Gatton: Lake Apex, Museums and Farm Gates in the Lockyer Valley

Gatton is the administrative centre of the Lockyer Valley, about 90 km west of Brisbane, and a good base for a day out of lake walks, museums and farm produce. The town sits on the Warrego Highway, so it is an easy stop on the way to or from Toowoomba.

Most visitors start at Lake Apex, a parkland with a cultural centre, cafe and transport museum, then add the historical village, a farm gate or two and a lake elsewhere in the valley.

Lake Apex Park

Lake Apex Park, on Lake Apex Drive, is the main thing to see in Gatton. It began as Cleary’s Swamp, and the Gatton Apex Club developed it as a recreational parkland in 1975.

There are public BBQs, covered picnic tables, a playground, toilets, a skatepark, exercise equipment and a lot of grass. There are walking tracks around the lake, and Parkrun is held here on Saturday mornings.

Birds at the lake

153 bird species have been recorded at Lakes Apex and Freeman. Small bush birds such as the golden-headed cisticola, red-backed fairy-wren and Australian reed-warbler live in the reeds at the edges, and cattle egrets gather to breed between October and March. There is a bird hide at the park.

Lockyer Valley Cultural Centre and the Queensland Transport Museum

The Lockyer Valley Cultural Centre sits beside the lake at 34 Lake Apex Drive. It opened in 2009 and holds the visitor information centre, Gatton Library, an art gallery that changes its exhibitions every 6 to 8 weeks, and the Colonial Cafe.

The Queensland Transport Museum is in the same building. It is open seven days, 9 am to 4 pm. Adult entry is $10, children aged 6 to 15 are $5, under 6s are free and a family ticket (2 adults, 3 children under 16) is $30. The museum has a military transport display with vehicles dating back to World War 1 and a kids’ activity corner. The building is wheelchair accessible and has baby change facilities.

Gatton and District Historical Society village

On Freemans Road, overlooking Lake Apex, the historical society runs a village of 18 preserved buildings on 2.5 hectares, including a country church and three displays on regional history. It is staffed by volunteers and is open Monday to Thursday, 9:30 am to 1:30 pm. The society suggests allowing about three hours. Admission prices are not published, so ring 07 5462 6126.

Farm gates and produce near Gatton

The Lockyer Valley is a major vegetable-growing region, with carrots, potatoes, cabbage, broccoli, pumpkins, corn and beans among the local crops, and roadside stalls selling the freshest picks of the season. Lockyer Valley Tourism has a farm gates page with a guide to what is growing and when, and it is the place to start: farm gates.

Bring cash and an esky. The visitor information centre at the Cultural Centre can point you to what is open.

Lakes and heritage nearby

Lake Clarendon, east of Gatton, is an off-stream irrigation storage with a small council picnic area and a short walking trail beside the dam wall. Paddling and fishing from the shore or a paddle craft are permitted, but lake levels change often, so take care launching and retrieving. Seqwater lists bird watching, kayaking and picnicking as the activities.

Laidley, with its Pioneer Village and Museum and a self-guided heritage trail, is about 20 minutes by car from Gatton.

For bigger water, see Lake Wivenhoe and Lake Moogerah, and browse all lakes and rivers.

Is Gatton dog friendly?

Yes. The walking tracks at Lake Apex Park are dog friendly, but dogs must be on a lead and you need to pick up after them. Lake Apex also has an off-leash dog park. Other Gatton parks, including Fred Gillam Park, Littleton Park and William Kemp Park, welcome dogs on a lead.

Planning your visit

• How long: 2 to 3 hours for the lake, the transport museum and a cafe stop; a full day if you add the historical village and a farm gate.
• Cost: Lake Apex Park has no published entry fee. The transport museum is $10 for adults.
• Best time: The historical village is open Monday to Thursday mornings only. Saturday mornings are busier at the lake because of Parkrun.
• What to bring: a hat, water, an esky and cash for roadside stalls.
• Accessibility: the Cultural Centre and transport museum are wheelchair accessible. Access details for the park paths and toilets are not published.

Getting there and parking

By car, Gatton is about 90 km and about 80 minutes from the Brisbane CBD. Take the Ipswich Motorway to the Warrego Highway (A2) at Dinmore and follow it west to the Gatton exit, then follow Lake Apex Drive to the park and Cultural Centre. From Toowoomba the drive is about 30 minutes.

There is ample parking at the Cultural Centre, including a top car park for caravans, trailers and buses. No parking charge is published.

By public transport, there is no train to Gatton. Queensland Rail trains run to Rosewood, and Translink bus route 539 runs from Helidon through Gatton and Laidley to Rosewood station, with a stop at Lake Apex Drive at Gatton Apex Park. It runs only a few trips a day (three departures from Gatton on the Saturday checked), so check the route 539 timetable before you plan around it. Murrays and Greyhound coaches also serve the region.

The Lockyer Valley Tourism Gatton page has more. Details can change, so check before you go.

Nearby

• Lake Wivenhoe – a large lake with swimming, boating and trails.
• Lake Moogerah – swimming, camping, fishing and a dam wall walk.
• Ipswich Nature Centre – free animals on the way back to Brisbane.
• Queens Park Ipswich – a playground, nature centre and cafe.
• Nerima Gardens Ipswich – a Japanese garden stop.

Browse more Lockyer Valley places, scenic drives, museums and farm gates and produce.

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