Camps

PLEASE READ THE INFORMATION ON CORONAVIRUS PRECAUTIONS ON THIS PAGE

2022

   Sundown N.P. camp cancelled due to flooding
 

17th to 19th June 2022 - Storm King Dam and Girraween
1st to 3rd July 2022 - Russell Island
5th to 7th August - Canungra

Future Camps
Photos from Previous Camps

General information

Little Friarbird © V. Jones

Birds Queensland 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.

Campouts and Day Walks are intended to be enjoyable occasions for all BQ members. Belonging to BQ is a voluntary leisure activity where participants can observe birds to whatever degree of expertise they wish, relax and interact with like-minded fellow birdwatchers. Thank you to our members for contributing positively to this ethos.

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

20th to 22nd May - Sundown National Park - CANCELLED

Leader: John Walton
SMS: 0427 573 955 or

The park has been closed due to flooding and as a result the camp has been cancelled. Sundown National Park is a regular destination for Birds Queensland members. Camps have been held there on many occasions and individual or small groups of members conduct surveys based at the Rangers quarters.

To get there, first head for Stanthorpe. From Stanthorpe head for Texas. After about 64km towards Texas turn left into Glenlyon Dam Road. Continue on Glenlyon Dam Road for about 14km before turning left into Permanents Road. The National Park is about 4km along Permanents Road.

Group camp site 16 is on your right as you come to the Broadwater Campground.

The campground is accessible by conventional vehicles.

Birds Queensland has booked Group camp site 16 for Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights. It can accommodate up to 25 people. The National Parks camping fee of $6.85 per person per night will be payable in cash on the weekend. Those not wishing to stay at site 16 can book another site at Broadwater through the National Parks booking website or possibly stay at the Glenlyon Dam Tourist Park on (02)67375266.

The Severn River borders the Broadwater campground providing a pleasant walk of variable length depending on the water level. The 4.5km Western Circuit Walk will be scheduled for Saturday. Permanents Waterhole and Permanents Road will be explored at other times.

Please contact the camp coordinator or text 0427573955 to let me know you are attending and whether or not you will be staying at Group site 16.

[top of page]

17th to 19th June 2022 - Storm King Dam and Girraween

Leader: Kevin Delahoy
Phone: 0408983633 or

Please contact Kevin by text (040893633) or to let us know that you are attending.

Sommerville Valley Tourist Park is on the banks of Storm King Dam (the dam is very full). The park caters for everyone, from cabins to unpowered sites for tents. For birding, I will do walks around the park area and the dam and day walks in Girraween National Park.

Accommodation:
Sommerville Valley Tourist Park, 63 Sommerville Lane, Sugarloaf, Stanthorpe Contact details:

• ph - 07 4681 4200
• email - info@sommervillevalley.com.au
• web - www.sommervillevalley.com.au

Prices:

• Unpowered site: $30 p/n
• Powered site: $35 p/n
• Cabin: $80 p/n sleep up to 4 people / min 2 nights / linen BYO

[top of page]

1st to 3rd July 2022 - Russell Island

Leaders: Andrea Schafer and Nicky Stafford
Phone: 0416 070 469 or

For something different let's explore the beautiful Southern Moreton Bay Islands. Good news is the camp spots are free, ferries' between the islands are free, the location is beautiful, and close for those in Brisbane. The Redland City Council's Lions Boulevard Park camp has toilets, a cold shower, several shelters and, electric and wood fired BBQs. Please do bring insect repellent (you are in the mangroves) and we're restricted to tents only.

There are spaces for 10 people, so please confirm your spot with Andrea quickly. You can take your car to the island ($140 return + $16 per passenger, book with Sealink SEQ) or alternatively walk on the vehicle ferry with your camping gear ($46 return, book with Sealink SEQ). Transport around the Islands will be coordinated when you book with Andrea.

The weekend will start with a walk on Friday afternoon (2pm) around south Russell Island mangroves. Saturday we will visit Russell Island Conservation Corner and Macleay Island, and then on Sunday morning we'll visit Lamb Island, finishing with a $10 lunch and bird call at the Lamb Island Recreation Club.

Please bring scopes if you have them, we'll be looking for waders. And don't forget that insect repellent!

Please contact Andrea as above to let me know you're attending and confirm how you're getting to the island.

[top of page]

5th to 7th August - Canungra

Leader: Marion Beeby
Phone: 0401 770 751 or

Accommodation:
Canungra Showgrounds and Camping, 53 Coburg Road Canungra .
Phone: 07 5543 5904

Same site as last year booked under Birds Qld, but please let Canungra Showgrounds know you are coming so they can add area if needed.

The itinerary is the same as last year:
Friday: afternoon walk around Canungra.
Saturday: Lamington National Park - Green Mountain Section (O'Reilly's).
Sunday: Binna Burra.

Please confirm your booking with Marion.

[top of page]

4th to 6th November - Esk

Leaders: Helen Procter-Brown & Penny Ackland
Phone: 0427 486 211 or 0427 720 975
Email: or

Esk is a wonderful little town on the Brisbane Valley Highway, way less than 2 hours away from wherever you may live in greater Brisbane. We plan to show you a couple of the less visited places in the area which give a chance of seeing a selection of bush birds including the elusive Spotted Quail-thrush and Painted Button-quail.

Our agenda is not yet set in concrete, but be prepared to take morning tea and lunch on our Saturday outing. Our first activity will be a local walk leaving our ‘gathering place’ at approximately 3:30 pm followed by Happy Hour and Bird Call from 5:30 on.

Accommodation:
The Esk Caravan Park, 16 Hassall St., Esk.
Phone: 5424 1466
Email: info@eskcaravanpark.com.au
Website: www.eskcaravanpark.com.au

The Esk Caravan Park is a very short walk to the town centre. It has a range of accommodation and facilities to suit most needs and wants. These include 2 heated swimming pools, BBQ’s and Pizza Ovens, camp kitchens, an entertainment area plus a smaller ‘Chill n Grill’ area which I anticipate being our gathering place. I have asked for 5 adjacent powered sites to be set aside for our campers. Should you be wanting one of these, please let the park know you are with the Birds Queensland group.

• For campers: Powered site (2 people) $45; Unpowered site $31.
• Cabins have a 2 night minimum: Ensuite with double bed $114 per night.
• There is also a Bunkhouse with a shared ensuite which can accommodate up to 4 people (2 x 2 bunk rooms). With 4 people it is $124 per night. For 2 people, $94 per night.
• Motel rooms are also available from $132 per night.

Please make your booking direct with the caravan park and let the camp leaders know that you are attending. Bookings that had been already made for March should have been transferred. Thanks.

[top of page]

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.

Photos from previous camps

BQ member Andrew Martin has prepared a slideshow from several previous camps. You can view it on Youtube (the link will open in a new tab or window).