better than the sweeping panoramic scenery from here, I didn’t go any further, but I do recommend at least coming up to this cleared spot.

5. Delve Into The Past.
Mt Perry Bicentennial Museum.

For those who love discovering the colonial heritage of a place, the Mt Perry Bicentennial Museum is a lovely place to drop by and see historical buildings, machines, equipment, tools, keepsakes, mementos, artefacts and other relics that were integral parts of the region’s past, allowing visitors to reminisce about the “good old days” of yesteryear.

6. See The South West.
RH Schuh Lookout.

Mt Perry isn’t just home to one beautiful viewpoint, but two. RH Schuh Lookout lies just outside of town on the Monto-Mt Perry Road and offers different views to Normanby Lookout, showcasing the gently undulating countryside of the southwest. It also has sheltered picnic tables allowing visitors a relaxing place to sit and appreciate the surrounding landscape in a peaceful setting.

7. Visit The Site Of The Old Copper Ore Processing Plant.
Mt Perry Smelter Site.

Another fascinating heritage site in Mt Perry is the Smelter Site. There’s not much left of this copper ore processing plant, but the foundation and a couple of industrial pieces behind a fence. But it does have a shelter with information about the former industrial site that is worth a read and lovely views of the town’s namesake mountain.

8. See A Military Training Vehicle.
Leopard Tank In Maynard Park.

For those appreciative of the armed forces and the vehicles used to defend, Maynard Park on Husman Street has a rugged Leopard Tank on display. Operational from 1977 to 2007, this camo tank is one of 103 made for the Australian Military and was utilised in training exercises all across the country, from Puckapunyal in Victoria to the dense forests of northern Queensland and the arid interior of the Northern territory. When they were retired, 30 were distributed for showcase nationwide with this one being the last.

Just across the road at Memorial Park, which has a war memorial to those who fought and sacrificed their lives World War II and a canon next to the picnic table. It also has a hot shower in the toilet block for the travelling public.

9. Biggenden.

Biggenden lies southeast of Mt Perry and while it doesn’t have much to offer in towns for tourists, the nearby national park is its biggest drawcard. The mountains of Mt Walsh NP are a mecca for nature lovers thanks to its rugged peaks visible from far and wide. Along with being a sight to behold, it is also a hiker’s paradise with the namesake peak being a fantastic summit trek with expansive views for the experienced, while the picturesque Utopia Falls is a lovely outing for casual walkers. Lastly, a rugged 4WD track leads to the formidable Mt Coongara, so there’s something for everyone.

As for those who love spending time on the water, two other must-visit attractions in Biggenden’s vicinity are Mingo Crossing and Paradise Dam which are the perfect places to change up the scenery.

10. Gayndah.

Southwest of Mt Perry is Gayndah. Along with having the title of Australia’s oldest town, it is also one of the best towns to visit in the North Burnett region, and not just because it’s Queensland’s citrus capital and has the Big Orange, where you can taste their signature produce and get a fun selfie with one of the country’s quintessential “Big Things”. One of its most fascinating attractions is the Gayndah Museum and Information Centre, which has beautifully kept buildings and mementos from the town’s past, but it also has two breathtaking lookouts and an incredibly unique “upside-down” railway bridge that make it worth a visit.

Mt Perry Attractions Map.

Accommodation: Where To Stay In Mt Perry.

• Budget: Wolca Reserve.
• Mid-Range: Mingo Crossing Caravan & Recreation Park.

Mt Perry, Queensland is a gorgeous town with some beautiful natural and heritage attractions that make it well worth the detour off the Bruce Highway to discover.