The Mary Valley offers a unique hinterland experience featuring rainforest drives, bushwalks, forestry, plentiful wildlife and carefully maintained recreation areas. In the upper Mary Valley are old gold-mining and timber townships such as Amamoor, Kandanga, Imbil – the terminus for the Mary Valley Rattler – and Brooloo. Take the Mary Valley Tourist Drives for views out over the river valley, and detour on the drives that lead off from the townships through hoop-pine plantations and natural bushland – ideal places for camping, picnicking and bushwalking. The road through Dagun to Amamoor takes you to the Amamoor Lookout and a spectacular view of the surrounding countryside. Then follow Amamoor Creek to the day-use and camping areas at Amama, Cedar Grove and Amamoor Creek, home of the Toyota National Country Music Muster.
At Imbil, on Yabba Creek, you can go canoeing or horse-riding, or just soak up the country atmosphere. Be sure to drive up to the Imbil Lookout for a glorious view, before picking up some local produce and heading out to Lake Borumba for a picnic. Further south is Kenilworth, a favourite base for bushwalkers exploring the Kenilworth State Forest and the Kenilworth Bluff. The town is famous for its Kenilworth Country Foods cheeses and its Coolabine Farmstead goat cheeses. While you’re there, check out the Kenilworth Historical Museum. Saddle up! – the Mary Valley has some exceptional forest horse-riding trails. Nowhere else can you ride through eucalypt forest, plantations and rainforest in one outing.
Climb aboard the Mary Valley Rattler steam train at historic Gympie Railway Station and travel the scenic Mary Valley Heritage Railway. This 80km adventure will take you across the Mary River, into the forest and through the villages of Dagun, Amamoor and Kandanga to Imbil.
