FAMILY FUN ATTRACTIONS KINGAROY

Mount Wooroolin lookout is located just over four kilometres west of Kingaroy along Haly Street; the Kingaroy Shire Council developed it in 1988 as a bicentennial project. There is a grassed area available for picnics with tables and wood barbecues. Visitors are advised to take care while ascending or descending the narrow sealed road to the top; it is not suitable for cars towing caravans or trailers. The elevated viewing platform offers 360 degree panoramic views of the surrounding countryside: Coolabunia Hill, home to Kingaroy's most famous family, Sir Joh and Lady Florence Bjelke-Petersen, the Bunya Mountains, Queensland's second oldest National Park and Tarong Power Station, which generates approximately one fifth of Queensland's power. To the northwest is Gordonbrook Dam, the source of Kingaroy's water supply; the dam was built in 1941 to supply water to the Royal Australian Air Force training school based in Kingaroy during World War II. The ramp to the viewing platform is smooth for disabled access but care needs to be taken, as it is quite steep. The nature reserve is 160 acres of endangered eucalypt woodland and dry vine forest. Bird watchers can be rewarded with sightings of Regent Bower Birds, Black Breasted Button Quail and Eastern Shrike-tit.

A visit to a wine region can be an interesting and rewarding experience, with each winery offering visitors a unique opportunity to sample their best wines on offer. The South Burnett is no exception. Wine buffs will love exploring the vineyards of this new wine producing region, where they will have the opportunity to experience a full range of white and red wines, ports and meads. However, you don't have to be a connoisseur to appreciate these award winning wines, you just have to enjoy good wine as much as good company. With its warm summer days, crisp cool nights and fertile soils, the South Burnett is a haven of vineyards stretching from Goomeri in the north, through the Murgon region to the Bunya Mountains, Kingaroy and south to Nanango. Along the way vineyards can be seen alongside olive groves, timber plantations, orchards and traditional agriculture. This palate of contrasting colours makes for breathtaking scenery and each stop provides a new experience. The South Burnett is considered a 'boutique' region with small vineyards concentrating on quality wine products. Visitors will enjoy sampling the best wines on offer at one of the cellar doors, while learning first hand about winemaking from the vineyard and winery staff.

Gordonbrook Dam is situated 20 kilometres from Kingaroy. Travel 11 kilometres north along the Bunya Highway from Kingaroy and after passing through Memerambi township, take the next left turn along Recreation Drive for nine kilometres to the Dam. The road is mainly bitumen with small stretches of good quality dirt road. The Dam is the sole source of water supply for Kingaroy; it was built in 1941 to provide water for the Royal Australian Air Force Training Base during WWII. In 1987 due to increased demand the dam wall was raised and the inundated area is now 229 hectares. There is plenty to enjoy at the dam, take time to enjoy the beautiful views of the dam from either the viewing platform or the variety of walking tracks along the waters edge. Enjoy a picnic at the tables provided and use the wood fired barbecues. The dam provides a haven for over 100 different species of birds. Bring your binoculars and camera to record sightings. The area is a significant migratory water bird site with sightings of Jacanas, White Breasted Sea Eagles and Pygmy Geese as well as the more common water birds such as Black Ducks and Egrets. Camping is not permitted at the dam and fishing, sailing, boating and water skiing are only permitted when there is no blue/green algae present in the water. The Kingaroy Shire Council in conjunction with community groups has started introducing original river species back to these areas. Pockets of revegetation are also evident in the immediate area.

Apex Park is the site of the first public hospital in Kingaroy and was developed by the Apex Club in the mid 1960's. The large trees that remain today are the plantings from the hospital grounds. A resident of the area donated the steam engine in the centre of the park. There is a memorial in the park in the memory of Matron Norma McDiarmid (1915-1944) erected by Kingaroy Past and Present Nurses Association. A walking track through the native bush takes you from the park to the lookout on Coral Street. From the viewing platform you will find panoramic views of Kingaroy and its surroundings including the majestic peanut silos, Tarong Power Station and Coolabunia Hill (home to Sir Joh and Lady Florence Bjelke-Petersen). Looking towards the southwest you are rewarded with expansive views of the Bunya Mountains, Queenslands second oldest National Park established in 1908. There is a large playground for the children to enjoy while you sit under the large shade trees and relax. Bring your lunch and enjoy a pleasant afternoon in the peaceful surroundings of this shady park. All play equipment is on rubber based soft fall material to reduce impact. A wood barbecue under the sheltered picnic area provides visitors with an opportunity to have a barbecue lunch whether it is in rain, hail or shine. There are amenities available.

Crane Winery, a small family owned Boutique Winery and Bed and Breakfast accommodation, was the first winery in the beautiful South Burnett. The grand old colonial homestead and rustic cellar door perch high on the Booie Range with breathtaking views across the valley. Crane Wines is just ten kilometres from Kingaroy, and less than an hour to the majestic rainforests of the Bunya Mountains, making Crane Wines the perfect place to base your stay while exploring all the South Burnett has to offer. Crane's new Bed and Breakfast accommodation offers up to four adults a memorable stay in two beautifully furnished, self contained rooms in the old homestead. This winery accommodation is in a self catering style, with breakfast provisions included, providing guests with the freedom to relax and enjoy the property, the views, the bird life, the quietness and peace. Cranes Cellar Door is the place to taste and buy from their extensive range of wines, including reds and whites in sweet, dry, fortified and sparking styles. Enjoy browsing in the cellar door with it's home made jams and chutneys, or try some of the very popular natural vegetable moisturisers made on the property.

The Museum is housed in what was Kingaroy's Power House from 1925 to 1952 which is now part of the Kingaroy Information, Art and Heritage Precinct. The main focus of the museum is the history of the peanut industry. This is depicted by the collection of agricultural machinery showing the ingenuity and inventiveness of the local farmers and tradesmen. Machinery for growing peanuts was not available in the early 1920's so a farmer invented his own. The first being a bicycle powered thresher built in 1909, then an American made wheat thresher was converted by a local farmer to thresh peanuts. In the late 1920's Mr Harry Young designed and built our very own dinosaur a stationary peanut thresher. These machines are on display in the Museum along with other prototypes of peanut harvesting machinery designed and built by local inventors. Some of their ideas are still in use today. Further objects of interest are, a boomerang presented by local Aboriginal people to the first Kingaroy stationmaster in 1904 and the Bicentennial Quilt depicting scenes of Kingaroy Shire, which was made by a group of Kingaroy ladies. The Museum has a large collection of historic photos as well as a research and study area for those wishing a little more information. There are many other objects of significance to Kingaroy's unique history, making the Museum a must see on your visit to Kingaroy. The aim of the heritage Museum is to preserve and conserve the history of Kingaroy and Shire, its people and environs for future generations, as well as providing access to the collect for both study and enjoyment.

Kingsley Grove was established in 1998 and has its own Winery and Vineyard which is nine hectares of wine grapes and under full production. Kingsley Grove Vineyard has been strategically designed to be non reliant on external parties to produce high quality wine from its own vineyard grapes. By not outsourcing production, Kingsley Grove has a unique strength relative to many of its direct competitors in the area. You are able to fully trace the production cycle on site by talks and tours of the winery which are given free of charge by the owners, who grow the grapes and make the wine on site. The in house wine making is public and the cellar door in the winery gives the full experience to all visitors to share. Tasting is also free of charge! They cater for individuals as well as for parties (up to 40 persons - please book in advance) and tours. Try the in house specialties, Wood Fired Pizzas cooked to order and a variety of Pasta and Salad meals all served in the relaxed atmosphere of a working winery and accompanied by a large range of wines, including Sparkling, Whites, Reds and Fortified.

Kingaroy's beautiful Memorial Park is located near the heart of town and is the major formal park in the Shire. The War Memorial is located in the park and is a band rotunda constructed of eight classical columns, which support a frieze and a domed roof. The frieze contains the names of the areas where our armed forces fought in World War I. Sir Thomas William Glasgow dedicated the memorial on 29 June 1932. To the west of the rotunda is the Stone of Remembrance honoring those who served from World War I to Vietnam. All ANZAC Day and Remembrance Day services are held here. The park has extensive flower gardens and paved paths as well as modern play equipment, picnic, barbecue facilities (coin operated on William Street side) and amenities which also have disabled access. The park also offers an off leash area for dogs on the Alford Street side. It is also home to the annual Tarong Mine Wine & Food in the Park Festival held each March. The Kingaroy swimming pool is beside Memorial Park on William Street and this adds to making the park a pleasant place to stop and have a quite break and relax while taking advantage of the facilities.

Now in a new, larger, more central location, right in the heart of Kingaroy's Central Business District! They are the one stop shop for all your regional gourmet and artisan deli foods as well as acting as the cellar door for local boutique wineries, including Barambah, Bellbird Vineyards, Kingsley Grove Estate and Booie Range liqueurs (makers of the unique and very popular Peanut liqueur). Taste South Burnett is not just about wines though, with a huge selection of gourmet delicacies, such as Kingaroy's Original Fudge (which they make), Kingaroy Cheese, including the award winning Bunya Black and Triple Cream Brie varieties, Kingaroy Gourmet Peanuts, Pressed Purity cold pressed natural oils and peanut butter, smallgoods, olives, chutneys, biscuits and other deli fare. They specialise in making quality gift hampers stocked with their local foods and wines. They also offer light lunches, coffees and platters. They're the must see destination on your South Burnett adventure.

Lions Park is located in Kingaroy Street, near the heart of town. It is a small formal park with roofed picnic tables, play equipment and disabled toilet facilities. This park makes a pleasant place to break your journey and relax and plan your drive around the South Burnett. Children will love the playground with colourful equipment for them to enjoy. There is also a coin operated barbecue. Take your photo in cut out frames of a peanut and a navy bean! Both crops have done much to help with the development of Kingaroy and the surrounding shire. Kingaroy's famous Peanut Van is beside the park and what better way to finish off your meal than with a purchase of local produce. Lions Park is also the location for South Burnett Regional Council's dump point for caravans. Adjacent to Lions Park is the Bjelke-Petersen Recreation Area, this is a large green open space area centered on Kingaroy's Town Common. It has been developed on reclaimed land created by the town's flood mitigation scheme in the early 1980's. Features open spaces, walking tracks, pathways and bikeways.

In 1995 The Kingaroy Apex Club erected the plaque and gateway to mark the start of the Kokoda Track and the Carroll Nature Reserve. This was to commemorate the 50th anniversary of victory in the Pacific in 1945 and to honour the people who gave their lives defending Australia in the Pacific Islands. Descendants of Kingaroy's earliest settlers, Dan and Bridget Carroll, donated the use of these five-acres of soft wood vine scrub to the people of Kingaroy as a nature reserve. The area was dedicated in 1987; this marked the 100th anniversary of Dan Carroll's arrival in Australia from Ireland in 1887. The Kingaroy Shire Council together with the Kingaroy and Districts Branch of the Society for Growing Australian Plants (SGAP) have developed a re-vegetation project to create a peaceful area. This project has been implemented to protect the nature reserve and eradicate weeds and replace and protect the native vegetation. It has provided the wider community with an opportunity to be involved in protecting the native bushland. The nature reserve is a peaceful oasis of bushland close to the centre of Kingaroy and the track offers an enjoyable walk through native bushland - a fitting memorial to those who gave their lives in the Pacific. Take time out to relax, enjoy the serenity of your surroundings and listen for the birds in the area. This track gives visitors the opportunity to stretch their legs after a long day of travelling. This conveniently located bird watching area will give sightings of Indian Koel, Dollar Bird, Rufous whistler, Rufous Fantail and Eastern Whipbird.

The Kingaroy Shire Council Art Gallery is located in the Kingaroy Information, Art and Heritage Precinct. There are three distinct areas covered in the centre with the Main Gallery showing a new exhibition each month. Requests can be made to the Gallery Administrator if you are requiring space to exhibit your artwork. The gallery offers prominent artists a chance to display their works to the wider community in the South Burnett. Gallery Two offers permanent displays of on-going works by local artists. These art works reflect the many different faces of South Burnett artists, from traditional through to modern and indigenous but a few mediums being represented. This area is constantly changing with existing artists hanging their new works and new artists moving to the area and looking to contribute to the Gallery. Sculpture, woodwork, pottery and paintings are displayed here. Craft in the Gallery is a showplace for all talented South Burnett Crafters with new and vibrant displays of pottery, woodwork, glasswork, embroidery, patchwork and all types of craft. The items are all for sale and make unique presents or mementos of this area. It is a wonderful area to showcase all the local talent.