What to do in the South Burnett

Roy Emerson Museum

• 31 Bowman Rd, Blackbutt QLD 4314
• Mon - Sun 10am to 3pm

Blackbutt was the birthplace of Australian tennis legend, Roy Emerson. The Roy Emerson Museum is situated on Bowman Road, adjacent to the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail and contains many photos and stories about Emerson as well as the life-size bronze statue situated at the Nukku Nook precinct. The former Nukku State School was where Emerson attended primary school and also holds memorabilia from the days of local timber cutting, early schooling, farming and the building of the railway.

Yarraman Heritage Centre

• 26 Millar St, Yarraman QLD 4614
• Mon – Friday 9am to 3pm, Sat 10am – 3pm, Sun10am – 2pm
• Bus Tours - $5 per adult, $2 per child. Morning/Afternoon tea & Lunches can be supplied if requested.

A snapshot of life in the early 1900’s is in store for visitors to Yarraman Heritage Centre. The centre comprises eight historic buildings experience a guided tour of the Heritage House complex,  craft shop, Museum, Community Radio and to the historian about pioneer families. Visitors will also find the Yarraman Railway Station, Arthur Brown’s Butcher Shop, a typical slab hut circa-1921 , and a farmer’s cottage circa-1930. Take in the Military Memorbilia and marvel at the rail display.

South Burnett Energy Centre

• 41 Henry Street, Nanango
• Mon - Sun 9am to 4pm

The South Burnett Energy Centre and Nanango Visitor Information Centre on Henry Street is also worth a visit if you enjoy learning about the early days of both small country townships and electricity. Open seven days a week, the Energy Centre is home to the original engines that supplied energy to Nanango for the first time in 1933. You can also learn about the different forms of energy by using pedal power to generate enough electricity to deliver a sweet treat for your efforts. The information centre is also where you can get your fossickers licence to explore and pan for treasure at Seven Mile Diggings, an old gold mine just off the Yarraman Creek, popular for its supply of alluvial gold.

Kingaroy Heritage Museum

• 124 Haly St, Kingaroy QLD 4610
• Mon - Fri 9am to 4pm, weekends and public holidays 9am - 1pm

The Kingaroy Heritage Museum, South Burnett Visitor Information Centre and Regional Art Gallery are all conveniently located together on Haly Street and will provide the whole family with fascinating peanut and pioneering history.  Formerly the Kingaroy Power House (1925-1952), the Kingaroy Heritage Museum showcases the history of the Kingaroy region under the themes of 'People, Power and Peanuts'.

Kumbia Federation Heritage Centre

• 31 Bell Street, Kumbia 4610, QLD

The Kumbia Federation Heritage Centre on Bell Street is home to a treasure trove of historical photographs, local historical records and artifacts relating to the early residents of Kumbia. The collection features an extensive pictorial history of the Kumbia district and is open Sunday afternoons or by appointment.

Wondai Heritage Museum

• 80 Mackenzie Street, Wondai
• Wed - Fri 9am to 4pm

The Wondai Heritage Museum offers an insight into the district’s history, with artifacts and memorabilia spanning over 120 years. Military memorabilia and social & governmental development is the main theme, which features  the relocated 1910 Wondai Hospital operating theatre houses implements and history of a medical nature and makes up the hospital complex. On a larger scale, the Machinery Shed houses many meticulously restored items, from Sulkies and threshers to the extensive "Vince Miller" collection of timber tools, and that grand old octogenarian the "Dennis Fire Engine".

South Burnett Timber Industry Museum

• 80 Haly Street, Wondai

The South Burnett Region Timber Industry Museum is well worth a visit for its impressive timber structure and bullocky team sculpture alone. The museum is a testament to the timber industry, which played a major role in the early settlement of the region and its development. The building also features the Wondai Visitor Information Centre with a gift shop stocking locally produced timber items created by South Burnett artisans. 

The Ration Shed Museum

• 19 Barambah Ave, Cherbourg
• Mon - Thur 9am to 4pm, Fri 9am - 1pm, Sat Open by appointment to advance bookings

People can reflect on Cherbourg’s problematic history as well as the community’s great achievements at the Ration Shed Museum. This is the original building where locals would receive their weekly food rations from the government. Open during weekdays, the museum offers an insight into what life was like on the reserve as well as several interesting stories from community leaders and activists as well as some of Cherbourg’s most well known sports men and women.

The Queensland Dairy & Heritage Museum

• 2 Sommerville St, Murgon
• Tue - Sun 9.30am to 12.30pm
• Admission $5 for adults, $3 for children

The Queensland Dairy and Heritage Museum just outside of Murgon. Step back in time and marvel at how the local timber and dairy industries have progressed since the early days of hand-churned butter. Butter making even can be arranged at the Dairy Museum for groups for a small charge.

Boondooma Homestead Museum & Heritage Complex

• 8262 Mundubbera Durong Rd, Boondooma

Bursting with incredible pioneering history Boondooma Station once totalled an impressive 1,000 square miles with 500,000 sheep. Now the historically listed site is home to the annual Scots in the Bush festival in the third week of August. The festival is a tribute to Boondooma Station’s founding fathers - three young Scotsmen, the Lawson brothers and Robert Alexander who settled there in 1847. The old homestead also comes alive each Australia Day for a big weekend of Aussie themed events and activities as well as every April during the Anzac week for the Spirit of the Bush celebration.

Railway Gallery on Greenhills Drive

• 136 Greenhills Drive, Blackbutt 
• Sat & Sun 9am to 1.30pm (Weekdays by appointment)
• Free Entry
• Contact: 0417 787 632

This amazing gallery is situated at the top of the Blackbutt Range, and just two minutes from the tourist town of Blackbutt (S.E. Queensland). The gallery is set amidst five acres of glorious open paddocks with views to the Bunya Mountains, and beyond.

During the 1990s, artist and author, Janet Skinner traveled from one railway siding to thenext, with her she carried her easel and paints, and created the 104 railway scenes which are on display today.

The gallery houses six rooms, featuring the original railway collection, plus BVRT paintings, working studio, and also a selection of her latest contemporary works.

Kingaroy Regional Art Gallery

• 126 Haly St, Kingaroy
• Mon - Fri 10am to 4pm, Sat and public holidays 9am to 1pm, 

The Kingaroy Regional Art Gallery, housed in a wonderful heritage listed art deco style building, is a gem of a place located in the heart of Kingaroy next to the Information Centre.

The gallery welcomes visitors to come experience and enjoy the visual arts of the region's talented artists. Exhibits change regularly throughout the year, displaying a variety of styles, media and themes.

Wondai Regional Art Gallery

• 40 Haly Street Wondai
• Mon - Sun 10am to 3pm

A must visit is the Wondai Art Gallery close to the centre of town. In nearby Coronation Park, there are more toilets, drinking water, electric barbecues and a dump point, making it a convenient place to pull up stumps for a day or two. The Wondai Regional Art Gallery is housed in the original Wondai Station Master’s House and is the pride of the town. Locally run by a dedicated team of volunteers, the gallery features a range of artists from across the South Burnett and beyond with a new exhibition opened on the first Friday of each month, except January.

Blackbutt Art Gallery

• 38A Coulson St, Blackbutt
• Mon - Sun 9am to 3pm

Blackbutt Art Gallery, is located in one of the friendliest towns in Queensland. It's the perfect place to to pull over, enjoy the fantastic variety of art and a cuppa. discover some award winning artists,  and marvel at the extraordinary variety of artistic works on display.

Kingaroy's Big Peanut

Emu named Charlotte

The Booie Pair of Nuts

Yarramen

Nanango Bull

Roy Emerson Statue

Murgon Visitor Information Centre Mural

Wondai's Dingos

Hannibal's Bucket

Water Fountain with Fisherman - Proston

Nanango Wall Murals & Chainsaw Sculptures

Horse Sculpture Yarraman

Proston Golf Club

• 81 Brigooda Road, Proston QLD 4613

The Proston Golf Club on Brigooda Road is set on just under 40 acres of picturesque countryside with a challenging nine-hole, 18 tee course offering free camping and a wonderful bar and restaurant every Friday.  

Blackbutt Golf Course

• 51 Langton Rd, Blackbutt North QLD 4314

Nestled on Bowman Road at the top of the range and the eastern gateway to the South Burnett, you will find the nine-hole picturesque country style golf course at Blackbutt.

Kingaroy Golf Club

• Bunya Highway, Kingaroy QLD 4610

Kingaroy’s Golf Club along the Bunya Highway offers a spectacular 18-hole golf course, practice area, club house with ample country hospitality and plenty of buggies for larger groups.

Kumbia Golf Club

• Bunya Highway, Kumbia, QLD 4610

The Kumbia Golf Club has one of the most spectacular views, with the course on the doorstep of the spectacular Bunya Mountains.

Murgon Golf Club

• 192 Lamb Street Murgon, QLD 4605

Murgon’s Club boasts one of the best public nine-hole courses in the Wide Bay-Burnett region offering different tees for 18 holes, undulating designed greens and a number of doglegs.

Nanango Golf Club

• 4 Millis Way Nanango, QLD 4615

The Nanango Golf Club is a well maintained and challenging, socially friendly nine-hole course with event held days.

Wondai Golf Club

• 14058 Bunya Highway Wondai, QLD 4606

Wondai Country Club on the Bunya Highway is a first-class lawn bowls green, fully-lit for twilight and night competitions and a nine-hole golf-course perfect for all handicaps.

Goomeri Golf Club

• Golf Club Road, Goomeri QLD 4601

Goomeri Golf Club is home to a wonderful nine-hole public golf course on Goomeribong Road.

Mountain Biking

Explore the mountain bike tracks crossing some of the best forest and countryside scenery southeast Queensland has to offer

McEuen State Forest

Set within a tranquil eucalypt forest and dry rocky creek beds, there are 20 thrilling kilometres of mountain bike trails in McEuen State Forest just a kilometre and a half outside of Wondai. These intermediate level trails are hand-built just 400 metres off the South Burnett Rail Trail and provide an excellent experience for beginner mountain bikers to the more experienced with the South Burnett Mountain Biking club hosting regular meets and race weekends here throughout the year  

Gordonbrook Dam

There are currently four kilometres of trail available to riders at the newly established Gordonbrook Dam site with four separate trails in total and more planned for completion in the near future. Exciting trail extensions, a skills park, pump track and dual slalom trail are all in the works with the goal to put the South Burnett on Australia’s map for top regional mountain biking destinations. The Gordonbrook Dam trails are just a short six-kilometre ride from the South Burnett Rail Trail with picnic and toilet facilities available as well as a lovely view over the dam itself. 

Bunya Mountains

Exciting new mountain bike trails will be installed at Russell Park on the Bunya Mountains thanks to a new initiative from the Western Downs Regional Council. There will be approximately 30 kilometres of single-track mountain bike trails due to officially open sometime in late 2021 to early 2022. This exciting development will encompass everything the Western Downs and South Burnett have to offer with beautiful rainforest and countryside views, plenty of elevation for riders, great accommodation and food options as well as a climate that allows riders to make the trek in comfort all year round.

The Rail Trails

The South Burnett is home to two rail trails, including Australia’s longest, the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail which spans 161 kilometres from Wulkuraka, near Ipswich to Yarraman.

South Burnett Rail Trail

The South Burnett Rail Trail is Queensland's first sealed rail trail, making up a total 43.5-kilometre recreation trail between Kingaroy and Murgon. The South Burnett Rail Trail leg contains a variety of cycling trails including a number of loops taking riders through quiet country back roads, with a wide array of food and drink stopovers including a cycling essential - a coffee location every 20 to 30 kilometres.

The Kilkivan to Kingaroy Rail Trail

The Kilkivan to Kingaroy Rail Trail is an 89-kilometre recreation trail following the old Kingaroy Branch Railway Line. The first 45 kilometres from Kilkivan to Murgon has a natural surface making a mountain bike the best choice. The remaining section from Murgon to Kingaroy has a sealed bitumen surface suitable for a wide range of bicycles.

The Link Trail

Nanango is the gateway to both the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail and the South Burnett Rail Trail thanks to the Link Trail built between Yarraman and Nanango. The Link Trail is a 55-kilometre route connecting the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail trailhead at Yarraman to Kingaroy via Nanango. The trail utilises a stock route between Yarraman and Nanango along the old stock route once used by local pastoralists to herd cattle to the Yarraman railhead and quiet back roads between Nanango and Kingaroy. This is a very pretty ride, especially the section around West Coolabunia.

Loop and Circuit Rides

If you are out and about riding on the South Burnett Rail Trail, why not try one of the local loop rides? These rides start and finish on the South Burnett Rail Trail.

Moffatdale Winery Route (MWR)

The Moffatdale Winery Route (or MWR for short), is the latest of 7 new rides that start and finish on the South Burnett Rail Trail. This ride route starts 6.5kms North of Murgon on the South Burnett Rail Trail. The ride is just over 20km in length (one way) . It utilises quite country backroads that take riders through the beautiful Moffatdale valley on the way to the Moffatdale wine region. The route is an easy ride (90m of climbing only), with  minimal traffic

Nanango Circuit Rides

Another wonderful little detail from the rail trail for riders wanting to see more of the South Burnett includes the East Nanango Circuit Ride (NAN 1 - 32 kilometres) and Greenwood Creek Circuit Ride (NAN 2 - 22 kilometres). Both loop rides start in Nanango and showcase the beautiful South Burnett countryside.  While NAN1 offers a couple of great climbs with impressive views to reward riders at the top, NAN2 delivers some lovely descents down Brights Road and Rural Road back into Nanango township, with both circuits making for a lovely leisurely weekend cycle.

Linville Nanango Circuit Ride

This is a two-day cycle route that starts in Nanango, goes to Linville and returns to Nanango via a combination of the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail and the Link Route from Yarraman. This is for the more adventurous cyclist, as there are some large hills, travelling through some beautiful countryside as well as the upper reaches of the Brisbane River Valley.

All of the circuit and loop rides are clearly signposted and mapped out but for all the latest South Burnett mountain biking and Rail Trail information, maps, estimated route times and biking recommendations, head to the