Things to Do in Mary Valley: Our Weekend Guide

If you’re looking for a country getaway near Brisbane, put the Mary Valley on your list. Think rolling hills, a steam train, long lunches and a little cabin you won’t want to leave.

We spent two nights at The Avocado Tree Farm near Amamoor, watched the Mary Valley Rattler turn around, and ate our way through Dingo Creek Vineyard and Imbil. Here are the stops we’d make again — and a few more things to do in Mary Valley if you have extra time.

Our stay at The Avocado Tree Farm was hosted as part of a content collaboration. All opinions are our own.

Stay at The Avocado Tree Farm near Amamoor

The Avocado Tree Farm is the kind of stay you book for the view and then realise you don’t want to leave.

We stayed in one of two cabins they have on the farm called Henry. The cabin sits above The Avocado Tree Farm, looking out over the Mary Valley. We spent an afternoon on the deck with a platter, watched the sun go down over the hills and said hello to the resident cows. Then the stars came out — and we ended up outside with our cameras.

Inside, Henry has a king bed, kitchen and a spacious shower. There’s also a BBQ and a firepit for evenings when conditions allow. For a couples’ weekend, I’d leave at least one afternoon completely free to enjoy the cabin. The view is the activity.

The farm grows certified organic avocados, which guests can taste and buy when they’re in season. You can also order boxes online and have them delivered. The orchard is a working farm, so ask the hosts if you’d like to see more of it rather than heading in on your own.

Good to know: Henry currently has a two-night minimum stay. Its driveway is steep in places, with some gravel and grass, but the hosts say conventional cars can access it. Take extra care in wet weather.

Where is Mary Valley?

The Mary Valley is the country region south and west of Gympie, with towns including Amamoor, Kandanga and Imbil. Henry’s hosts put their property near Amamoor at around two hours from Brisbane. You’ll want a car to get between stops, but you don’t need a 4WD for the weekend we describe here.

Our route was easy to follow: Dingo Creek Vineyard near Traveston → Henry near Amamoor → the Rattler at Amamoor Station → lunch in Imbil. Kenilworth is another option if you want to extend the drive rather than head straight home.

Watch the Mary Valley Rattler turn at Amamoor

You don’t need a train ticket to enjoy one of the best moments of the Mary Valley Rattler.

We went to Amamoor Station to film the steam train arriving and turning around on the heritage turntable. Seeing the engine slowly swing into position was worth planning our morning around — and we still had the rest of the day to explore.

If you’d rather ride, the Classic Rattler Run travels from Gympie through Dagun to Amamoor and back. We watched from Amamoor, so we can recommend the turntable view, not the onboard experience.

Tip: Check that a steam service is running and confirm its expected arrival time in Amamoor. That’s the time you need if you’re watching from the station. Arrive early and use a safe public viewing spot.

Check the current Rattler timetable.

Have lunch at Dingo Creek Vineyard

A long lunch at Dingo Creek Vineyard is a pretty good way to start a country weekend.

It’s in Traveston, just outside the Mary Valley and around 15 minutes from Amamoor, so it fits nicely before checking into Henry. Order the chicken Waldorf salad and a charcuterie board — those are the two dishes we’d recommend. Add a wine tasting if you’re making an afternoon of it (and have a designated driver).

The vineyard currently opens Friday to Sunday, 11 am–5 pm. Book ahead, especially if lunch is your first stop on the drive up.

See Dingo Creek’s menu and book a table.

Explore Imbil and eat at The Wild Vine

After watching the Rattler, we headed to Imbil for lunch at The Wild Vine. Honestly, I’d drive back for the burgers alone — they were some of the best we’ve had.

Everything coming out of the kitchen looked amazing, which made choosing difficult. The café is in Imbil’s old bakery building, with a garden dining area and a little History Lane to look through. Don’t plan it as a grab-and-go stop; give yourself time to enjoy lunch and have a wander around town afterwards.

The Wild Vine is at 116 Yabba Road, Imbil. It currently closes at 2 pm on Sundays, so book a table and don’t leave lunch too late.

Check The Wild Vine’s menu and opening hours.

More things to do in Mary Valley

Those four stops made a brilliant weekend for us. If you have another day, here are a few more places to add to your Mary Valley itinerary:

• Lake Borumba: Pack a picnic and spend some time by the water near Imbil. The recreation area has BBQs, shelters and toilets; bring your own drinking water.
• Kandanga Farm Store: Stop for local produce or something from the kitchen as you drive between the valley’s towns.
• Dagun Growers Market: Visiting on a Saturday? The market is advertised from 3 pm at Dagun’s heritage railway station.
• Kenilworth: Make a food detour for doughnuts at Kenilworth Country Bakery and cheese from Kenilworth Dairies.
• Mary Valley Rail Trail: The open section between Imbil and Brooloo is 4.7 km one way if you’d like to walk or cycle.
• Mary Valley Scenic Drive: If the countryside is the reason you’re here, take your time driving between Imbil, Kandanga and Amamoor. Those stretches of road are part of the experience, so choose a couple of stops and leave room to pull over safely for the views. See the regional scenic-drive guide.

Our easy Mary Valley weekend itinerary

Saturday: Drive up from Brisbane, have lunch at Dingo Creek Vineyard and check into Henry. Spend the afternoon with a platter and the valley view. Head outside after dark if the sky is clear.

Sunday: Watch the Rattler arrive and turn at Amamoor, then drive to Imbil for burgers at The Wild Vine. Leave the afternoon open to explore town or head back to the cabin.

Monday: Enjoy one last slow morning at Henry. If you want another stop on the way home, choose Kandanga or Kenilworth and check what’s open.

That’s enough to see more than one side of the Mary Valley without turning a relaxing weekend into a race between towns.

Quick questions about visiting Mary Valley

Can you see the Rattler without riding it? Yes. We watched it arrive and turn at Amamoor Station. Check the day’s steam service and expected Amamoor arrival time before driving over.

Is Mary Valley a day trip from Brisbane? Yes, but keep it to two or three stops. Amamoor and Imbil work well together when the train is running. Stay overnight if you also want time to enjoy a farm stay and vineyard lunch.

What if you don’t want to hike? You can still make a full weekend of Henry, the turntable, the towns and the food stops. Lake Borumba also works for a picnic without planning a walk.

Is Mary Valley worth visiting?

Absolutely — especially if you like unique stays and country food stops. We came home with photos of the steam train, memories of two excellent lunches and more night-sky shots than we expected. But the part I keep thinking about is that afternoon on Henry’s deck, when we had nowhere else we needed to be.

For more Queensland weekend ideas, see our Riverbank Glamping stay and Bribie Island guide.