If there’s one way to sum up The Gold Nugget Truckstop in Gympie, it’s a good old fashioned roadhouse with old school values.
Located about two hours north of Brisbane, Gold Nugget was originally opened around 30 years ago. It was taken over by the local Madill family in 2007, with Ken Lavender at the helm as manager.
“It started out as a small family run petrol station and caravan park and has grown from there. The previous owner added a log style cabin for the restaurant, which pays homage to Gympie’s timber and forestry history. It’s a beautiful building,” said Lavender.
“It’s much loved by the truckies who travel up and down the Bruce Highway – known for its character and what it offers, including the food.”
The restaurant is open from 6am to 10pm every day of the year, closing only on Christmas day.
However there are food offerings available at the service station outside of those hours too.
The ‘B-double Breakfast’ is The Gold Nugget’s take on a big breakfast. In it, you’ll find everything from lamb chops, steak and sausages, to eggs, hash browns, bacon and grilled tomatoes.
For dinner, there are roast specials every night, served with a choice of veggies, chips and salad, or chips and eggs. The bread and butter puddings are a popular choice for dessert.
According to Lavender, the emphasis is on fresh.
“It’s old style roadhouse food, home cooked and always fresh. We only serve veggies from 5pm until they run out, so the freshness and quality is always there.”
Aside from the great food, expect clean toilets and showers, with shaving sinks and mirrors. There is also ample room to park up your rig and rest for the night.
“We can fit anywhere up to 20 trucks at the back if they’re parked neat and tidy. We get a lot of regular truck drivers who sleep here and utilise the facilities,” added Lavender.
“We get a lot of positive feedback from our truck drivers in regards to the quality of the food and what we put on the table.
As well as truckies coming in, we also now get a lot of fisherman, caravaners, travellers, as well as business clientele who are passing through too.”
The Gold Nugget Truckstop is located at 690 Bruce Highway, Gympie.