Gympie Visitor Information Centre is at the southern end of Gympie on the Bruce Highway next to the Lake Alford Recreation Area. The visitor information centre can provide details about local attractions and places of interest as well as further out in the Gympie region, Sunshine Coast region, and Fraser Coast region.
Lake Alford is a beautiful place to stop and have a break in its own right. I have thought about stopping here a few times and finally we took the time to do so. The lakes are teaming with water birds, turtles, and the odd eel, with paths around them and a couple of bridges.
The park started in 1977 and 1978 with the construction of a playground, built by the members of the Gympie Rotoaract Club as a community project. The park was first called Rotaract Park, then after the Gympie/Cooloola Rotaract Club donated seating to the area, Gympie Regional Council renamed the area to Rotaract Place and merged it into the general area.
There are two playground areas with a newer playground added with inclusive features for all children to be able to have fun. A third “playground” at the southern end gives an option for the furry members of the family. We took our Border Collie there for a run to get rid of some energy saved up while sleeping during travel, successfully returning him to sleep mode once we continued with our travels. Dogs are allowed to be off-leash in the dog park but must remain on a leash everywhere else.
There are some tables and free BBQs, which helps to be a good option to self-cater for a meal break when travelling. Not all of the tables are covered. Water bubblers are around but there are not too many around the lakes, more focused around the playgrounds.
Address: Lake Alford, 24 Bruce Highway, Gympie, Queensland.
Website: https://www.visitgympieregion.com.au/
Phone: 1800 444 222, 07 5480 5183
Email: tourism.info@gympie.qld.gov.au
Nearby Brown Signs
Amamoor State Forest
Borumba Deer Park – a family-owned and operated campground beside Yabba Creek near Imbil, powered and non-powered camping, swimming, fishing, campfires
Chimney – Chimney is the remains of the Mount Clara Smelter built in 1873, one of the earliest to be built in Queensland
Cooloola Coast
Gold Fossicking Area
Gympie Historical Goldmining Museum
Kilkivan Museum – Kilkivan Museum contains a display of ore and mineral samples common to the district, other mining related exhibits and artefacts, and historical room displays
Kinbombi Falls – a cascade of falls through a rocky gorge along the Kinbombi Creek, with a free rest area, picnic grounds, and free camp camping
Lake Borumba – Lake Borumba is located west of Imbil, providing water to the Mary Valley irrigation scheme, boat ramp, fishing, day use area with BBQs, tables, toilets
Mary Valley
Mothar Mtn
Policeman’s Hill – the hill used during the Goomeri Pumpkin Festival, an annual event held on the last Sunday in May
Rail Trail Kilkivan – The Kilkivan to Kingaroy Rail Trail is a shared-use path re-used from abandoned railway corridor, walking, bike riding, horse riding
Rainbow Beach
The Valley Rattler
To Get There
Travelling north on the Bruce Highway, entering Gympie, you will come across brown signs for The Valley Rattler and Gold Mine Museum. Continue straight ahead at the lights and follow for another 500m and turn right into Lake Alford Recreation Area.
Travelling south on the Bruce Highway, follow the Bruce Highway through the town. Passing Hungry Jacks and Pizza Hut, continue through the traffic lights and follow the Bruce Highway for another 2.8km and turn left into Lake Alford Recreation Area.