Gympie Things to Do

If you have a little Thomas the Tank fan but not enough time (or maybe money) to do the train trips they will be pretty excited just to see the 'Valley Rattler' depart from Old Gympie Station.

There is a model train set up which you can watch for free (alhtough there is a donation box there). We could have watched it alone for over an hour. It was very well done.

I must admit, that before visiting the Goldmining Museum, I had never heard of the Gympie Ape.

It is a stone Ape, now located behind glass in the 1st Museum. It is said, the iron stone squatting ape figure, may be 3000 years old.

There are several views of who this ancient stone represents.

One idea is...........
It may be a statue of the Egyptian God Horus, who was often portrayed as an ape or baboon.

Another idea is......
It is Thoth, the God of Writing and Knowledge of ancient Egypt in Ape form. Carved between the squatting legs is a hieroglyph of the papyrus flower – Thoth’s symbol as the God of Writing, and at the back, several weathered hieroglyphs, believed to be mixed Egypto-Phoenician script.
Thoth, has been depicted as an ape prior to around 1000 BC.

I wonder which one is correct?

The statue was unearthed in 1966 on Mr. Dal K. Berrys Wolvi Rd property.

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Gympie has many nice parks.
The Memorial Park is located one street away from Mary Street. We walked through the area where the Anzac Murals were to the Park.
The park has nice gardens and Toilets are located here.
Of interest, is the old Band Rotunda which was being restored. It was constructed in 1920 in federation style.

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The Normanby Remembrance park was beautifully set out, so that it is a nice to visit at any time of the year.

Of course, for Australian's, Anzac Day is terribly important to every Australian, not only for Returned Services men & women, but also for the average Australia, man, woman or child. It is a chance to remember what has been done for us [Australian's] in the past so that we can enjoy the freedom we have.

Anzac day services are held here on the 25th of April.

Right in Tin Can Bay, Queensland, you can feed the Indo Pacific Humpback Dolphins. When we were there last, it was free, but now it has changed. At least it is free to watch!
Remember to wear shorts or trousers that can be rolled up as you need to get in the water.

Feeding commences at 8am with a small group of people in the water at one time, food is available on site at $5 per person.
The dolphins Mystique, a male dolphin and a a juvenile from his pod, Harmony, usually arive some time between 7 and 8am.

Follow Tin Can Bay Road all the way to Norman Point. The Barnacles Dolphin Centre and Cafe is located to the left of the boat launching ramp at Norman Point.

About 54kms from Gympie .....one way.

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Heading back to Noosa from Gympie, we followed the Old Noosa Road instead of the highway so we could visit the Mothar Mountain Rock Pools.

The rock pools are located in State Forest, located right beside the road. We were here in Winter, and the car park was full, so I imagine in Summer there would be lots of people here.

They are really pretty with lovely clear water where I could easily see the bottom. Water was running over smooth granite boulders into each pool. I went for a walk, and I rock hopped over the pools and streams, it was good fun, and one children would enjoy under supervision.
The pools are not deep enough for diving, and you would have to be careful after rain.

I thought it was a lovely area for a Picnic, there were Picnic tables, barbecues, firewood, water and toilets all provided. Lace monitors were interested in somebody's bbq, they will steal the meat if they can! Remember, NOT TO FEED THEM.

It is just a short15 minute drive from Gympie.
Camping is not allowed in the forest.

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It has been quite a few years that we did this Train trip, but I can tell you, it was one that we both enjoyed.
Mary Valley Rattler is the name of the STEAM TRAIN, that runs on heritage tours every Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday.

BOOKINGS ARE ESSENTIAL, as this is very popular!

The [DAGAN] Gympie Railway Station [photo] that we departed from, is historic, and was built in 1913.
Starting from Gympie, we passed through the town, to Monkland, across the Mary river into the scenic Mary river valley where we saw Pineapples, Macadamia plantations, Dairy farms, cattle along the way. This area of the journey is lovely and scenic.
The Train stoped at Stations of little towns along the way, Dagan, (on the way back for wine & cheese tasting ) Amamoor, Kandanga (markets and stalls on Sundays) and finally Imbil, the turn around point.

At Imbil, we all got off. I headed to the small market, then went and bought lunch from the local Cafe.
We had plenty of time to wander around the town before heading back to Gympie.

The trip length is 80ks. You may see Kangaroos, we did.

On every 3rd Sunday of the month, BUSHRANGERS HOLD UP THE TRAIN!.
and........
There are also themed Train trips, look up the website for more information on the Train
and the "Red Rocket" Heritage Railmotor operates every Tuesday morning.

A full day Steam tour on a Sunday/Wednesday is ....
[2010 PRICES] $47 Adults & $23.50 children.
Half day tours....$32 & $8

DEPARTS FROM DAGAN STATION ....GYMPIE......
10am and returning at 4pm

You don't have to be a Train Buff to enjoy this journey.

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Whilst walking down Mary Street, we came across some Memorial Gates which were a tribute to the Men & Women who served in the Boer War.

Walking through the gates, we found the walls on both sides had been filled with Murals about the different wars. It was really interesting, as by each, there was a plaque with all the details about that particular Mural.

There were "Women In War"....."The cost of War".....this was how many Australian's lost their lives in each War...."What wars & peace-keeping Australia has been employed in"....."2nd World War"....."The Great War"....AND......"Colonial Conflicts."

THEY were very well done, and we took some time reading about the Wars & Peace Keeping our Australian Troop's have been to.