Camps

2019

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.

[top of page]

Beach Stone-curlew © J. Sneddon

April 19-22: (UPDATED 15 APRIL 2019) Easter Camp and Birds Queensland 50th Anniversary Celebration Camp

Organisers: Janette Thurley, John Walton and Anne Nicholls Mobile: 0419 839 503 Email:

The first Birds Queensland (Queensland Ornithological Society) camp was an Easter Camp held with the Chinchilla Field Nats in the Miles-Condamine area in 1970. As part of the Birds Queensland 50th anniversary celebrations we are planning the 2019 Easter Camp at Possum Park just outside Miles. The property "Rockwood" where the first camp was held is now part of the Origin gas fields, and Origin have advised us that we cannot access the property. We will drive through the area and pull up outside the locked gates.

Possum Park (http://www.possumpark.com.au) is 20km north-west of Miles. Phone/Fax Julie and David Hinds on (07) 46271651. There may still be very limited accommodation however some may still be available in Miles.

Please email to inform us that you are coming.

The Easter Weekend Camp Program is below.

Birds Queensland Easter Camp Program – 50th Anniversary Camp 2019

The program for the Easter Camp 2019 is set out below. As always, flexibility is necessary to adjust for any unforeseen weather or other influences. Start times are fixed but finish and intermediate times will be a bit hit and miss depending on what we see along the way. The Rifle Range Club House will be available for our use from 12 noon on Saturday.

Each evening there will be a happy hour starting at 5.30 (or sooner) followed by Bird Call at 6pm. Day trips to start at 7.30 am. All changes will be posted on a notice board in the BQ area.

Friday: (Any of the following)

1. 12.30 pm straight after lunch – historical drive to gates of Rockwood via Condamine: peer over locked gates of Rockwood, then drive to Wieambilla Creek abutting Rockford (this creek also runs through Rockwood) and then down to Caliguel Lagoon.
2. Drive to bridge just before Miles and take walk along Dogwood Creek to Chinaman’s Lagoon.
3. Alternatively take one of the walks listed for Monday.

Evening:
Happy Hour, Bird Call and BYO dinner plus recount of the history of Possum Park.

Saturday

Drive into Miles, Chinaman’s Lagoon, and Gill Weir (4k outside Miles). Morning tea in park on western side of Dogwood Creek (Toilets & off-road parking), then onto Chinchilla Rifle Range (arriving at noon or thereafter). If we arrive earlier than expected will take short drive to Old Man Lagoon. After lunch drive 3km to Aerodrome Road entrance to Rifle Range. Return to Camp via Greenswamp Road (lagoons along the way). Lunch will be at Rifle Range Club House after 12noon. Convoys will be split to reduce nuisance level for other road users and possibly alternate visits to Chinaman’s Lagoon and Gill Weir. Last group at Gill Weir may wish to have morning tea there.

Evening:
Happy Hour, Bird Call and BYO dinner.
Paul Marty will discuss his views on the gas industry in the area and open up for Q&A.

Sunday

One group does circuit drive through Gurulmundi State Forrest and farm land.
Second group does drive through Binkey State Forrest & edges of Barakula State Forrest.
(Groups swap to do alternate drives after lunch).

Evening:
Happy Hour, Bird Call and BYO dinner or shared Camp Oven dinners (depending on individual arrangements).
Esther Townsend will hold a quiz after dinner. We have arranged for the pit fire to be lit early for camp ovens to go in just before heading out for afternoon drive.

Monday (or at leisure):

1. Walk around property circuit track (3.5km)
2. Walk down back of property and along disused train line. (We saw Bustards down here)
3. Walk out back gate and down tree-lined dip in road overlooking grassland. (Saw variety of smaller birds and Bustards)
4. Walk (or drive) in opposite direction to c. 1km down road just before highway is series of ponds and wetlands (crownland). Saw range of birds here – a sit and wait spot early morning or later afternoon.

Final Bird Call TBA

[top of page]

May 4-6: Labour Day Amiens Camp

Organiser: Janette Thurley Mobile: 0419 839 503

The Stanthorpe Region is extremely dry now with many empty dams dotting the countryside. Aaron, a very enthusiastic bird photographer informed me about Foxbar Falls as one of his favourite spots. This is a working property called Harslett Farm with extensive bushland and some dams still holding water while the empty dams contain beautiful rock formations. On our recent visit, birds were present in high numbers and as we pulled up at the entrance, three turquoise parrots landed in a tree in full view while Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoos gathered in the pine forest across the road just meters from us as they tore into the pine cones.

The property has laundry, shower and toilet facilities, firewood for campfires (communal and on most individual sites), with strict limits on visitor numbers and campground capacity. There is a free wifi lounge, diverse walking trails, rubbish collection and potable water access for drinking.

I have reserved several powered and unpowered sites for BQ. Please book directly with the property indicating that you are with BQ and text or email me that you will be going. Cost is $10/person/night.

Foxbar Falls, 375 Goldfields Rd, Amiens Qld 4380. Tel: 0477369227
Email:
https://www.foxbarfalls.com.au

[top of page]

June 14-16: Border Range Camp

Organisers: Burney Starkey Mobile: 0490 955 682

This camp will be held at Sheepstation Creek National Park campground in the Border Ranges, northern NSW.

You are required to book online at https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/camping-and-accommodation/campgrounds/sheepstation-creek-campground.

Car permits required (not included in camping fee) and are purchased at campground.

Other accommodation possibilities: B&Bs (Ripples on the Creek, 602 Grady Ck Rd Grady Creek 0400331264 – fancy - looks the most expensive 21 km; Feathers Home Stay 1203 West Wiangaree Road, West Wiangaree 02 6636 2189 21km; and The Dollhouse Cottage 169 Horseshoe Ck Rd Horseshoe Ck 02 6633 1440 30km).

Other than those there is always more accommodation in Kyogle which maybe cheaper but that’s quite a drive – 40 km or so.

[top of page]

July 5-7: Sundown National Park Camp

Organisers: Neile Strode Mobile: 0435 392 578

Sundown National Park is situated about 300km to the south-west of Brisbane CBD. Stanthorpe is the nearest town.

More than 150 species of birds have been identified in Sundown, including the iconic Turquoise Parrot, and Red-capped and Hooded Robins. There are several walks we can do, including the Western Circuit, along Permanents Rd, and to the Permanent Waterhole. Also the area around the campsites is always worth exploring.

Facilities include small barbecues, pit toilets, bush showers with donkey heater (boil your own water), water at headquarters. Rubbish bins are not provided—remove all your rubbish. There are no powered sites. Open fires are permitted in QPWS barbecues only (except when fire bans or prohibitions apply). Fuel stoves are recommended. Bring your own cleaned, milled firewood if you want to use the barbecues.

What to bring: plenty of warm clothes for the cold nights, drinking water, insect repellent and firewood if possible (for hot showers from the donkey boiler, and BBQ fireplace). Nibbles to share for Happy Hour always welcome!

Directions: from Brisbane follow New England Highway 15 towards Stanthorpe. Go past the turnoff for Stanthorpe, stay on Highway 15, then turn left into Pancor Rd. At the T-junction turn right onto Texas Rd (that will take you back underneath Highway 15). Follow Texas Rd for approximately 62km then Glenlyon Dam Rd for approximately 14km. Turn left into Permanents Rd and follow gravel road for approximately 4km to the campsite. Conventional vehicles can access the campsite. Vehicles over 5 tonnes will be unable to traverse the bridge near the campsite.

We will be camping at The Broadwater camping area at the southern end of Sundown, adjacent to the Severn River. A group booking has been made for group campsite number 16, and I will collect campers’ fees during our stay. I’ll be camped nearby on campsite number 15 because my camper-trailer takes up quite a lot of space!

Campsite Bookings: Those wishing to camp at the large group site 16 must send the following details through to by 1st July: confirmation for the 5th & 6th , number of people and car rego. Fees will be paid to Neile at Sundown ($26 fee/person) on arrival. If you do not wish to stay at site 16 you will need to make your own bookings via National Parks at https://www.npsr.qld.gov.au/parks/sundown/camping

[top of page]

Future Camps

[top of page]