Tondoon Botanic Gardens
Expansive gardens, with a choice of many botanical walks, including wet and dry rainforest. Short walks take around 30 minutes. Clearings with picnic areas. Viewing platform, lakes. Kiosk/cafe over the man-made pond. A cycle lane and cycleway extend from the city the 8km south to the gardens. Don't forget insect repellent for the mosquitoes.
Gladstone is an industrial centre. Is has attractions for people who like to see views over heavy industrial landscapes. It has gardens and a pretty marina district. It also is surrounded by areas of natural beauty. Gladstone harbour is the largest natural harbour in Australia.
Marina Parklands
The corner of Gladstone Harbour where the marina is situated has been improved as a recreation area. There are gardens, playgounds, and a paved walking esplanade by the side of the water. There is also a coffee shop and a kiosk. This area has the ferries to the reef and Curtis Island, and the tourist information centre.
Auckland Point
The view gives an overview of the layout of Gladstone, from the sweeping harbour and harbour islands, to the heavy industry surrounding it. You can see all the way from Queensland Alumina, across the harbour to the coal and other ports, to the marina, and out to the power station, mountains, and islands. There is a cafe at the top, with mains around $10. The cafe is good value, but it is open erratically. The locally produced guidebooks say it is open from breakfast to 5pm, but only really count on it being open for lunch. A waterfall falls down the cliff front at Auckland Point, but like so much of central Gladstone, it is human engineered. This waterfall is lit up with green and white lighting after dark, and is an interesting place to go for a walk at night.
Queensland Alumina
Queensland Alumina is one of the largest Bauxite to Alumina processing refineries in the world. It unloads Bauxite from Weipa on a wharf adjacent to the refinery. The Alumina is sent by 10km conveyor south to the Boyne Smelter. There is a lookout on the road to the site, offering views over the refinery and an explanation of what goes on there. There are also free tours that run every Monday from the Tourist Information Centre at the marina. Bookings are essential, as tours only run with sufficient numbers.
Boyne Smelter
Free tours of the Boyne Aluminium Smelter run on Fridays at 9:30am, again leaving from the Visitor's Information Centre at the Marina.
Calliope River Historical Village