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.

Inskip Point Campout – 12-14 February

Leader: Mike West- Phone 3876 4844

Our ninth consecutive summer camp at "the best square kilometre birding spot" or "bloodsucker’s paradise" or “BBBQ heaven”. Inskip’s iconic birds, the Black-breasted Button-quails and the Beach Stone-curlews are the tamest imaginable and have always shown, along with the Plumed Frogmouth. Other regulars include Fairy Gerygone, White-eared Monarch, Pale Yellow Robin, Superb Fruit-dove, Brush Bronzewing,
Ground Parrot, and King Quail.

Beach Stone-curlew © J. Sneddon

Camping on Inskip’s sand costs $4.85 per night and includes all options from caravans, camper trailers, campervans and tents. Payment can be made at Naturally Queensland in Ann Street Brisbane, QPW Rainbow Beach along the way, phone bookings at 131304 or online at www.qld.gov.au/camping. The last two options take credit card only. You cannot book a certain site so it is pot luck when you get there. Toilets are the only facility so bring your own water and showers. Some birdos spend a few more days there, so it is best to get in early. Travel around 3 hours north from Brisbane via Gympie and Rainbow Beach. Follow the signs to Inskip Point. We hope to camp at SARAWAK campground, clearly marked on the right, but look for BQ signs. If you reach a roundabout where the bitumen ends, you have gone too far. Beware of sand traps in the camping areas for 2WD but it should be ok with care. There are plenty of people around if you do get stuck, don’t be shy to ask for help. Bring swimming togs (it will be hot), insect repellent (there will be midges and mosquitoes) sunscreen, telescopes, torches and water.

A variety of accommodation is available at Rainbow Beach and Carlo Point, about 12 kms before Inskip. The area is popular with backpackers, so enquire before you book.

Friday night trip to the Plumed Frogmouth 8 p.m., Saturday all day trip, 9 a.m. start from Inskip.

Ring Mike if you want to carpool or other info. No need to let him know that you are coming.

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Tweed Coast / Fingal Point Camp – 5-7 March

Leader : Margaret Clark Ph 38781896 With help of Laurel Allsop.

Camping will be at the Fingal Holiday Park. This is a popular destination weekends, so early bookings will be essential.

There are cabins from $85 per night that sleep 5, powered sites for $28 or unpowered tent sites for $18 per night. When booking tent sites, book under the name Birds Qld to ensure we are in the same area in the field across Letitia Road. A deposit of $20 for the boom gate and $10 for the amenities keys are required. A fire along Letitia Spit has charred the area but Laurel Allsop and the Tweed Birdwatchers visited there recently and reported 49 species including 2 Beach Stone-curlews.

Directions: Pacific Highway south from Tweed Heads. After crossing the Barney's Point Bridge, take the Chinderah/Fingal/Kingscliff exit. At the roundabout, take the Fingal exit onto Fingal Rd. Continue for approx 2kms. At store, turn left onto Main Rd. Continue along Main Rd past the school, street name changes to Prince Street. Fingal Holiday Park is on the left. GPS Lat: 28° 11' 49" S, Lon: 153° 33' 59" E

Bookings and information: Wayne and Narelle McGregor, Prince Street, Fingal.
Web site: www.tchp.com.au Ph 07 55242208

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Future Camps 2010.

Details of these camps are yet to be finalized. For more details contact Margaret Clark (phone 3878 1896) or see the Birds Queensland Newsletter or this website in the 2-3 months before each camp.

April 2-5 (Easter): St Lawrence.

April 30-May 3 (Labor Day Weekend): Border Ranges

June 11-14 (Queen’s Birthday Weekend): Lake Broadwater

July 16-18: Lake Cootharaba area

August 20-22: Springbrook NP (includes working bee at Aila Keto's property)

September 10-13: Venue to be announced

October 8-10: Kalbar (Barry Jahnke’s property)

November 5-7 or 12-14: Mt Barney

December 3-5: Venue to be announced

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