Six Mile Creek Rest Area – Glanmire

The Six Mile Creek Rest Area is a large and strategically important free 24-hour stopover, providing a welcome break for travellers on the busy Bruce Highway just south of Gympie. This popular, state-run facility is a classic highway rest stop, designed to combat driver fatigue with its convenient location and spacious layout. The site is a sprawling, relatively level area with a mix of sealed and gravel surfaces, offering an abundance of room for all vehicle types, including the largest big rigs, buses, and caravans. It is set amongst pleasant bushland next to Six Mile Creek, which provides a more natural and peaceful setting than many other roadside stops. The facilities are basic but functional, featuring a large amenities block with toilets and some sheltered picnic tables. As it’s intended for short-term stays, there are no showers or power, making it best suited for self-contained travellers. Its main advantage is its size and ease of access, allowing drivers to pull off the highway safely for a meal break or an overnight rest without needing to navigate into the city centre. Its proximity to Gympie also means that all the services of a major regional town—including fuel, supermarkets, and attractions like the Gold Mining and Historical Museum—are just a short drive away. The Six Mile Creek Rest Area is a vital, well-used facility that provides a safe and practical option for a night’s rest on the Sunshine Coast to Fraser Coast touring route.

Site Information

• Location: On the Bruce Highway, approximately 6 km south of the Gympie town centre.
• Site Suitable For: All vehicle types, including big rigs.
• Road Access: Sealed highway to the site.
• Site Surface: A mix of bitumen, gravel, and grassed areas.
• Camping Permitted: Yes, this is a free 24-hour maximum stay rest area.
• Maximum Overnight Stays: 24 hours.
• Facilities: Toilets, rubbish bins. No showers or power.
• Picnic Tables: Yes, sheltered tables are available.
• Potable Water: No. Bring your own drinking water.
• Mobile Phone Coverage: Excellent for all major carriers.
• TV Reception: Excellent.
• Onsite Public Toilets: Yes.
• Rubbish Bins: Yes.
• Open Fires: Prohibited.
• Generator Use: Permitted, with considerate use for other campers.
• Number of Sites Available: Very large area with no defined sites.
• Essentials to Bring: It is best to be fully self-contained with water and power.
• Pet Friendly: Yes, pets are permitted on a leash.
• Fishing: Possible in Six Mile Creek.
• Short Walks: Walking around the large rest area and along the creek.

Local Amenities

All major amenities are located in the nearby city of Gympie (approx. 6 km).

• Local Pubs:
  • The Australian Hotel (approx. 6 km)
  • The Royal Hotel (approx. 6 km)
  • The Queenslander Hotel (approx. 7 km)
• Places to Eat:
  • Numerous hotels, cafes, restaurants, and fast-food outlets throughout Gympie.
• Local Attractions:
  • Gympie Gold Mining and Historical Museum
  • Mary Valley Rattler (historic steam train)
  • Lake Alford and the Gold Mining Statues
• Nearest Caravan Parks:
  • Gympie Muster Inn (approx. 4 km)
  • Great Eastern Motor Inn (approx. 5 km)
  • Numerous other options in Gympie.
• Next Free Camps:
  • Gunalda Rest Stop (pub camp, approx. 30 km north)
  • Petrie Park, Tiaro (donation camp, approx. 50 km north)
• Nearest Dump Points:
  • A public dump point is available at the Gympie Showgrounds.
• Nearest Petrol Station:
  • Multiple service stations are located within 5 km on the southern edge of Gympie.
• Drinking Water Resupply:
  • Available at the Gympie Showgrounds.
• Public Toilets:
  • Available onsite.

Seasonal Weather Forecast

Gympie enjoys a subtropical climate with warm, humid summers and mild, dry winters.