Camps

General information

Little Friarbird © V. Jones

Birds Queensland also runs a number of camps during the year, mainly at rural locations requiring over-night camping, bunkhouses, caravans or like accommodation. This is particularly necessary since they tend to be located some hours of driving distance from Brisbane and often with fairly "rustic" living conditions. If required, Camp leaders should be contacted to determine whether part of the planned activities could be attended by other members prepared to do the necessary night or early morning driving to attend.

To cover the costs of running camps, and to finance the occasional gift to those who invite us to use their properties for camps, all members attending each camp are asked to donate a fee of $2 per camp. This is run on an honour system where we rely on people to place their $2 in the donation box. Thank you for supporting this scheme.

The details of some of the camps listed are yet to be confirmed, and additional camps may be added as the year progresses, so keep checking here each month. If the details of the meeting place, etc. given are insufficient, please call the Leader for more precise directions. It is important to notify the leader to confirm your attendance, prior to the camp. We encourage car-pooling wherever possible.

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Beach Stone-curlew © J. Sneddon

June 7–10 Camp. Cooroora, Tewantin, Sunshine Coast

Leaders: Raymond and Denise Downham. Telephone: 3325 4769

BQ ran a very successful Christmas camp here on the northern banks of Lake McDonald, near Cooroy in December 2010. We thought we would revisit this site at a different time of the year. The scout camp site covers an area of 3.3 ha, which is mainly grassed with trees bordering all boundaries including the lake itself. A large ‘A framed’ building, “Kookaburra Lodge’ is located near the northern side of the site which contains male and female toilets and showers. Adjacent to this is a partly enclosed kitchen and dining area. The kitchen has one large 5 burner gas stove, refrigerators and a BBQ. Two long dining tables that can seat 50 people under cover complete this area. The camp is surrounded by natural vegetation, including state forests and forest reserves. It is a pleasant walk to Noosa Shire Botanic Gardens on the western shore of Lake McDonald.

Directions: Travel north via the Bruce Highway, turn off at the Cooroy exit. Cross over the Railway line in Cooroy and turn into Diamond St (Service Station on corner). This then leads into Tewantin Road and then into Cooroy-Noosa Rd. Follow this road for approximately 6 kms until you cross over Six Mile Creek. Turn left into Sivyers Rd, which turns into Gumboil Rd, which in turn changes into Collwood Rd. There should be a blue sign “Scout Camp and Fish Hatchery’ after turning into Sivyers Rd. At the end of the sealed road and when you reach the last kilometre of good dirt track, there will be a large water storage tank on both sides of the road. Make a sharp turn left into the campsite where the sign says ‘Scout Camp’ after travelling a kilometre along the dirt track.

Camp fees: The site is suitable for caravans, camper vans, camper trailers and all forms of tents, there is no ‘cabin’ style accommodation available (nearest will be Tewantin and Cooroy). Costs are from $12 per person for caravans, camper trailers and camper vans to $7 per person for tents. There is an additional charge of $1 per person for those camping in tents who make use of the kitchen facilities, making this $8 per person.

Bookings can be made on (07) 54425285 or . PLEASE indicate that you are with Birds Queensland.

July 12-14 - Mapleton

Leader: Anne Braithwaite, Telephone: 5444 2791, Email: braith6@bigpond.com

We are staying at Lilyponds Holiday Park. They have the usual choices of powered, unpowered sites, cabins etc. and also a very affordable Lodge with bunk rooms attached to the totally indoor camp kitchen. There are no toilet facilities in this building so use of the amenity block is necessary. This is a small caravan park, so early booking is advised - they know we are coming so please identify yourselves as BQ - they have some unpowered sites reserved for us. Saturday birding will be from the Mapleton Day Use Area off Delicia Road, but probably home for lunch, and a variety of options for the rest of the weekend. Please bring your own firewood.

Directions: Sunshine Coast UBD 54/G8 Take Steve Irwin Way exit off Bruce Highway. Rt on Maleny-Montville Rd to Mapleton. Straight ahead in Mapleton on Post Office Rd, then left at Warruga Rd (do not go down the hill or you will be in Nambour!)

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July 19-21 - Next Springbrook visit.

More information to follow

August 12-23 - Diamantina Expedition 2013

Our expedition to the Diamantina National Park takes place in August, with our first survey on Monday 12 August and the last on Friday 23 August. Participants who have confirmed their intention to come have received a birdlist for the park, and a list of probable surveys. If you indicated that you were likely to come, but have not confirmed this with Margaret Cameron by responding to the questionnaire and paying our first fee, please contact her at once; mcameron01@optusnet.com.au 3282 9151.

If you have not already told Margaret that you want to come but have now decided to do so, please advise Margaret at once. We cancelled our trip last year because it was so wet; this year there is a drought so the Park tracks should be trafficable, maybe there will be fewer birds, but many will be concentrated on remaining water sources.

August 23-25 - Kilkivan Bush Camping, Rossmore Park, Rossmore Rd, Kilkivan West Of Gympie in The South Burnett Region

Leaders: Anne Nichols 0409 644 122 Patricia Falcongreen 07 38562163

This tranquil camp site is nestled on the banks of Fat Hen Creek and makes an ideal camp site.

More information to follow.

Future Camps

For any queries please phone Denise and Raymond Downham 3325 4769.

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