Kilkivan and Goomeri

What the locals love

💗 Load up on freshly baked sweet treats at Julie’s Cafe in Kilkivan.
💗 Stop for a chicken parmi and pint at Joe’s Grand Hotel.
💗 Stroll through Goomeri’s historical streets and scope out the original 1920s buildings.
💗 Go for a historic cycle along the Kilkivan Rail Trail

Steeped in history, a stroll down Kilkivan’s charming streets lined with heritage buildings will have you feeling like you’ve stepped onto the set of a western flick. Back in 1852, it was near Kilkivan that gold was first discovered in Queensland, sparking the gold rush. Today in this village in the heart of Gympie, you’ll still spy amateur prospectors panning for gold in the surrounding countryside intersected by ranges and ravines. 

Kilkivan is one of only a few towns situated on the Bicentennial National Trail - a 5000km long trail stretching from Cooktown in Queensland, to Healesville in Victoria. A historic coach and stock route once used for long distance horse treks, today keen hikers and cyclists traverse through the countryside amongst rugged mountains, dry plains and valleys. 

Mountain bikers will want to steer their wheels towards the Kilkivan Rail Trail, where cyclists can travel the 27km journey on the old rail corridor from Kilkivan to Goomeri. Refuel with a freshly made vanilla slice and a BLT burger at Julie’s Cafe - you won’t regret it. 

Mountain Bike tracks, Sunshine Coast

And should you be in this charming corner of the Sunshine Coast in July, make sure you stick around for the Great Kilkivan Horse Ride, a spectacular sight attracting more than 1000 horses, riders and horse drawn vehicles. Riders traverse up to 30kms of beautiful countryside before joining the grand parade through the township. 

Goomeri

Bursting with country charm and original 1920s buildings, Goomeri is a former timber town that oozes a relaxed old-world atmosphere - making it the perfect place to stop and slow down on your next trip up north.

Awash with history, around every corner you’ll find a beautifully restored building worth putting on your Instagram or a heartwarming monument - like the ‘Lest We Forget’ town clock built in 1939 that earned Goomeri the name of ‘Clocktown’.

Once you’ve snapped enough pics of this adorable town to fill your camera roll, snag a table at Joe’s Grand Hotel. Here, the beer is cold and the meal portions are huge - the twice-cooked pork belly is a game changer. If you’re after something sweet, you can’t beat Goomeri Bakery & Coffee Shop where you can stock up on all your flakey pastry, chocolate coated fudge and cheesy toastie needs.

Goomeri pumpkin roll

But perhaps the coolest thing about this quirky town? It’s home to Australia’s only Pumpkin Festival, which is held annually on the last weekend in May and features the exciting ‘Great Australian Pumpkin Roll’.