Top 15 Activities and Attractions in Tannum Sands, Australia

As unconventional names go, this coastal town on Queensland‘s central east coast stands out.

“Tannum Sands” originated in the 1930s when a group of Sunday School children returned from a seaside picnic with sunburn: “we can really tan ‘um over there.” Since the 1950s, the beach has been a favored day-trip destination for the Gladstone Region, flanked by a beautiful green corridor known as the Millennium Esplanade, which also hosts a popular market once a month.

On the opposite bank of the Boyne River from Tannum Sands is Boyne Island, notable for housing one of Australia’s largest aluminium smelters, exemplifying a region that harmonizes subtropical allure with significant industry.

1. Millennium Esplanade

The foreshore of the main beach in Tannum Sands has been the preferred relaxation spot for the Gladstone Region for over fifty years.

This extensive green strip features tall eucalyptus trees, palm trees, and pines, ample weather-resistant shelters, small gardens, playgrounds, and almost continuous views of the ocean.

From this point, the islands of the Southern Great Barrier Reef come into view, along with the expanse of Rodds Peninsula, approximately 15 kilometers to the east.

Each month, this beautiful location hosts the Beach Arts Music Markets, a cherished institution in Tannum Sands, which we will detail further below.

2. Tannum Sands Beach

This beach offers 600 meters of picturesque golden sand, extending from the rocky flats in the north to the mouth of Wild Cattle Creek in the south.

This is the principal surfing beach for Gladstone and is the home of the Tannum Sands Surf Club.

The beach is supervised from September to May, and the surf club is open on weekends, providing snacks and light meals.

Waves can reach approximately one meter in strong south-easterly winds, with the reef breaks being optimal during mid-tide.

For swimmers, this location is relatively secure for bathing; however, it is advisable to keep clear of the mouth of Cattle Creek during a falling tide.

3. Beach Arts Music Markets

Set amidst the scenic greenery along the Millennium Esplanade, a vibrant community market takes place on the first Saturday of each month.

The Beach Arts Music Markets present a variety of offerings, integrating fresh produce, homemade specialties, instant food and drinks, an array of arts and crafts, alongside live music.

In fact, music is the heart of this event, and the Blackboard Sessions provide emerging artists with a platform to showcase their talent.

More than 100 stalls are featured at each market, all framed by lush greenery, eucalyptus trees, and the ocean.

4. Canoe Point Beach and Parklands

This beach and its serene foreshore are located at the confluence of the Boyne River, just north of Tannum Sands Beach.

Along the land, one can leisurely walk into nearby bushland reserves, traverse dunes, and stroll along a beachfront boardwalk that leads to the adjacent beach.

Open grassy areas, sheltered huts, and wood-fired barbecues are available for picnics.

There is a notable difference between the two ends of Canoe Point beach: the eastern beach experiences significant waves, yet is largely free of riptides.

The western beach near the picnic zone is calmer, exhibiting gentle waves, but it does shelve steeply and can have stronger currents.

5. Gladstone

The regional capital deserves a detailed exploration, particularly for its balance of the unbridled natural beauty of the barrier reef alongside extensive heavy industry.

The state’s most significant multi-commodity shipping port is situated here, recognized as the world’s fourth-largest coal export terminal.

While that may sound formidable, this industry operates away from the picturesque marina of Gladstone, obscured by the verdant expanse of Spinnaker Park.

Moreover, a fascinating regional art museum, an engaging maritime museum, and numerous vantage points for observing the islands of the Southern Great Barrier Reef and potential sightings of humpback whales during their season are available.

Gladstone serves as the passageway to Heron Island, a crucial nesting site for green and loggerhead turtles and one of the premier ecotourism venues of the Great Barrier Reef.

6. Wild Cattle Island National Park

Merely a couple of kilometers from Tannum Sands, Wild Cattle Island National Park feels incredibly secluded.

Though it is in close proximity, the island is separated from the town by a creek, necessitating a crossing at low tide via 4WD or on foot, or by boat/kayak when the waters are higher.

The park’s allure lies in its extensive sandy beach that nearly spans the entire length of the island.

Visitors should exercise caution as this area is vital for nesting loggerhead, flatback, and green turtles, with dugongs grazing just offshore.

Additionally, it is advisable to bring binoculars to observe Sooty Oystercatchers and Beach Stone-curlews that frequent the area from March to October.

7. Boyne Tannum Turtleway Artscape

The award-winning Turtleway is a biking route spanning the Boyne River, interlinking the main attractions of Tannum Sands and Boyne Island, such as Canoe Point, the Millennium Esplanade, and recreational areas at Dennis Park and Boyne Smelters.

Additionally, an art trail has been established along the route, offering opportunities to appreciate beautiful mosaics, statuary, and interactive art.

8. Lilley’s Beach

This environmentally sensitive coastal stretch on Boyne Island is managed by the island’s extensive aluminium smelter and the Gladstone Regional Council.

To access the unspoiled 7.1-kilometer Lilley’s Beach, an online permit is required, and access is only allowed via Four Wheel Drive between low and high tide.

Visitors will find their efforts rewarded upon arriving at this tranquil location, bordered by rainforest and fragile dune systems, which features vulnerable seagrass meadows within its intertidal zones.

Campsites are available for those wishing to stay overnight at the northern end.

9. Lake Awoonga

This 6,750-hectare reservoir, located near Tannum Sands, serves as the main water supply for the entire Gladstone Region while also offering a popular venue for fishing, boating, and observing nature.

Lake Awoonga is situated on the Boyne River and was dammed in the mid-1980s.

The reservoir is home to an abundant array of wildlife, featuring over 220 bird species and vulnerable mammals such as the yellow-bellied glider and grey-headed flying fox.

The reservoir is stocked annually with 200,000 fish, including barramundi, sea mullet, and mangrove jack, but if fishing is not appealing, boat rentals are available to simply relax and enjoy the serene surroundings.

Two campsites and walking trails are accessible along the shore, and swimming is permitted.

10. Tondoon Botanic Gardens

Halfway toward Gladstone from Tannum Sands, you will discover a verdant display of the plant species found in the Gladstone Region and throughout Queensland.

Over an expanse of more than 80 hectares, visitors can traverse through dry rainforest and gardens featuring subtropical as well as tropical species native to the northern state.

Walking paths guide you through the meticulously landscaped slopes of Mount Biondello, pulling away from Lake Tondoon, which served as Gladstone’s primary water source until Lake Awoonga was constructed.

Additionally, Gladstone’s sister city, the Japanese port of Saiki, is honored with a tranquil Japanese tea garden centered around a pond-side pavilion.

11. Ocean Breeze Gallery

A venue to experience the artistic talent within the Gladstone Region, Ocean Breeze Gallery is a community gallery that remains free to enter and is managed by volunteers.

Currently a permanent establishment, and open Thursday through Sunday, the gallery initially served as a pop-up at the Beach Arts Music Markets.

This space is dedicated to artists showcasing and selling their work, encompassing a variety of mediums including painting, watercolors, sculpture, jewelry, textiles, ceramics, and glasswork.

The range of exhibited works is constantly evolving, and there are always workshops or events for those interested in participating.

12. Calliope River Historical Village

At this open-air museum, visitors can journey back to the early days of the Gladstone Region, examining structures that date back to the first half of the 20th century.

These buildings have been systematically relocated here since the early 1980s and contain a wealth of artifacts that illustrate daily life and the evolution of the railway.

Prominent features include the Raglan Memorial Hall, established in 1932, and the Yarwum Railway Station, which serves as the village’s kiosk and ticket office.

Another stunning piece of railway history is a wooden Queensland Rail wagon from the 1940s, accompanied by two historic camp wagons.

Keep informed about the village’s calendar of events, as regular markets attract vendors from as far as the Gold Coast.

13. Cedar Galleries

Located off the Bruce Highway, just west of Tannum Sands, Cedar Galleries is a versatile attraction featuring several arts and crafts galleries.

Visitors can explore works by regional artists and artisans or participate in learning opportunities across a vast array of disciplines, ranging from stenciling to sculpture.

Cedar Galleries is home to around 30 alpacas; children will delight in the opportunity to interact with and feed them.

Stay informed of the schedule, as the annual alpaca shearing day is always a fun family event.

14. Boyne Smelters

With an annual production capacity exceeding 540,000 tonnes, Boyne Island is home to the second-largest aluminium smelter in Australia, employing nearly 1,000 people in the region.

Owned by Rio Tinto Alcan and a consortium of Japanese manufacturing companies, the substantial facility was initially completed in the early 1980s, with subsequent expansions through 2002. Guided tours are available through the Smelter Visitor Centre; however, visitor information may need to be confirmed in advance as of the latest updates.

15. Boyne Tannum HookUp

The largest family fishing competition in Australia occurs annually around Boyne Island on the first weekend of May.

This informal, enjoyable event aims to unite families, friends, and coworkers.

The Boyne Tannum HookUp features an extensive list of categories, from catching and releasing tagged barramundi in Lake Awoonga, to a treasure hunt at Gladstone Harbour, where participants solve clues and riddles to identify tagged fish species.

With a prize pool exceeding $230,000, various rewarding distributions are organized based on fish species and competitor age.