National Park Odyssey

Sunset over the dry lake-bed of Lake Murphy.

We decided to camp at Lake Murphy, even though the lake has been dry for about three years. We turned off the Leichhardt Highway onto the Taroom Bahinia Downs Road and pulled over on the side of the road to make an online booking before loosing phone reception. National Parks Queensland has been phasing out self-registration, even in remote locations, and we weren't sure if we would be able to pay on arrival. A truck coming the other way pulled up and told us not to drive up the road because the corrugations were a foot deep but when we told them we were going to turn off to Lake Murphy they said that would be fine. I love country people they are always so helpful.

We enjoyed our stay at Lake Murphy but flies were a pest during the heat of the day and it was surprisingly cold during the night.

Lake Murphy Camping Area.

Lake Murphy Day Use Area at sunset.

Lake Murphy Circuit: Grade 4 walk.
The track runs along the southern side of the lake past Red Gums and Dawson Palms before running alongside Robinson Creek and returning to the campground. Both Robinson Creek and Lake Murphy are completely dry.

The walk goes past Dawson Palms and Red Gums.

I particularly liked these magnificent gum trees that had a "tessellated" bark at the base.

Apostlebird

There were still lots of birds about including a number of Whistling Kites.

Whistling Kite

A large echidna crossed the path in front of us and hid in the long grass with its head buried in a small log. There were lots of kangaroos and wallabies grazing in the long grass.

Echidnas make sure only there spines are visible when they "hide".

Details for Lake Murphy Conservation Park:
Where: 495 km north-west of Brisbane via Miles.Turn off the Leichhardt Highway 18 km north of Taroom, onto the road signposted Fitzroy Development Road, (north onto Taroom Bahinia Downs Rd) travel 2 km to the Glenhaughton Road turnoff. Turn left and drive 10.5 km to the Lake Murphy.
Access: The last 10.5 km is unsealed and has some corrugations. Suitable for most rigs in dry weather.
Campsites: Grassy area with defined sites. See photo. Suitable for tents and all rigs.
Bookings and Fees: Self-registration is available and is the easiest or book online before arrival. Normal QLD National Park fees: $6.30 pp.
Facilities: Compost toilets, fire rings BYO wood, tables. There is one tap with non-potable water for washing hands at the toilet block but it is better to BYO water. Walk. Day Use Area with picnic tables, a picnic shelter and wood BBQ's. No phone reception.
Prohibited: Pets. Generators. No boating or fishing when there is water.
Of Interest: The lake has been dry only a few times over the last hundred years. Unfortunately it is completely dry now and has been for about 3 years. There were lots of flies.

Wildlife List: Echidna, Eastern Grey Kangaroo, Red-necked Wallaby, Bearded Dragon.
Bird list: Apostlebird, Grey-crowned Babbler, Whistling Kite, Nankeen Kestrel, Pacific Bazza, Grey Butcherbird, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Little Corella, Galah, Peaceful Dove, Red-backed Fairy-wren, Little Friarbird, Blue-faced Honeyeater, White-plumed Honeyeater, Black-chinned Honeyeater, Laughing Kookaburra, Rainbow Lorikeet, Scaly-breasted Lorikeet, Australian Magpie, Magpie-lark, Noisy Miner, Red-winged Parrot, Red-rumped parrot, Crested Pigeon, Pale-headed Rosella, Rainbow Bee-eater, Grey Shrike-thrush, Willie Wagtail, White-breasted Woodswallow. Emus were seen alongside the entrance road.

Lake Broadwater

Truth be told, we were keen to camp here due to the hot showers which were very welcome after so many days on the road! We were also looking forward to camping on grass after the severe drought conditions we had been encountering. Unfortunately, it was very dry here as well and the grass was a shadow of its former self. At least the lake was full and we found it very soothing to gaze out over the water.

Tent camping at Lake Broadwater.

We enjoyed a leisurely stroll from this campground to the Wilga Bush Camping Area and back; approximately 4 km.

Walking track to Wilga Camping Area

We got quite a shock when we were confronted by a Landcruiser driving towards us on the walking track. We could see a couple of dogs in the back on the open tray. We stepped aside, and as it passed us, we clearly saw the dogs standing next to a huge dead feral pig. Previously, we have enjoyed seeing lots of reptiles on this walk but this time, although we saw lots of goanna tracks, we didn't see any wildlife other than birds. Perhaps not surprising given that we had seen the pig hunter and his dogs.

Galahs

Little Corellas

Red-rumped Parrots: male (left), female (right)

Black Swans on the lake.

Black-fronted Dotterel and White-headed Stilt.

We checked out the bird hide but although we did see a few more shore birds on this trip compared to our last trip there still weren't a lot of birds to see from the hide.

Bird hide at Lake Broadwater.

Eastern Grey Kangaroos near the bird hide.

I also wrote a blog about Lake Broadwater in May 2017.

Details for Lake Broadwater Recreation Area Campground in Lake Broadwater Conservation Park, QLD:

Where: 30 km south-west of Dalby. Off Broadwater Road.

Facilities: Two amenities blocks with flush toilets (one with hot showers, one with cold showers), bins, tank water, variable limited phone reception, TV reception, gas BBQ’s, fireplaces, picnic shelters and tables. Children's playground. Boat ramp.

Campsites: Suitable for tents and all rig types. Large campground. Grassy areas with some trees. No defined sites. No power.

Fees: $6.20 per adult, self-register, no bookings. Maximum stay 21 nights. Caretaker comes round every evening and checks payments.

Prohibited: Pets. Collecting firewood.

Wildlife: Common Brushtail Possum, Eastern Grey Kangaroo, Feral cats. As well as the dead feral pig.
Bird List: Apostlebird, Grey-crowned Babbler, White-bellied Sea-eagle, Whistling Kite, White-winged Chough, Cockatiel, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Little Corella, Galah, Pied Currawong, Torresian Crow, Australian Wood Duck, Grey Teal, Peaceful Dove, Superb Fairy-wren, Little Friarbird, White-faced Heron, Blue-faced Honeyeater, Australian White Ibis, Laughing Kookaburra, Rainbow Lorikeet, Australian Magpie, Magpie Lark, Masked Lapwing, Noisy Miner, Common Myna, Striated Pardalote, Australian King Parrot, Red-winged Parrot, Red-rumped Parrot, Australian Pelican, Easter Yellow Robin, Pale-headed Rosella, Rainbow Bee-eater, Eurasian Coot, Black Swan, White-headed Stilt, Black-fronted Dotterel, Weebill, Willie Wagtail.

Jimbour Homestead

Truth be told, we hummed and hawed about visiting Jimbour Station. We love the great outdoors, bush walking and wildlife but our interest in history is more incidental than passionate. Fortunately, we decided to stop by on our way from Lake Broadwater Conservation Park to Bunya Mountains National Park, as we really enjoyed our visit.

Water Tower built in the 1870's.

There is a huge parking area suitable for all rig types which is perfect for travelers. Entry is $3 per person and this includes an excellent brochure for self-guided exploration of the grounds.

Chapel built in 1868.

Jacaranda Avenue, glorious even when not in flower.

Summer House seen from the shade of enormous fig trees.

We especially liked the Millicent Russel Kitchen Garden and so did a host of butterflies. Meadow Argus fluttered about, the lavender was alive with Cabbage Whites and the leek flower heads proved irresistible to hordes of Lesser Wanderers.

Millicent Russell Kitchen Garden.

Lesser Wanderer Danaus chrysippus on a leek flower.

We were impressed with the number of birds that we encountered on our stroll about the grounds: Red-rumped Parrots, Red-winged Parrots, Pale-headed Rosellas, Grey-headed Babblers, Crested Pigeons and Common Starlings.

Grey-crowned Babbler.

Even the back of Jimbour Homestead is stunning and the Blue Stone house impressed.

Deborah Russell Garden at the back of Jimbour Homestead.

Blue Stone building built in 1868.

There had been very dry weather prior to our visit but the grounds were quite green, perhaps due to the large water tower on the grounds. We didn't encounter anyone on our visit but special mention needs to be made of the gardeners as they clearly do a magnificent job.

Water tower overlooking the airfield.

Details for Jimbour Station:
Where: 238 km north-west of Brisbane. 30 km north of Dalby.
Access: Sealed roads suitable for all rigs. Huge parking area.
Open: 7 days a week during daylight hours.
Fees: $3 per person.
Walk: Easy, suitable for strollers. Allow a couple of hours to look around.
Contact: www.jimbour.com 07 4663 6108
Facilities: Modern toilet block in the back corner. You can picnic in the grounds but there are no tables. Brochures at the entry.
Camping: It appears that there may be camping allowed here during special events such as "Opera at Jimbour".

Burtons Well Camping Area. Our tent is in front of a huge Grass Tree.

It's no secret, we love the Burtons Well Camping Area at Bunya Mountains National Park. We have camped there many times and are particularly keen to camp there when the Grass Trees are in flower. Flowering time varies but it usually occurs sometime around September. The nectar attracts a wide variety of wildlife, from possums through to butterflies. Just be aware that the Burtons Well Camping Area is restricted to tents.

Booking tags are provided but there is no self-registration.

Wood pile, donkey shower with shower cubicles and toilet block.

There are hybrid toilets and a Donkey Shower in the campground and a dedicated disability campsite.

Disability campsite.

One of the things we love about Burtons Well is the awesome sunrises. There are also excellent sunrise and sunset views from the nearby Mt Kiangarow walk.

Sunrise view from our tent.

We got our timing right this trip and the Grass Trees were in flower which makes for some relaxing campground photography.

Satin Bowerbirds

Macleay's Swallowtail

Paradise Riflebirds

The male Paradise Riflebird kept his distance.

Eastern Spinebill and Crimson Rosella

Wildlife: Northern Brown Bandicoot, Eastern Grey Kangaroo, Red-legged Pademelon, Red-necked Pademelon, Pretty Face (Whiptail) Wallaby, Swamp Wallaby.
Butterflies: Purple Moonbeam, Large Grass Yellow, Macleay's Swallowtail.
Bird List: Satin Bowerbird, Regent Bowerbird, Australian Brush Turkey, Green Catbird, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Pied Currawong, Torresian Crow, Brown Cuckoo-Dove, Superb Fairy-wren, Frey Fantail, Rufous Fantail, Brown Gerygone, Lewin's Honeyeater, Scarlet Honeyeater, Laughing Kookaburra, Southern Boobook, Spotted Pardalote, Australian King Parrot, Topknot Pigeon, Wonga Pigeon, Paradise Riflebird, Eastern Yellow Robin, Crimson Rosella, White-browed Scrubwren, Yellow-throated Scrubwren, Grey Shrike-thrush, Eastern Spinebill, Brown Thornbill, Buff-rumped Thornbill, Bassian Thrush, Eastern Whipbird, Golden Whistler, Willie Wagtail.

Details for Burtons Well Camping Area:
Where: About 250 km north-west of Brisbane. Very steep access roads. Entry from Kumbia signed not suitable for caravans. Entry from Maidenwell signed not suitable for caravans. (I haven't driven in from the south so I'm unaware of the road conditions from that direction but please note access below). 4.2 km north-west of the information centre at Dandabah Camping Area.
Access: 2WD. Sealed roads. Steep roads into the Bunya Mountains. Please note that the Department of Transport and Main Roads advises that "all access roads are unsuitable for long and/or heavy vehicles".
Sites: 1 disability campsite. Large open grassy area for up to 30 people. Tents only. Vehicles in car park separated from tent area by bollards.
Bookings and Fees: Normal National Parks Queensland fees, $6.30 pp at time of writing. Maximum stay 14 nights. Book online or by phone 13 74 68.
Facilities: Hybrid toilets, tables, wood BBQs, wood pile, donkey shower (BYO bucket to take water to shower cubicle), 2 shower cubicles with canvas shower bags, taps (non-potable). We had Telstra phone reception at the campground but not throughout the park. Walks. No bins.
Prohibitions: No pets. No generators. Don't collect wood from the park. No camping in the car park.
Caution: Check regularly for ticks. Tent only campground. No long and/or heavy vehicle access to the Bunya Mountains.
What's Special: Large Grass Trees. Lots of birds and wallabies.
Other Campgrounds in Bunya Mountain National Park: Dandabah: suitable for any rig that can drive into the mountains ie. not long and/or large. Westcott: tent only.

View from the summit of Mt Kiangarow.

Our favourite short walk at Bunya Mountains National Park is the Mt Kiangarow Track. At only 2.3 km return it is well worth doing at any time of day. It is also one of those special places that has great light at both sunrise and sunset.

Scarlet Honeyeater on the Mt Kiangarow Track

The Grass Trees were in flower.

Barker Creek Circuit: 10 km circuit from Dandabah Car Park and Picnic Area.

As we were camping At Burton's Well Campground we drove to Dandabah early in the morning and parked at the picnic area. There is always plenty of wildlife around the picnic area and it is a delightful place to spend some time. Facilities include tables, toilets, information boards and a cafe. The Bunya Bunya Circuit 500 m Class 3, the Scenic Circuit 4 km Class 3 and the Barker Creek Circuit 10 km Class 3, can all be accessed from the Dandabah car park.

Some Dandabah Picnic Area Wildlife:

Male and Female Australian King Parrot.

Guardian of the walking track entry.

This Superb Fairy-wren landed on the window ledge of our car.

Satin Bowerbird, male.

The walk takes a pleasant path through cool, lush rainforest with a bracken understory.

Barker Creek Circuit.

We walked in a clockwise direction to Paradise Falls. The falls were barely flowing due to the dry weather. It is also possible to do a much shorter walk to the falls from the Paradise car park on Bunya Mountains Road.

We saw a Bassian Thrush and Rufous Fantails beside the track. Topknot Pigeons were feeding high in the tree canopy.

Bassian Thrush

Rufous Fantail

Topknot Pigeon

A native King Orchid caught the sun in a dark patch of rainforest.

King Orchid

As we made our way along Barker Creek we kept our eye out for the huge tadpoles of the Great Barred-frog.

Great Barred-frog tadpole in Barker Creek.

Little Falls was also a shadow of its usual self due to the prolonged dry weather.

Little Falls

We choose to extend the walk by going to Barker Creek Lookout via the informative Tree Identification Walk. The track emerges from the shade of the rainforest into the open and passes across balds. At Big Falls Lookout there were no falls to be seen.

Big Falls appears to have dried up.

While the lookout isn't particularly stunning the tree identification signage is excellent and made the extra walking worth while.

Barker Creek Lookout.

We returned to the main Barker Creek Circuit and continued on in a clockwise direction through a section of eucalypt forest before reentering the rainforest and returning to the Dandabah Picnic Area.

On our way from Bunya Mountains National Park to Jimna State Forest we stopped off at a couple of places of interest.

Coomba Falls

Coomba Falls

Coomba Falls is 2 km east of Maidenwell along Coomba Waterhole Road. The road drops steeply and is signposted not suitable for caravans. There are bins at the car park but unfortunately there are no picnic tables or toilets. There is a constructed stairway down to the waterhole.

Looking back up the stairs.

The waterfall was not running when we were there due to prolonged dry weather but the waterhole was still worth the visit.

Coomba Waterhole

It is possible to camp in Maidenwell at either the Maidenwell Hotel or the Maidenwell Recreation Ground. We have not, as yet, camped at either place but they both have reputations as being excellent places to camp. Caravaners find Maidenwell a handy place to leave their vans while they explore Coomba Falls and Bunya Mountains National Park.

Harland Park

Harland Park

Harland Park is 6 km east of Yarraman on the D'Aguilar Highway. Free, overnight camping is allowed here. It is a large grassy area between the highway and Cooyar Creek. There is a picnic shelter but no toilets. There is access to the Rail Trail from here.

"These waters have been stocked by local funds and support from the Queensland Government Fish Stocking Programme"

Cooyar Creek at Harland Park

Peach Trees Camping Area is a large grassy campground frequented by Eastern Grey Kangaroos.

Peach Trees Camping ARea

Eastern Grey Kangaroos relax around the campground.

Blue-faced Honeyeaters turn up quickly when they notice you preparing food. They can get quite vocal as they beg for food but it is best to ignore them. We went for a walk in the early evening and saw lots of bandicoots and pademelons near the creek.

Juvenile Blue-faced Honeyeater on the lookout for food.

Over the years we have seen quite a few changes at Peach Trees. The latest addition is a specifically designed wheelchair access campsite near the far amenities block.

Wheelchair Access Disability Campsite.

I have often wondered why the campground was named "Peach Trees". On this trip we saw several trees in blossom so I guess that explains it.

Peach Tree blossoms?

Entry to the suspension bridge over Yabba Creek at Peach Trees Camping Area.

Details for Peach Trees Camping Area, Jimna, QLD:
Where: about 142 km north-west of Brisbane. About 43 km north of Kilcoy. The directions on Google Maps are incorrect. From Kilcoy-Murgon Road take the sign posted turnoff between School Road and the Jimna Fire Tower.
Access: The last 3 km is unsealed. There is a concrete causeway, just before the campground, that can flood in wet weather.
Campground: Large grassy area suitable for tent camping beside your vehicle and all rigs. 1 designated wheelchair accessible campsite.
Bookings and Fees: National Parks Queensland provides limited WiFi at the campground which can be used to make bookings and to check the weather etc. It would be best to pre-book at busy times. Book online https://qpws.usedirect.com/qpws/ or by phone 13 74 68 Standard National Parks QLD fees. We paid $6.30 pp.
Facilities: There are three amenities blocks with flush toilets. Taps with non-potable water throughout the campground. Fire rings (BYO wood). Walks. QldParks-Wifi. We did not have Telstra phone reception. We have heard that there is some Optus reception but can't confirm. The Day Use Area has been removed and there are no longer any tables in the campground (with the exception of one disability access table which is in the designated wheelchair access campsite).
Prohibitions: No pets. No generators.

Wildlife List:
Lace Monitors, Eastern Grey Kangaroos, Pademelons, Bandicoots, Antechinus, Freshwater Turtles, Platypus, Micro Bats.
Butterflies: Scarlet Jezebel, Glasswing, Monarch, Orchard Swallowtail.
Bird List: Grey Goshawk, Satin Bowerbird, Regent Bowerbird, Australian Brush Turkey, Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Little Pied Cormorant, Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike, Pied Currawong, Torresian Crow, Australian Wood Duck, Brown Cuckoo-Dove, Superb Fairy-wren, Grey Fantail, Rufous Fantail, Red-browed Finch, Noisy Friarbird, White-necked Heron, Blue-faced Honeyeater, Lewin's Honeyeater, New Holland Honeyeater, Laughing Kookaburra, Rainbow Lorikeet, Australian Magpie, Magpie-lark, Bell Miner, Noisy Miner, Australian King Parrot, Paradise Riflebird, Eastern-Yellow Robin, Pale-headed Rosella, White-browed Scrubwren, Little Shrike-thrush, Grey Shrike-thrush, Welcome Swallow, Brown Thornbill, Russet-tailed Thrush, Varied Triller, White-throated Treecreeper, Brown Quail, Eastern Whipbird, Golden Mangrove, Willie Wagtail, Dusky Woodswallow. Heard: Green Catbird, Southern Boobook, Tawny Frogmouth.

Three walks leave from Peach Trees Camping Area.

Yabba Creek Circuit, 730 m, grade 2 walk:
This is a popular walk with families and nature lovers. As we made our way towards the suspension bridge on the Yabba Creek Circuit, a man carrying a camera with a very large lens overtook us and raced to get to the walk first. He told us that he was intent on getting a photo of an Eastern Whipbird and apparently he didn't want us ahead of him disturbing the birds! After a while he stopped on the path and was intently taking photos so we stopped a few meters back and waited for him to achieve his goal. While waiting, I spotted a male Regent Bowerbird and we managed to get some photos.

Regent Bowerbird, male.

After a while, the birder came back to us and told us that he had been taking close up photos of an Eastern Yellow Robin sitting on it's nest. We were horrified because birds are easily stressed and have been known to abandon their nests if they feel uncomfortable. Of course we have learnt these things over time. If you are interested in learning more, Birdlife Australia has published an Ethical Birding Guidelines PDF that is helpful. It turns out that the birder didn't manage to get a photo of an Eastern Whipbird. After the incredulous look he gave us when we told him we had been taking photos of a Regent Bowerbird we didn't have the heart to tell him that we had in fact managed to get a couple of photos of an Eastern Whipbird as well.

Not the greatest photo of an Eastern Whipbird but relevant to the story.

We often encounter goannas sunning themselves on the path.

Lace Monitor (goanna)

Turtles and Little Pied Cormorant on Yabba Creek.

We have, in the past, viewed platypus in Yabba Creek from different places on the path. We didn't miss out altogether on this trip though because we saw them while walking the Eugenia Circuit.

Araucaria Circuit, 3.5 km, grade 3 walk.
An extension of the Yabba Creek Circuit which I have written about previously.

Eugenia Circuit, 2.4 km, grade 3 walk.
The first part of this walk climbs gradually to a lookout before descending again to the creek. The second half of the walk is mostly flat. We have walked this circuit many times over the years and there is always something interesting to see. This time, the highlight was seeing several active platypus moving about Yabba Creek.

I certainly wish I had the eyesight of this Grey Goshawk when viewing wildlife.

Grey Goshawk

I attached a full list of wildlife that we saw on this visit to the blog Peach Trees Camping Area.

Stony Creek Day Use Area, Bellthorpe National Park,

The last place we visited on our Blackdown Tablelands roadtrip was Bellthorpe National Park. There is no camping available but the Stony Creek Day Use Area is well worth the drive in for a picnic. We walked the short distance to the waterhole where we saw a Keelback snake and a Saw-shelled turtle swimming about. Due to the light rain we hadn't taken our zoom lens to the waterhole so we ran back to get the lens but were too late for a photo of the keelback.

Natural swiming hole in Bellthorpe National Park

We saw some Yellow-faced Honeyeaters and a White-eared Monarch; a bird that usually alludes us.

White-eared Monarch

The weather deteriorated quite quickly so we were only able to stay a short time before we decided it would be prudent to leave as the wind was really picking up. We didn't get far before the road was blocked by a small fallen tree. With a bit of work we were able to remove it from the road and continue on our way.

Details for Stony Creek Day Use Area, Bellthorpe National Park:
Where: D'Aguilar Hwy, turn into Stony Creek Road approximately 5 km east of Woodford, turn into Fletcher Creek Road. Follow the signs to Stony Creek Day Use Area.
Access: 2WD access. Last couple of kilometers unsealed road.
Facilities: picnic tables, toilets, wood BBQ's (BYO wood).
Prohibited: No Camping. No pets.
Activities: Swimming. 4 wheel driving. Picnics. Cycling. Horse riding. Short walk to natural swimming hole.

Queen Mary Falls.

The Queen Mary Falls section of Main Range National Park is on Spring Creek Road between Boonah and Killarney. Camping is not allowed in this section of Main Range National Park but there is a privately run Caravan Park and Cafe across the road from the Queen Mary Falls Day Use Area. The Day Use Area is quite large with several separate areas, however, the car park can be full on Sundays.

Queen Mary Falls Day Use Area.

We saw a Satin Bowerbird guarding his bower between the road and the Day Use Area.

We haven't seen fresh grass growing in a bower before.

Due to the bird-feeding activities across the road at the Caravan Park Cafe there are usually lots of Australian King Parrots and Crimson Rosellas about.

The walks leave from the Day Use Area.
Cliff Circuit, Class 2, 400 m return:
This is an easy short walk but doesn't have great views of the falls. However, about half of the circuit is also part of the Queen Mary Falls Circuit and I feel, that if you prefer short walks or are in a hurry, you would find it more rewarding to walk to the Lookout on the Queen Mary Falls Circuit and return the same way.

Queen Mary Falls Circuit, Class 3, 2 km return:
Although this walk descends to the base of the falls before climbing again to the Day Use Area we found the walk easier than we expected. The track meanders alongside Spring Creek before the creek plunges over the falls. There is an easy crossing over Spring Creek by a foot bridge and it is only a short distance to the lookout which has excellent views of the falls.

Crossing Spring Creek to get to the lookout is easy.

The lookout on the Queen Mary Falls Circuit.

Queen Mary Falls viewed from the Lookout.

We continued on and descended to the base of the falls. There was a rainbow at the base of the falls and excellent views back up to the lookout.

There were lots of Eastern Water Dragons on the rocks at the base of the falls.

Eastern Water Dragon

The circuit continues on, zig zagging to the Day Use Area via a few steps.
The descent and ascent to the Day Use Area was surprisingly good for bird watching considering how many people pass through every day.

Spotted Pardalote

Black-faced Monarch

Details for Queen Mary Falls Section of Main Range National Park, QLD:
Access: South-west of Brisbane. Choice 1: The scenic route is 64 km south-west of Boona via Carneys Creek Road and Spring Creek Road. This route is very steep and unsuitable for caravans or trucks over 3 tonnes. Choice 2: the Day Use Area can be reached via Warwick and Killarney. Choice 3: Take Freestone Road off the Cunningham Highway and drive via Yangan and Emu Vale.
Caution: Sheer cliffs. Supervise children closely.

Queen Mary Falls Day Use Area:
Where: Opposite the Queen Mary Falls Caravan Park and Cafe on Spring Creek Road.
Facilities: Drop toilets, tables, picnic shelter, wood BBQ's (BYO wood) and free electric BBQ's, walks, information sign. No bins.
Prohibited: Pets. Camping. Collecting wood from the park.
Note: Gets very busy on Sundays. At the time of our visit in October 2017 the toilets were in the most disgusting condition of any toilet we have ever seen!

Bird List: Satin Bowerbird, Grey Butcherbird, Pied Butcherbird, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Galah, Fan-tailed Cuckoo, Pied Currawong, Australian Wood Duck, Superb Fairy-wren, Grey Fantail, Red-browed Finch, Leaden Flycatcher, Fairy Gerygone, Blue-faced Honeyeater, Lewin's Honeyeater, Laughing Kookaburra, Rainbow Lorikeet, Australian Magpie, Noisy Miner, Black-faced Monarch, Spotted Pardalote, Australian King Parrot, Pheasant Coucal, Wonga Pigeon, Eastern Yellow Robin, Eastern Rosella, Crimson Rosella, White-browed Scrubwren, Eastern Spinebill, Welcome Swallow, Brown Thornbill, Red-browed Treecreeper, White-throated Treecreeper, Eastern Whipbird. Heard: Bell Miners along Spring Creek Road.

Queen Mary Falls

After weeks of very dry weather it was finally raining and we thought it would be a great time to see a few waterfalls. On this road trip we chose to drive to Queen Mary Falls via the scenic route from Boonah along Carney's Creek Road and Spring Creek Road. This route is not suitable for caravans or heavy vehicles.

The small town of Boonah was looking great as the Jacaranda trees were in full bloom. There is an excellent Information Centre in Bicentennial Park on the Boonah-Fassifern Road. Free overnight camping is permitted in the car park for self-contained motor homes and caravans.

If you are self-contained you can stay the night in the Boonah Information Centre Car Park.

Our first stop on the scenic route was Teviot Falls. These are intermittent falls best viewed after heavy rain. However, it's worth stopping anytime for the view.

Teviot Falls

View from Teviot Falls Lookout.

Our second stop was Carr's Lookout where there is a constructed walkway and lookout with an expansive view out over the surrounding countryside. Spring Creek Cafe and Cottages is also located here.

Carr's Lookout

View from Carr's Lookout

We continued on to Queen Mary Falls. There is a Day Use Area in the national park and the Queen Mary Falls Caravan Park and Cafe is across the road. Bird feeding is a popular activity in front of the Cafe.

Queen Mary Falls Day Use Area

Queen Mary Falls Cafe and Caravan Park Office.

It is only a short walk to the lookout overlooking Queen Mary Falls.

Queen Mary Falls from the Lookout.

Continuing the scenic drive towards Killarney; Daggs Falls is the next stop. Here there is a constructed lookout and a sheltered picnic table but no toilets. Dogs are allowed.

Dagg's Falls Lookout.

Dagg's Falls

Browns Falls Park is only a further 1.2 km along Spring Creek Road. Here there are toilets, picnic tables and a children's playground. It is only a short walk of 600 m to Brown's Falls from here, however, the track is unformed and it is necessary to cross the creek three times so this walk is not for everybody. No sooner had we set out under the tunnels than it started to thunder and rain so we made the decision to retreat back to the car.

This is an excellent day trip. Choose between returning the way you came, cutting across to Cunningham's Gap or doing a circuit through Koreela, White Swamp Road and Carney's Creek Road. We choose to head into northern New South Wales.

Queen Mary Falls Caravan Park and Cafe

The Queen Mary Falls Caravan Park is conveniently located opposite the Queen Mary Falls section of Main Range National Park. There is an excellent Day Use Area in the national park but no camping is allowed.

There is a cafe at the front of the caravan park which also serves as the office for checking in. We received a friendly greeting and were made to feel welcome. There are powered and unpowered sections available as well as a few cabins. We chose to camp in the unpowered section and we had the area to ourselves.

A couple of the cabins at Queen Mary Falls Caravan Park

Camping in the unpowered section.

Feeding native birds with seed purchased at the cafe is a popular activity. As a result, there are lots of birds in the campground. As soon as we pulled up to our site Australian King Parrots came to visit us.

The King Parrots arrived before we had a chance to get out of the car.

As we have a low impact philosophy regarding nature we don't feed wildlife but it was pleasant to sit in the campground observing various birds grazing in the grass. Crimson Rosellas and Eastern Rosellas were a colourful sight.

Eastern Rosella, Galahs, Crimson Rosella and a Wonga Pigeon.

There is a camp kitchen with a large barbecue and a wood stove for keeping warm on cold nights. It was surprisingly cool at night when we were there in late October. The amenities block is old but importantly there was plenty of hot water for a shower. If you like bush style caravan parks then you will be happy here but if you like resort style caravan parks then this caravan park may not appeal to you. We were perfectly happy to have a place to camp next to a national park with flushing toilets and hot showers.

The camp kitchen.

While we were there, we were lucky to witness the farmer next door muster a large herd of cattle. It was great to see the dogs and horses working together.

Mustering on Spring Creek Road.

Details for Queen Mary Falls Caravan Park:
Where: 150 km south-west of Brisbane.11 km east of Killarney.
Address: 676 Spring Creek Road, Killarney, QLD, 4373.
Contact: 07 4664 7151 www.queenmaryfallscaravanpark.com.au
Fees: We paid $25 per night, unpowered.
Facilities: Amenities block with flush toilets and hot showers. Bins. Fire rings (BYO or purchase wood from cafe). Camp Kitchen with sink, tables, oven, microwave, BBQ,wood stove, kettle, toaster but no cutlery, plates or cooking equipment. Laundry.
Sites: The powered area has tiered (flat) sites for caravans, trailers and motor homes. The unpowered area is an open grass area with some shade trees.
Cafe: There is a popular cafe at the entrance which also serves as the caravan park office. Gas refills. Ice.
Of Note: Bird feeding in front of the cafe. Dogs are allowed, please check first. Conveniently located opposite the Queen Mary Falls Day Use Area and walks.

Koreelah Creek Campground

We drove to Koreelah National Park via Mount Lindsay Road and turned north into White Swamp Road.

The sealed and unsealed sections of White Swamp Road.

Despite encountering a fair bit of rain and some thunder storms, including some pea sized hail, we really enjoyed camping at Koreelah Creek Camping Area. It is a very well maintained park and we saw the ranger every day. Although this campground can get busy on weekends and holidays it was very peaceful while we were there. Most of the camp sites are perched above the creek, however, most don't have a view of the water. Nevertheless, we loved listening to the murmuring of the water as it flowed by.

Our campsite got a little wet but our trusty tent survived the hail.

The Gorge Walking Track (800 m return, Grade 2) starts in the campground, meanders alongside the creek, past a day use area and finishes at a small waterfall that flows into Koreelah Gorge.

Koreelah Falls

Koreelah Gorge

There were a lot of large Bandicoot holes throughout the campground so we were hopeful that we would be able to identify which Bandicoot was responsible but to our surprise we didn't manage to see any at all. The rain seemed to have stirred up the frogs though and there appeared to be thousands croaking in the night. At least they proved a little easier to find than the Bandicoots.

Stony Creek Frogs Litoria wilcoxii

These fungi were thriving in the wet conditions.

We went for a night walk and didn't see any animals until, as often seems to be the way, we returned to our campsite and there was a Common Brushtail Possum checking out our site while we were away.

Common Brushtail Possum

Of course it fined up the morning we were leaving. We were glad the sun came out though because we saw a group of Cunningham's Skinks sunning themselves on some rocks. They are very large skinks, a bit smaller than Land Mullets, so you would think they would be easy to photograph but they quickly retreat into rock crevices if they notice you and it can be quite a challenge to catch them unawares. With a fair bit of stealth and patience we were finally able to get some photos of them.

Cunningham's Skink

We saw quite a few butterflies about and a good variety of birds in the campground.

Female Orchard Swallowtail Papilio aegeus, and Brown Ringlet Hypocysta metirius.

Crimson Rosalla

Scarlet Honeyeater and Dusky Woodswallow.

Details for Koreelah Creek Campground:
Where: In NSW just over the QLD/NSW border. About 2 hours south-west of Brisbane. 37 km north-west of Woodenbong.
Access: 12 km north of Koreelah including a 3 km section of dirt road.
Sites: Grass and dirt sites suitable for: tent camping beside your vehicle, camper trailers and caravans. Unpowered.
Facilities: Drop toilets, fire places (BYO wood), tables. No taps or drinking water.
Prohibited: Pets, generators, smoking.
Fees and Bookings: Self-register at information sign. No bookings. No vehicle entry fee. Camping $6 per adult, $3.50 per child.
Caution: Ticks. Near the falls it is slippery and there is a sudden drop off.

Wildlife List: Cunningham's Skink, Lace Monitor, Red-necked Wallaby, lots of bandicoot holes. Stony Creek Frogs.
Bird List: Whistling Kite, Satin Bowerbird, Grey Butcherbird, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Little Cormorant, White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike, Pied Currawong, Torresian Crow, Australian Wood Duck, Spangled Drongo, Superb Fairy-wren, Variegated Fairy-wren, Red-backed Fairy-wren, Grey Fantail, Rufous Fantail, Red-browed Finch, Leaden Flycatcher, White-faced Heron, Yellow-faced Honeyeater, White-naped Honeyeater, Scarlet Honeyeater, Jacky Winter, Sacred Kingfisher, Laughing Kookaburra, Australian Magpie, Noisy Miner, Black-faced Monarch, Australian King Parrot, Eastern Rosella, Crimson Rosella, Little Shrike-thrush, Grey Shrike-thrush, Welcome Swallow, Brown Thornbill, White-throated Treecreeper, Eastern Whipbird, Rufous Whistler, Willie Wagtail, Dusky Woodswallow. Heard Pheasant Coucal.

Harding's Paddock Picnic Area

Harding's Paddock Picnic Area and Harding's Paddock Campground form part of the Flinders - Goolman Conservation Estate and are managed by the City of Ipswich. The picnic area is a huge grassy area containing a lagoon and several sheltered picnic tables with electric BBQ's.

One of several picnic shelters.

The campground is gated and you will receive a code for the gate when you make your booking. There are eight sites, each with a parking area big enough for a caravan or motorhome and a picnic table with a grassy area at the back for tents. This design may not be suitable for some camper trailers. Fires aren't permitted at the camp sites but there is a large communal fire ring between the campground and the camp kitchen. There is also an adjoining horse holding yard so although this is usually a quiet campground it can become very busy if a group activity is booked in.

Example of an individual site: parking area in the front and a table and tent area at the back.

There is a central grassy area behind the sites for tents.

In a separate area, there is a large camp kitchen, toilets, fire ring and shower cubicles (BYO shower bag).

Camp Kitchen with toilet block in the background.

Several walks of varying difficulty leave from the picnic area. Flinder's Plum Picnic Area is about 18 km away (by car) and also has some walking trails in the conservation estate.

Details for Harding's Paddock Campground:
Where: About 55 km south-west of Brisbane or 40 km north of Boonah. The picnic and camping areas are at the end of Carmichaels Road (not Ellison Road as stated by Google Maps).
Access: Carmichaels Road is a 2WD unsealed road with some pot holes.
Sites: 8 individual numbered sites. Suitable for tents, caravans and motorhomes.
Bookings and Fees: https://www.discoveripswich.com.au/accommodation/hardings-paddock-campground/ or phone 07 3281 0555 $12 per site per night.
Facilities: Gated campground. Tables in each campsite. Communal Camp Kitchen (with water, sink, tables and BBQ's), fire ring (BYO wood), toilets, shower cubicles (BYO Bag). Horse Yard with water. Walks.
Prohibited: Pets. Fires at camp sites. Collecting wood.
Caution: The Ipswich area can become very hot and there isn't much shade in the campground.

Wreck Rock.

Wreck Rock Camping Area

We really enjoyed camping at Wreck Rock. The sites are protected from the wind and nicely separated. It is only a short walk to Wreck Rock Beach.

Wreck Rock Camping Area.

Access to Wreck Rock Beach.

Wreck Rock Beach

Details for Wreck Rock Campground:
Where: 114 km, 1 hour 36 minutes, north of Bundaberg.
Access: 2WD access from the south or high clearance 4WD access from Agnes Water in the north. The campground itself requires some clearance in one short section (i.e. I wouldn't take my Mazda 3) There was water over the causeway and some water over the road when we went there in November 2017.
Fees & Booking: Standard National Parks QLD fees. $6.35 per adult per night. Must book before arrival https://qpws.usedirect.com/qpws/ or by phone 13 74 68 no phone reception at the campground.
Sites: Suitable for vehicle based camping, tents and campertrailers. Listed as "not suitable for caravans" on the website (no room to maneuver) 14 defined, hard sand sites. Most sites have a table and fire place. Behind fore dunes with no view of the beach.
Facilities: Male and female composting toilets. Outdoor cold shower. Also one tap with non-potable bore water in the campground. Tables. Fire places (BYO wood). Short walk to the beach and Wreck Rock.
Prohibited: Pets, collecting wood, chainsaws, beach driving.
Fun Fact: Ocean turtles nest along the beach from October to April. Turtles emerge from the nests from January.

Middle Rock Camping Area

There was no one camping at Middle Rock when we were there, however, a few 4WD enthusiasts passed by from time to time. Although we like remote and quiet camping areas we did prefer Wreck Rock as there is no water and no toilets at Middle Rock and it is a longer walk to the beach.

Entry to Middle Rock Camping Area

A site at Middle Rock Camping Area

The beach is a fair distance from the campground.

The beach in front of the camping area at Middle Rock.

Details for Middle Rock Camping Area:
Where: 14 km south of Agnes Water. 3 km north of Wreck Rock Camping Area.
Access: High clearance 4WD.
Fees & Booking: Standard National Parks QLD fees. $6.35 per adult per night. Must book before arrival https://qpws.usedirect.com/qpws/ or by phone 13 74 68 no phone reception at the campground.
Sites: High clearance camper trailers and 4WD vehicle based tent camping behind fore dunes in sites defined on the information map.
Facilities: Fire rings and tables. There are no toilets and no water. Longer walk to the beach than Wreck Rock Camping Area.
Prohibited: Pets, chainsaws, driving on beach.

Deepwater National Park

Deepwater National Park protects the catchment of Deepwater Creek and adjoins a strip of beach favoured by four different types of nesting ocean turtles. A variety of lowland flora from swamp paperbarks, gum trees and cabbage tree palms to coastal flora dominated by Pandanus and She Oaks, supports a great range of wildlife in the area.

There are two campgrounds that I covered in the previous blog and a picnic area in the national park.

Wreck Rock Picnic Area

Walking:
There are no designated walks so we made up our own circuit by walking from Wreck Rock to Middle Rock via the 4WD Road and then descending to the beach and walking back to Wreck Rock. All in all, this is about 6 km and isn't too difficult if you time your walk along the beach with low tide. The highlight of our walk was spotting where two turtles had emerged from the surf and made their way to the dunes to lay their eggs. One of the turtles appeared to have tried three times before finally finding a suitable spot where the dunes weren't too steep. She must have been absolutely exhausted after that herculean effort. Loggerhead, Flatback Green and Leatherback Turtles lay their eggs along this stretch of beach between October and April. The hatchlings emerge from January.

This photo is taken into the sun but you can still see where a turtle has done a u-turn when confronted by a steep dune.

After the third attempt this turtle lay her eggs but she appears to have been too exhausted to fully fill the sand back over her nest.

We also enjoyed exploring Wreck Rock which looks like it was tossed onto the beach and toppled sideways millennia ago. There are usually rock pools to explore as well but on this trip they had been filled with sand; no doubt they will reappear again.

Wreck Rock

Close up of Wreck Rock.

Wildlife:
As previously mentioned turtles frequent the beach at Deepwater National Park. Queensland Turtle Conservation Project volunteers camp at Wreck Rock Camping Area during the nesting and hatching season to record the turtle activity.

Native Sand Goannas frequent the campground and dune areas. Goannas love eggs, as do non-native foxes. Unfortunately, we saw fox footprints in the dunes. Another introduced pest that is prevalent is Cane Toads. Crabs frequent the beach, running in and out of the surf.

Sand Monitor

Crabs and Blue Bottle Jellyfish.

The ladies toilet at Wreck Rock Campground seemed to be a haven for gravid female wildlife. A large Huntsmen spider had taken up residence there, as had a large Bar-sided Skink.

Huntsmen Spider Holconia immanis .

Bar-sided Skink

We noticed that the local variant of Garden Orb Spider was the white stripe form.

Garden Orb Spider, Eriophora transmarina

Macropods are easy to spot in Deepwater National Park. We saw Eastern Grey Kangaroos, Whiptail Wallabies and Black-striped Wallabies.

Eastern Grey Kangaroo at Wreck Rock Camping Area.

The main butterflies we saw were Lemon Migrants, Evening Browns and Tailed Emperors.

Tailed Emperor and Lemon Migrant.

Queenslands largest cockroach Macro-panesthia is found in Deepwater National Park. Although we didn't see any large ones we did see the cream rimmed Barred Cockroach Cosmozosteria subzonata but it was too fast for us to get a photo.

Due to the varied landscape there is a great variety of birds in Deepwater National Park. It is quite common to see Emus, although we dipped out on this trip. A friendly ranger informed us that he saw two Brolgas in November as well. We were happy to see two Sooty Oystercatchers and four Wandering Tattlers on the rocks at Middle Rock Beach.

Rose-crowned Fruit-Dove

A young Rose-crowned Fruit-Dove, before it develops the pink cap.

Dusky Honeyeater

Fairy Gerygone

Wonga Pigeons at Wreck Rock Camping Area

Is Deepwater National Park under threat?

At present, the only way to traverse the full length of Deepwater National Park is by a sandy 4WD track. Accessing Wreck Rock Camping Area from the south is by 2WD but the section between Wreck Rock Camping Area and Middle Rock Campground is categorized as easy 4WD and the section to the north of Middle Rock is harder 4WD. Recently the Gladstone Council decided to upgrade the full length of the road from Agnes Water to the southern end of Deepwater National Park. The upgrade to a sealed road won't simply improve access to the National Park itself. The road will provide a direct route from Agnes Water to Bundaberg, significantly increasing through traffic, which raises concerns about the impact on wildlife. There is a wider concern here as well that needs to be considered. National Parks often protect the last remnants of a natural landscape and they will increasingly come under threat in a world with growing demands for such things as transport corridors. Further information can be found on the Facebook page Save Deepwater NP

Wildlife seen by us in November 2017: Eastern Grey Kangaroo, Black striped Wallaby, Whiptail Wallaby, Flying Fox, Bar-sided Skink, Rainbow Skink, Sand Monitor, Cane toad. Huntsmen Spider Holconia immanis, Garden Orb Spider Eriophora transmarina. We saw the tracks and nests of two ocean turtles between Wreck and Middle Rocks. We also saw the tracks of a Fox.
Butterflies: Lemon Migrant, Tailed Emperor, Evening Brown.
Birdlist: Australian Brush Turkey, Cicadabird, Pied Cormorant, Torresian Crow, Bar-shouldered Dove, Leaden Flycatcher, Rose-crowned Fruit-Dove, Fairy Gerygone, Lewin's Honeyeater, Dusky Honeyeater, Laughing Kookaburra, Pheasant Coucal, Wonga Pigeon, Common Bronzewing, Grey Shrike-thrush, Little Shrike-thrush, Silver Gull, Sooty Oystercatcher, Varied Triller, Wandering Tattler.

Workman's Camp Ground

Workman's Camp Ground
While visiting the Agnes Water and Seventeen Seventy area we camped at Workman's Camp Ground on Springs Road. We managed to find a nicely shaded spot.

Our set-up at Workman's Camp Ground.

The campground is clean and well cared for by the friendly and helpful caretakers. Technically, the facilities are in a park adjoining the campground. While trying to spot the Frogmouth family that lives in the park we noticed a goanna surveying the world from above.

Amenities and picnic tables in the park next to the campground.

Interesting bracket fungi in the park.

Goanna

There were lots of Wall Skinks in our campsite.

Wall Skink Cryptoblepharus virgatus

Both Workman's and Chinaman's Beach Picnic Area can be accessed on foot from the campground. It is also only a short walk via the Discovery Trail to the Information Centre, Library and Museum. I will cover the walks in Agnes Water in the next blog.

Workman's Beach:
You can't see Workman's Beach from the campground but it is only a short walk to this lovely secluded beach. The beach is unpatrolled but here are plenty of rocks to explore on the southern end of the beach.

Workman's Beach

Southern end of Workman's Beach

Chinaman's Beach Picnic Area:
A walk of about 700 m leads from the campground to Chinaman's Beach Picnic Area and a lookout. I imagine that the lookout would be excellent for whale watching in the winter. A different branch of the walk can be taken to overlook Chinaman's Beach.

Lookout at Chinaman's Beach Picnic Area.

Chinaman's Beach

Details for Workman's Camp Ground:
Where: Springs Road, Agnes Water, QLD.
Access: Suitable for all rig types.
Sites: 38 clearly defined and numbered sites. The size of the sites varies, some are big enough for big rigs some are quite small.
Fees & Bookings: No bookings. Arrive at anytime and simply set up in a vacant site. Vacate by 2 pm. $9.20 per person per night, $25 for a family of 2 adults and 2 children under 17 yrs. Fees are collected daily by caretakers who give receipts. Camping is allowed for up to 42 nights however we have heard that this time limit may be reduced in the future.
Facilities: Bins. In the adjoining park there is 1 amenities block with 3 toilets (1 with disability access), 1 outdoor beach style cold shower, tables and free electric BBQ's.
Permitted: Dogs on leash. Low noise generators from 7 am to 7 pm.
Prohibited: No vehicle access to beach. Fires. Noise after 10 pm. Can't leave site unoccupied for more than 2 days.
Caution: Swimming in the ocean is not advised from November to April due to the presence of marine stingers. Check the patrolled area on Agnes Water Beach for swimming details.

Agnes Water Main Beach.

Agnes Water Main Beach:
Agnes Water Main Beach is accessed from the parking area off Agnes Street in Tom Jeffery Memorial Park Road. There are good facilities here and the beach is patrolled. Signs warn that swimming is not advised from November to April due to marine stingers. Times vary so check the Surf Lifesaving advisory boards before entering the water. Agnes Water Beach Holidays Caravan Park is conveniently located next to Tom Jeffery Park on Jeffery Court and has cabin frontage to the beach.

Agnes Water Information Centre
Located on Springs Road next to the Library and Museum. The staff were very helpful and we picked up some brochures for the local area. You can also book tours from here for a boat trip to Lady Musgrave Island or a trip on the highly acclaimed "Larc" to Bustard Bay.

Discovery Trail
This walking trail can be accessed from the large car park behind the Information Centre and Museum on Springs Road. The trail can also be accessed from the park next to Workman's Camp Ground. Although the trail is signposted there doesn't appear to be an actual map and I haven't been able to find any details for how long the walk is. Perhaps that's why it's called the Discovery Trail. Regardless it is an enjoyable walk of about 40 minutes. Side by side, there is both a natural lookout and a man-made lookout with scenic views.

Man-made Lookout

Natural Lookout

View from the lookout to the north: Agnes Beach.

View from the lookout to the south: Workman's Beach

We saw quite a few Bordered Rustic Butterflies and Joseph's Coat Moths along the trail.

Joseph's Coat Moth

The reptilian world was represented by Lace Monitors, an Eastern Striped Skink and several Rainbow Skinks.

Rainbow Skink

Paperbark Forest Board Walk:
This interesting 400 m walk can be found in Reedy Creek Reserve, Springs Road. Dogs are prohibited. As the trail passes through a paperbark swamp it is essential to spray yourself for mosquitoes and/or wear protective clothing. Don't be deterred though as this is quite a fascinating walk into an environment that is usually hard to access. Two sections of the trail involve walking across water via concrete filled pipes.

Trailhead for the Paperbark Forest Board Walk.

Where only the brave shall venture.

Red Rock Trail:
The entry to the Red Rock Trail and Springs Beach is opposite the entry to Reedy Creek Reserve. The 800 m road into the car park is unsealed and quite rough. The trail is 3 km one way and has a time guideline of 2.5 hrs. There is a convenient map of the trail at the start of the beach access down to Springs Beach.

Springs Beach

We walked south along the beach to the trailhead for the Red Rock Trail. We saw several Whiptail Wallabies grazing on the edge of the beach. Sea turtles lay their eggs at Springs Beach.

Whiptail (Pretty Face) Wallaby.

At the trailhead there are signs stating this is a Turtle Conservation Area and prohibiting dogs. We climbed up a few stone steps to the headland where views to the south opened up. It was drizzling when we started the walk but we hoped any rain would be light and pushed on for a while.

Pandanus along the headland.

Rain setting in.

Unfortunately, persistent rain set in and we were unable to complete the walk. We were happy to briefly see an Olive-backed Sunbird alongside Springs Beach as we returned to the car.

Wildlife we saw in Agnes Water:
Butterflies & Moths: Bordered Rustic, Evening Brown, Common Crow, Joseph's Coat Moth.
Reptiles: Rainbow Skink, Wall Skink, Eastern Strip Skink, Lace Monitor, Sand Goanna.
Macropods: Whiptail Wallaby.

1770 Beach

Seventeen Seventy is a beautiful place with wonderful walks and beaches. As soon as we had set up our tent at Workman's Beach Camp Area in Agnes Water we drove to 1770 headland. There is a large car park with parking on the side for long vehicles. Large parts of the peninsular are protected by the Joseph Banks Conservation Park.

We saw a surprising amount of birds in the vicinity of the main car park. There were lots of Welcome Swallows darting about but our favourite sightings were of a male Sunbird and a Pheasant Coucal.

Olive-backed Sunbird.

Pheasant Coucal, male.

Countess Russell's Anchor

Countess Russell's Anchor, Joseph Banks Conservation Park.

1770 Headland Walk
There are two lookouts on this short walk. Wave Lookout is on the eastern side of the headland.

View south from Wave Lookout.

Bustard Bay Lookout is on the tip of the headland and the views are spectacular.

Bustard Bay Lookout

View of Bustard Head and Bustard Bay

Beach Access Walk
From the car park there is also a beach access walk where we saw families fishing on the rocky shore.

Access to the beach and the Round Hill Creek Walking Trail

Round Hill Creek Walking Trail (1770 Butterfly Walk), 1.2 km one way.
The northern entry to this walk can be found part way down the beach access walk. From here the walk follows the western edge of the peninsula down to the Captain Cook Monument in the Town of 1770.

Part way along the walk there is a short detour to the water's edge.

Looking north.

Looking south.

During autumn and winter the walk is transformed into the Butterfly Walk due to large migrations of butterflies; including the Blue Tiger from March to June. Even in our summertime visit we spotted a few Caper Gulls and Glasswings.

Glasswing

There are a few steps just before arriving at the James Cook Memorial and the end of the walk.

Captain James Cook Memorial Cairn.

1770 Camping Ground and Endeavour Park
Just south of the memorial cairn is the 1770 Camping Ground which, as it turns out, is more of a caravan park than a campground. This caravan park has an excellent location right on the beach.

1770 Camping Ground

Beach in front of Endeavour Park and 1770 Camping Ground.

Endeavour Park is a lovely park with a playground, amenities, picnic tables, electric barbeques and a walking track.

Endeavour Park

1770
The town of 1770 has restaurants and holiday accommodation overlooking yet another stunning stretch of beach. The park has a playground, picnic tables, barbeques and a charming boardwalk.

Beach at 1770

Playground at 1770

1770 Marina and Boat Ramp.
Tours to Lady Musgrave Island and the "Larc" tour to Bustard Bay leave from the marina. There is an excellent boat ramp next door.

Boat Ramp at 1770

SES Grounds
We had heard from a National Parks Ranger that there were "birds" nesting in the ground at the local SES facility. We discovered that the birds were Rainbow Bee-eaters and they were nesting in a large area. The area was fenced off so as to protect the nests but we could see these colourful birds constantly flying in and out of the ground. We saw a couple of their nesting holes outside the fenced in area as well. We have seen Rainbow Bee-eaters nesting in sandy banks before but this is the first time we have seen them nesting in the ground on mass. We were aware that these birds do nest in this way but it was still a thrill to actually witness it.

Rainbow Bee-eater at the SES Grounds

Rainbow Bee-eater nesting burrows

There were a few other birds wandering around the grounds as well.

Bar-shouldered Dove and Wonga Pigeon

Gardner's Falls

Gardner's Falls is worth a visit any time of the year and is a popular nature based swimming area in the summer. From the car park there is a pleasant walk alongside Obi Obi Creek for about 700 m passing a series of small cascades. Several picnic tables are placed on the shady side of the walk.

Cascades along Obi Obi Creek

We're always on the lookout for any wildlife and despite the busy time of year we weren't disappointed.

Juvenile Eastern Water Dragon and Scarlet Percher.

We saw quite a few Spangled Drongos and watched them chase away a Pacific Baza.

Pacific Baza

Details for Gardner's Falls:
Where: Obi Lane South, off the Lansborough-Maleny Road.
Access: Obi Lane South is a narrow strip of bituman and there is no turning area for caravans in the car park.
Facilities: Car park, bush toilets, picnic tables. BYO drinking water. Free. No camping.
What's Special: Popular nature based swimming.
Caution: There are no lifeguards.

Lake Murphy Conservation Park, QLD.

Lake Broadwater Conservation Park, QLD.

Jimbour Station, Jimbour QLD.

Burtons Well Camping Area, Bunya Mountains National Park, QLD.

Mt Kiangarow Track and Barker Creek Circuit, Bunya Mountains National Park, QLD.

Coomba Waterhole, Maidenwell and Harland Park, near Yarraman, QLD.

Peach Trees Camping Area, Jimna State Forest, QLD.

Walks and Wildlife at Peach Trees Camping Area, Jimna State Forest, QLD.

Bellthorpe National Park, QLD.

Queen Mary Falls Section of Main Range National Park, QLD.

Spring Creek Road Scenic Drive, Boonah to Killarney, QLD.

Queen Mary Falls Caravan Park, QLD.

Koreelah National Park, NSW.

Harding's Paddock, QLD.

Wreck Rock Campground and Middle Rock Campground, Deepwater National Park, QLD.

Wreck Rock Camping Area

Middle Rock Camping Area

Deepwater National Park, QLD.

Workman's Camp Ground, Agnes Water, QLD.

Agnes Water, Queensland.

Seventeen Seventy, QLD.

Gardner's Falls, Maleny, QLD.