Driving north from Brisbane the tourist drive starts at the intersection land-marked with signs to Rainbow Beach and Tin Can Bay. Turning onto to Brisbane Road the first point of interest is less than one kilometre into the drive - The Gympie Gold Mining and Historic Museum. Grab a coffee at the cafe and follow the story of Gympie’s establishment as it evolved into a thriving gold mining town. Before continuing take a moment to stretch your legs with a walk around beautiful Lake Alford. Take time to breathe in some fresh air, admire the birdlife and let the kids play in the all abilities playground or use the off leash dog park.

Less than one kilometre further along Brisbane Road try your luck and pan for gold at Deep Creek. Shortly after the bridge at Deep Creek, Brisbane Road bends to the right, follow the signs and veer left to go up Red Hill Road. After approximately two kilometres Red Hill Road, now Caledonian Hill Road will take you down a hill into the heart of Gympie. On the right is the Town Hall, which stands on the site of the discovery of gold by James Nash in 1867.

Glide down Caledonian Hill Road into the heart of Gympie. Notice on your right the Town Hall, which stands on the site of the discovery of gold by James Nash in 1867.

Eyes back on the road, turn left at the roundabout, then immediately right into Young St. Travel to the end of Young Street and at the roundabout turn right onto River Road. On the right is Memorial Park. Memorial Park is peaceful oasis in the city hub and explodes with colour in spring when the Jacaranda and Silky Oaks are in full bloom in the Spring and Summer months. Park the car and walk through the park up mosaic Memorial Lane to Mary Street. This is the ‘town centre’ where you will find a number of cafes and shops to browse.

Back in the car turn right onto Monkland Street, go straight through the first roundabout and at the traffic lights turn left and head away from the town centre up Mary Street. Wave goodbye to the city hub as you pass straight through the traffic lights atop Mary Street onto Duke Street.

Wave goodbye to the city hub as you pass straight through the traffic lights atop Mary Street onto Duke Street which shortly merges into Corella Drive.

In a few minutes you pass from business fronts, to suburbs and then out to rural estates and eventually bush land. As Duke Street merges with Corella Drive note the cemetery on your right. Spend some time exploring history and visit some of the pioneer headstones dating back to 1869.

Turning left off Corella Drive onto Fraser Drive you will soon come to the last stop on the Gympie City Tourist Drive, the Gympie Woodworks Museum and Interpretive Centre. Showcasing Gympie’s past as a timber and grazing town, the museum has live demonstrations, science-based education and stateof-the-art interpretation. You will see fascinating relics of forest history, lovingly restored and working in live demonstrations. The museum is home to a steam driven sawmill and details about European settlement in the region and next to the Bruce Highway.

The Gympie City Tourist Drive provides a great insight into the heritage of Gympie and the region and a welcome break from the Bruce Highway.