Visitor Information

General Info for Visitors

Gayndah is situated on the Australia’s Country Way tourist drive and is approximately a 4 hour drive northwest of Brisbane and approximately a 1.5 hour drive West of Maryborough. The best way to get here is by car/ vehicle or motorbike, though if long-distance push-bike riding is your thing, that too is an option. The roads to Gayndah are bitumen and are well-kept. Gayndah is an ideal destination for a tree-change getaway. There is a lot to see and do and plenty of opportunities to relax and unwind. Plus, there is of course the Gayndah Orange Festival itself. People travel from near and far to attend this festival.

Accommodation

There are plenty of places to stay in the Gayndah area including motels, caravan parks, campgrounds, free-camps and farm camping. Campgrounds include the Gayndah Heritage Railway Camp Site. A variety of motel and caravan park options are listed on Google. Visit the HipCamp website to view some of the other camping options (NOTE: some of these campsites are over 1 hour’s drive away from Gayndah). We suggest booking your accommodation ahead of time.

If you are a backpacker or planning to do some backpacking in the area, there is a Gayndah Backpacker Facebook Group here.

What to Bring

If you’re planning a general visit to the area, bring all the usual things you travel with. If you plan to attend the Gayndah Orange Festival we recommend bringing things like: comfortable shoes, sunscreen, hat, sunglasses, summer and/or autumn-type clothes (in case it is a warm day), a rain-coat and umbrella (in case it showers or rains), a fold-up chair if you need a seat and there are none around, a backpack, a bottle of water, warm clothes for the evening (if it gets cold), strollers for little kids, a walking aid if you need one… and as many friends and family as you can muster 🙂 . While you can bring your own food and non-alcoholic drinks, we recommend buying from the many local cafes and stalls. They’ll appreciate your support. For the Sunday Family Day we also suggest bringing older clothes you don’t mind getting grubby and/or juice on, especially if you plan on entering into any of the competitions, including the Citrus Eating Competition.

Shops, Facilities and Amenities

There is an IGA Food Store in Gayndah where you can stock up on food items including fresh fruit and veggies. There are also some road-side markets where you can buy citrus during the season. Gayndah has a modern medical pharmacy, plus a camping and outdoor shop (which is also part of Mitre 10). Each are well stocked. There are several mechanic businesses in Gayndah for vehicle servicing, repairs, etc. There is also a tyre center in the main street and several service stations for fuel. Additionally, there is a variety of other shops where you’ll find many items you might need during your travels. The town also has a local taxi service. The public toilets are also kept clean and tidy.

Festival Parking

There is plenty of free parking within easy walking distance of the festival. There is also limited free parking reserved for disability access.

Things to See and Do

Beyond the Orange Festival itself, there are many things to see and do in Gayndah and the surrounding area. The Burnett River winds through the region, providing a wide variety of leisure, water sports, boating and fishing activities. There are many incredible National Parks throughout the North Burnett Region that offer adventure, bushwalking and relaxation. There are also majestic mountains, scenic views, refreshing rock pools, sandstone gorges and cliffs, and an abundance of wildlife.

Once you arrive at Gayndah, we recommend visiting the Information Center, located inside a man-made orange, known as The Big Orange. There you’ll find lots of information about things to see and do in the region, maps, etc. We also recommend browsing through the Visit North Burnett website.

There are SO many places to explore just within the Gayndah area itself; WAY more than we can list here. Some though include The Gayndah Museum, The Gayndah Heritage Railway, Archers Lookout, the Gayndah Art Gallery, Boyne Burnett Inland Rail Trail, Chowey Bridge, Mingo Crossing, Paradise Dam, Boolboonda Tunnel, the Gayndah boat ramp & recreation area at the Claude Wharton Weir (a great place for a picnic that is only a 5-minute drive from the middle of the town), McConnell Lookout and the many shops and cafes in the main street of Gayndah. There are also two op-shops in Gayndah full of treasures.

You could easily spend a weekend exploring this area, or well over a week if you want to explore the entire North Burnett region. It is an ideal self-drive destination.

Gayndah is also part of the Burnett Circle Touring Route where you can experience and take in many rural and authentic Australian experiences within the North Burnett.

There is lots more general information about this area on the Visit North Burnett website. There is also some information on the Bundaberg Region website. You’ll also find info about interesting things to see and do in this blog post, including information about Auburn River National Park.

Events

In addition to the Gayndah Orange Festival, there are a variety of events held in the Gayndah and North Burnett region throughout each year. View the North Burnett Region Event Calendar for more information.

Relax and Unwind

If you want to be active, there’s certainly plenty to do in the Gayndah area to keep you moving and on your feet. However, if you feel like stopping and ‘smelling the roses’ there are also many ways to relax and unwind. Treat yourself to a 4 or 4.5 star motel and put your feet up in air-conditioning bliss. Or caravan or camp and enjoy the great outdoors. Or perhaps pack a picnic and visit one of the many scenic areas including the Claude Wharton Weir Boat Ramp and Recreation Area on the Burnett River. The Claude Wharton Weir turnoff is 2km north of Gayndah (off the Burnett Highway (A3) ). It’s also a place to go fishing. Australian Bass, Golden Perch (Yellow Belly), Spangled Perch and Catfish are the most commonly caught species. It’s also an excellent spot for boating, kayaking and canoeing. [Please check water levels with Sunwater before boating.] There are also many other waterways in the region.

Naturally Beautiful and Pristine

The Gayndah community and the Regional Council take great care of the region. In the unlikely event you encounter any issues, the North Burnett Regional Council encourages you to report them to assist with maintaining the naturally beautiful of the region. To report an issue, submit an enquiry or give feedback using the form on this page of their website.