Sunshine Coast travellers heading inland from Noosa may soon have a reason to stay longer in the region, with Gympie’s iconic Mary Valley Rattler set to benefit from a new $200,000 grant to establish high-quality RV and caravan facilities.
The Queensland Government’s Regional Tourism Infrastructure Fund (RTIF) has backed the project, which will see eight powered, self-contained RV and caravan bays built on land adjacent to Historic Gympie Station on Tozer Street.
The development will feature water, lighting, and security infrastructure, enabling visitors to stay onsite, explore Gympie’s heritage railway, and experience the city centre and surrounding region.
Construction is scheduled to begin in mid-2026, with completion expected by early 2027. During the build phase, six full-time positions will be created, and the operational park is expected to generate around $200,000 annually for Gympie’s local economy.
Mary Valley Rattler General Manager Sherry Lowe said the RV Park would play a key role in revitalising Gympie’s city centre following the 2024 highway bypass.
“We need to provide every incentive possible to attract visitors off the highway and into Gympie, and the establishment of a quality RV Park in the middle of Gympie’s heritage area will be an enormous boost to the local tourism economy,” Ms Lowe said.
“The goal of the Queensland Government’s Destination 2045 strategy is to enhance tourism infrastructure that drives regional dispersal, accessibility and legacy outcomes and that’s precisely what the Gympie RV Park will achieve. Quality RV facilities have been identified as essential for growing the drive market, which fuels regional tourism.”
“We want people not just to visit Gympie but to stay and deliver sustained flow-on benefits to local businesses and residents. We particularly want to thank Tourism Minister Andrew Powell for the support of the region and tourism operations such as Mary Valley Rattler.”
The RV Park is part of a broader plan to strengthen Queensland’s drive tourism, connecting the Sunshine Coast Hinterland with the Fraser Coast and Wide Bay–Burnett. The project aligns with the Gympie RV Strategy (2022) and the Gympie Regional Council Tourism Strategy (2019–2024), both of which identified the need for improved, compliant RV infrastructure linked to attractions like the Mary Valley Rattler.
Ms Lowe said the park will convert day visitors into overnight guests, boost tourism spend, and reinforce Gympie’s role as a must-stop destination for travellers exploring the Sunshine Coast Hinterland.
For visitors leaving Noosa and heading west, the new RV park promises to make extended hinterland adventures more accessible, offering a seamless way to enjoy heritage rail experiences, local dining, and Gympie’s vibrant history.
