Camps

PLEASE READ THE INFORMATION ON CORONAVIRUS PRECAUTIONS ON THIS PAGE

2021

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

August 20th to 22nd - Goomburra Section Main Range National Park

Leader: Rob Kernot
Email:

Manna Gum Campground is on Forestry Reserve Road beside Dalrymple Creek in the Goomburra Section of Main Range National Park. This makes it part of the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area.

Directions:
After a recent inspection of Goomburra, Rob has reported that the road in is badly potholed. Cars without high clearance will have to proceed with caution.
From the New England Highway turn off the highway 3km south of Allora onto Inverramsay Road, follow Inverramsay Road, then Forestry Reserve Road east for about 35km to the park entrance.

From the Cunningham Highway turn off at Gladfield, 25km west of Cunninghams Gap or 13km east of the Cunningham and New England highway junction, and travel 8km to join Inverramsay Road, then follow Inverramsay Road, and Forestry Reserve Road to the park entrance.

Except in extreme conditions the campground is accessible by conventional vehicles. The open grassy camping area is suitable for everything from tents to caravans. Campsites are not separately defined. There are no powered sites. Composting toilets are the only facilities provided. Campsites must be booked through the Queensland National Parks camping website.

For those seeking more home comforts several privately run accommodation opportunities exist along Forestry Reserve Road.

Three walking tracks of Grade 3 and Grade 4 standard are accessible directly from the campsite.

These vary from 1.2km return to 6.5km return. Several other walking tracks can be reached via Lookout Road.

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September 11th to 12th - Karara

Leader: Lorraine Welsh
Phone: (07) 4667 4163 or

Recent rain means Coolmunda Dam is now full. This is one of the areas that may be visited during the camp at Karara. Another will be Durikai State Forest. Some of the specialties of the area are Black-chinned Honeyeaters, Yellow-tufted Honeyeaters, White-winged Fairy-wrens, Diamond Firetails, Turquoise Parrots, Bluebonnets, Squatter Pigeons and Southern Whitefaces.

Camping will be at Karara Sports Ground. There are powered sites, hot showers, flush toilets and a covered cooking area. There is also a hall where people may put their sleeping bags on the floor if they do not wish to camp. Camping fees are $8 per person per night – please pay Lorraine on arrival. All payments must be in cash. Anyone who wishes to stay in one of the rooms at the adjacent Karara Tavern and Motel should contact them direct on (07) 4667 4141.

Birding activities are planned for those who arrive on Friday.

Lorraine will be providing a group meal on Saturday night for $15 per person. Please confirm with Lorraine if you are interested in participating in a group meal. Again all payments must be cash.

Directions:
Access to the sports ground is between Canal Creek Bridge and railway line on the Toowoomba Road, follow the signs. From Warwick, travel the Cunningham Highway towards Inglewood for approximately 54 km. Turn right at the Toowoomba road at the Karara Hotel. After crossing the railway line proceed approximately 50 metres and turn right to the sports ground. From Toowoomba take Route 48 through Leyburn. After approximately 24 km turn left into the sports ground, before the railway crossing.

Please contact Lorraine Welsh on (07) 4667 4163 if you have any questions or require further information.

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Future Camps

The planned camps listed below will be held under the current easing of Covid-19 restrictions and may be subject to change should the situation alter. See the COVID-19 actions on our website.

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