Sharon Gorge - Bundaberg Queensland

If you've even driven between the town of Gin Gin and the city of Bundaberg in Queensland, you may have noticed a quiet rest area located a few kilometers north of the village of Sharon. The rest area has the usual facilities, including toilets, picnic tables and BBQ's.

But it also has a terrific extra feature that even many Bundaberg locals might not be aware of. Originating from the rest area, a walking track winds its way through the thick bush of Sharon George down to the banks of the Burnett River. The walk is very tranquil, with only the sounds of bird and insects calls, and the rustling of bush denizens to break the silence.

At one point in the walk, the track arrives at a wonderful,and quite unexpected, grove of tall and slender palm trees. Being in such contrast to the surrounding bush, the palm tree grove seems almost otherworldly. Further down the track, stately gum trees reach skyward.

The track finally emerges at a wide and slow-flowing portion of the Burnett River. On the day that we visited, ski boats thundered down the river, seeming quite incongruous after the peace and solitude of the bush walk.


The Sharon Gorge walk takes around 15 to 20 minutes each way - or longer if you take your time and enjoy the bush. Be sure to take some insect repellent as the area provides a perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes and there were certainly plenty during our excursion.


To get to the Gorge, drive north along the road to Gin Gin from Bundaberg for approximately twelve kilometres. The gorge is located on the left when heading towards Gin Gin, around four kilometres past the Sharon service station. Look for a rest area sign. The road-side sign identifies the area as "Sharon Nature Park" while other signage near the walkway is labelled "Sharon Gorge".