Welcoming autumn with milder temperatures and lush green rolling hills after summer rain, the North Burnett is an adventurer’s playground just waiting to be explored.
Just 3 hours drive from Brisbane, and just over 1 hour from Bundaberg, the North Burnett covers almost 20,000 square kilometres and is home to 6 National Parks. Meaning there is plenty of space, peace and quiet to get out and explore in the North Burnett.
Autumn is also when the North Burnett comes out to play. Citrus growers are awaiting the start of the upcoming citrus season, lots of family and community events bring people together to relax, connect and enjoy the North Burnett way of life.
AGRICULTURAL SHOWS – SHOWCASING THE AGRICULTURAL HEART OF THE NORTH BURNETT
The Agricultural Show season kicks off in April and will be in full swing in the region until late May. With a region as agriculturally rich and diverse as the North Burnett you can expect plenty of competitive producers entering their farm’s best into the competitions. With Gayndah and Mundubbera battling for the title of “Citrus Capital” of Queensland, the champion carton of mandarins is a very hotly contested class at the show with bragging rights for the winner. Meanwhile Mt Perry, synonymous with Wood Chopping, will have some of Australia’s best woodchoppers competing on their local stomping ground. Stud cattle champions are regularly born and raised in the North Burnett. The best part of watching the cattle competitions is the inspiring next generation of cattle breeders - children and teenagers, parading their sometimes 1000kg beasts around the show ring with control and pride of their cattle. Oh, and don’t forget the fairy floss and dagwood dogs!
Photo Credit: Mundubbera Show Society
MONTO RACES – MARCH 28
Monto Race Club will celebrate their 92nd year of racing with their March 28 race meet. This great day in the autumn sunshine is full of racing action, spectacular fashions and local entertainment. Monto is the Grand Final for the “Best of the Burnett” Fashions on the Field Competition. As part of the Burnett racing circuit qualifying rounds are held earlier in the racing season at Eidsvold, Gayndah and Mt Perry race meets. Competitors over the series have travelled from Brisbane, Toowoomba, Gympie, Rockhampton and local areas too. Racing fashionistas pull out all the stops and the quality and creativity of their outfits wouldn’t look out of place at Flemington. The lucky winner will be taking home thousands of dollars’ worth of prizes including a Race Day Accommodation Package for two during the Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival.
Photo credit: Monto Race Club
GET GOLD FEVER – MT RAWDON GOLD MINE TOUR
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be a gold miner?
Evolution Mining’s Mt Rawdon Mine at Mt Perry opens its mine for an annual free bus tour in April. Put on a high visibility vest, safety glasses and experience a tour of an operating gold mine. Your guides will take you around the mine in the safety of a mine-spec bus. The size of the dump trucks, diggers and machinery are amazing! From the lookout you can see all the action of a modern mining working pit. Be sure to bring your camera and plenty of questions for your tour guides. Bookings are essential – contact Anita 07 4156 2237.
For something a little quieter, pull out your hiking boots, sunscreen, water bottles and camera. Take some time to recharge and seek an adventure to make the most of the beautiful autumn weather.
CANIA GORGE NATIONAL PARK
Home to 8 different walking tracks, there is something for everyone – gentle boarded walks, through to the strenuous 22km Giant’s Chair Lookout hike for the fit and adventurous (trust us, the view is worth it though!). The park is also home to Aboriginal free-hand art, ancient caves, sheltered gorges, towering cliffs and plenty of wildlife.
Just 11km north of the National Park is Lake Cania. This lake is great for watersports and fishing. Pack the fishing rods, the Lake is well known for Saratoga and Australian Bass, among other stock species including golden perch, silver perch and eel-tailed catfish.
Local tip: spend a long weekend at one of the Caravan Parks at Cania, and take your time to enjoy the different walks, enjoy the wildlife (including feeding king parrots), wet a line in Lake Cania or just recharge in the peace and quiet. Cania Gorge National Park is a place that families return to year after year, it is easy to see why.
MT WALSH NATIONAL PARK
Mt Walsh is an incredible landmark whose incredible granite Bluff looks over the quaint town of Biggenden. Rich with history, culture and nature, Mt Walsh is best known for those imposing mountains, but there is also milder options for exploring the park.
The Waterfall Creek Rock Pools at Mt Walsh, aptly known as “Utopia” by the locals, is the perfect option for taking the kids exploring, or those not wanting a strenuous leg day hike. Local tip: bring plenty of water, swimmers and towel – the rock pools are fantastic for a swim!
Hiking to the Mt Walsh Summit is a must-do hike for the experienced enthusiast. Experienced hiker, Moira Thompson, is the owner of Experience Altitude and was also featured on the QLD Weekender. Moira has over 30 years of qualified bushing walking guide experience and hosts guided walks suitable for beginners through to experienced bush walkers. Experienced adventure seeking groups can request overnight and multiday experiences that are no ‘walk in the park’ but are incredible challenges and adventures that will create lifetime memories and allow you to explore unique places that not many people get to experience.
Pictured: Moira Thomspon with some hikers. Waterfall Creek Rock Pools
AUBURN RIVER NATIONAL PARK
The Auburn River National Park is home to the scenic Auburn River that flows through the steep gorge, over water-sculpted granite boulders. Enjoy the lookout over the gorge and spot the ‘Giant’s Chair’ and peregrine falcon’s nest (look for the ‘white-wash’ marks on the cliff face). For the adventurous, the steep walk to the riverbed and rock pools travels through dry rainforest, eucalypt forest and beautiful bottle trees. Careful explorers can hop across the salmon granite boulders to find the ‘Dinosaur Eggs’ that have been carved out by fierce water over many years.
Local Tip: Enjoy a BBQ after your adventures and set up camp for the night. There are 5 campsites available for booking through QLD Parks. Being such a tranquil and lowly populated part of the world, camping here feels like you are the only people in the world. We recommend kicking back and watching the glorious natural light show, the low levels of light pollution ensure this rural getaway sparkles in other star-filled ways.
Before hitting the road on your North Burnett adventure, you can get some travel inspiration by following @Visit North Burnett on Facebook. If you’d like a map or further information on other naturally beautiful things to see and do in the North Burnett get in touch with the RM Williams Australian Bush Learning Centre’s Visitor Information team on 0741657272 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Tag #VisitNorthBurnett and #VisitBundaberg in your travels! Let us see your adventures of the North Burnett.
Link for QLD Weekender video featuring Moira: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=366674994047813
Link to Experience Altitude’s Website: https://www.experiencealtitude.com.au/