Charlie Moreland Camping Area, Imbil State Forest, near Kenilworth, QLD.

Camping at Charlie Moreland Camping Area.

In December 2019, most National Park and State Forest campgrounds in northern New South Wales and south-east Queensland were closed due to fires or fire risk, but Charlie Moreland Camping Area in Imbil State Forest was open and surprisingly, there were only three other rigs in the whole campground. 

We walked the Little Yabba Creek Walk in the afternoon and next morning. This is one of our all-time favourite birding walks, but it was sad to see it so badly affected by both the drought and recent logging activity.

Dry crossing over Little Yabba Creek.

Logging beside the Little Yabba Creek Circuit.

We still managed to see some interesting birds. We had been listening for the distinctive call of the Paradise Riflebird but hadn’t heard any, so we were excited to see a female Paradise Riflebird on the walk. Not the best photos but a Riflebird is always an exciting find.

Female Paradise Riflebird, back view.

Female Paradise Riflebird, front view.

We were lucky to again see Black-breasted Button Quail. This time we saw three but our photos were even worse than when we saw five in July 2018

There are usually lots of Red-necked Pademelons at Charlie Moreland, especially around the horse yards area, but this time we only saw a few.

Red-necked Pademelon.

The next day felt extremely hot and we moved the van to the shadier Day Use Area. We shifted picnic tables about five times chasing the shade. Even so the air was hot; we thought it was probably about 39 C. Most of Little Yabba Creek had dried up but there was still water in the swimming hole. We didn’t swim as the water looked a bit green.

Swimming hole at Charlie Moreland.

We saw quite a few birds in the picnic area. Eastern Whipbirds are easy to hear but harder to see and photograph as they stay in the bushes and move very fast.

Eastern Whipbirds.

We noticed a stately looking Nankeen Night Heron quietly watching us from overhead.

Nankeen Night Heron.

We saw an Emerald Dove on the walk and near the swimming hole. Not a great photo but it is the first time I can remember seeing one at Charlie Moreland. 

Emerald Dove.

Some more bird photos:

Spectacled Monarch.

Olive-backed Oriole.

Brown Cuckoo Dove.

Details for Charlie Moreland Campground, Imbil State Forest:

Where: About 130 km northwest of Brisbane. Southwest of Kenilworth on Sunday Creek Road. 
Access: About 5 km of 2WD gravel road to the campground. Past the campground Sunday Creek Road becomes 4WD and is a popular drive through to Jimna.
Camping: Suitable for tents and all rig types. Open grassy sites, some shade.
Bookings: Online or phone 13 74 68. No mobile phone reception at campground. There is a booking phone at the rangers station on the drive in on Sunday Creek Road.
Fees: $6.65 per adult per night, family rates.
Facilities: Flush toilets, non-potable water taps, fire rings, BYO wood, fires subject to fire bans. Swimming in Little Yabba Creek. Walks. 
Prohibitions: No pets. No generators. No fishing.
Cautions: Gets extremely busy and crowded at peak times.

Wildlife seen over two days in December 2019: 

Red-necked Pademelon. Lace Monitor. Birds: Black-breasted Button-quail, Regent Bowerbird, Australian Brush Turkey, Grey Butcherbird, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo, Little Black Cormorant, Great Cormorant, Channel-billed Cuckoo, Torresian Crow, Pied Currawong, Bar-shouldered Dove, Brown Cuckoo-Dove, Emerald Dove, Bar-shouldered Dove, Spangled Drongo, Grey Fantail, Rufous Fantail, Australasian Figbird, Red-browed Finch, Noisy Friarbird, Wompoo Fruit-Dove, Brown Gerygone, White-necked Heron, Nankeen Night Heron, Lewin's Honeyeater, Azure Kingfisher, Laughing Kookaburra, Logrunner, Australian Magpie, Magpie-lark, Bell Miner, Noisy Miner, Spectacled Monarch, Australian King Parrot, Wonga Pigeon, Eastern Yellow Robin, Large-billed Scrubwren,  Yellow-throated Scrubwren, White-browed Scrubwren, Grey Shrike-thrush, Little Scrubwren, Russet-tailed Thrush, Eastern Whipbird, Golden Whistler, Willie Wagtail. 

Winter Camping in Charlie Moreland Camping Area, Imbil State Forest, Kenilworth, QLD.

Charlie Moreland Camping Area

We've lost count of how many times we have camped at Charlie Moreland Camping Area. We keep going back because it is a relaxing campground with plenty of wildlife. We avoid it at holiday times though as it gets very crowded.

Charlie Moreland Day Use Area

I was surprised to see a couple of guys swimming in Little Yabba Creek at this time of year. I called out to them and asked if they were from New Zealand. They replied that they weren't but they had dared each other to go for a skinny dip and they assured me that they were both freezing. I took mercy on them and moved on so that they could get out and no, I didn't take any photos of them.

Little Yabba Creek gets quite cold at this time of year.

While wandering around the 4WD tracks near the campground we saw what looked like a family group of Button-quails hurrying across the road in the distance. We only managed to get a couple of poor quality photos of one of these birds but these photos proved to be very important later when I submitted them to the Facebook page Australian Bird Identification. We have been looking for Black-breasted Button-quail for quite some time and these photos were identified as being a male Black-breasted Button-quail which proved that we had finally seen these coveted birds. 

Black-breasted Button-quail, male.

We usually see Pacific Riflebirds near the campground, however, this trip we only heard one. We did see a Green Catbird though and usually they are easier to hear than see. 

Green Catbird

As usual, there were plenty of Red-necked Pademelons about the campground and around the horse yard area. Bell Miners seem to have moved into the horse yard area too.

Bell Miner

Juvenile and adult Red-necked Pademelons.

We usually walk the Little Yabba Creek Circuit a few times every time we camp at Charlie Moreland because there is always something different to see.

Southern crossing on the Little Yabba Creek Circuit

The northern crossing on the Little Yabba Creek Circuit is still washed out in the middle.

The section of the walk on the bank opposite the campground is shady and moist which is good for sighting fungi and Diamond-shielded Sunskinks. Pale Yellow Robins seem to like the shady forest area as well.

Diamond-shielded Sunskink Lampropholis adonis 

Pale Yellow Robin

The banks of Little Yellow Creek have more sunlight and it is easier to photo a few birds there.

Golden Whistler, male.

Birds seen on this trip: Australian Brush Turkey, Grey Butcherbird, Green Catbird, Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Pied Currawong, Crow, Brown Cuckoo-Dove, Superb Fairy-wren, Grey Fantail, Red-browed Finch, Blue-faced Honeyeater, Lewin's Honeyeater, Laughing Kookaburra, Logrunner, Rainbow Lorikeet, Scaly-breasted Lorikeet, Australian Magpie, Bell Miner, Noisy Miner, Spectacled Monarch, Olive-backed Oriole, Australian King Parrot, Wonga Pigeon, Eastern Yellow Robin, Pale Yellow Robin, Yellow-throated Scrubwren, Large-billed Scrubwren, Grey Shrike-thrush, Silvereye, Black-breasted Button-quail, Eastern Whipbird, Golden Whistler, Willie Wagtail.

Details for Charlie Moreland Campground, Imbil State Forest:
Where: About 130 km northwest of Brisbane. Southwest of Kenilworth on Sunday Creek Road. 
Access: About 5 km of 2WD gravel road to the campground. Past the campground Sunday Creek Road becomes 4WD and is a popular drive through to Jimna.
Camping: Suitable for tents and all rig types. Open grassy sites, some shade.
Bookings: https://qpws.usedirect.com/QPWS/Facilities/SearchView.aspx or phone 13 74 68. No mobile phone reception at campground. There is a booking phone at the rangers station on the drive in on Sunday Creek Road.
Fees: $6.35 per adult per night, family rates.
Facilities: Flush toilets, non-potable water taps, fire rings, BYO wood. Swimming in Little Yabba Creek. Walks. 
Prohibitions: No pets. No generators. No fishing.
Cautions: Gets extremely busy at peak times. Bookings are taken for up to 380 people.

Charlie Moreland Campground, Imbil State Forest, QLD. Pre-Christmas Revisit.

After the amazingly prompt delivery of our new Aussie Wheel caravan mover from Perth we decided to pop over to Charlie Moreland Campground for a couple of nights. We were pleasantly surprised how quiet the campground was in the week preceding Christmas. 

Red-necked Pademelon

We love the plants and wildlife at Charlie Moreland. Once again we saw Regent Bowerbirds, unfortunately, they seem to be shy here and we have never been able to get a great photo but just to prove that we really do see them, here is a photo of the male:

Regent Bowerbird, male.

Unfortunately, we dipped out on seeing Paradise Riflebirds or Noisy Pittas on this trip. We did see a Russet-tailed Thrush in the early morning; a bird we haven't seen here before. We also enjoyed observing the antics of about 20 White-throated Needletails overhead one afternoon.

Russet-tailed Thrush

There are usually some nice butterflies to be seen around the campground. Little Yabba Creek is a great place to spot dragonflies and turtles.

Varied Eggfly, male Hypolimnas bolina

Yellow-tipped Tigertail Choristhemis flavoterminata

Short-necked Turtles at Little Yabba Creek

Lacebark Tree Brachychiton discolor

Paradise Riflebirds, Regent and Satin Bowerbirds are attracted to Lacebark trees. At this time of year the flowers form a carpet on the forest floor. One advantage of visiting the area at different times of the year is that we get to see the different seasons reflected in the flora. 

Native Rosella, Native Ginger in flower, Cheese Tree.

Red-necked Pademelons, Brush Turkeys and goannas are frequent visitors to the campground.

Lace Monitor (goanna)

Of course not all things in nature are cute and furry. We spotted this fearsome looking wasp nest on the underside of a solar panel at the "beach" area of Little Yabba Creek. There was also a damaged termite nest beside our campsite and this proved to offer access to a tasty snack for the native Brush Turkeys.

Insect nest high up on a solar panel.

Damaged termite nest

A few more bird photos:

Logrunner, female (L) male (R)

Black-faced Monarch and Spectacled Monarch

Brown Cuckoo Dove, Crimson Rosella and wompoo Fruit Dove.

Bell Miner

Common Koel, female

Charlie Moreland is one of our favourite campgrounds and I have written several blogs about this beautiful area. To access the blogs either type Charlie Moreland in the search box in the top right hand corner above or click on Charlie Moreland in the label list along the right hand side.

Wildlife List:
Red-necked Pademelon, Eastern Water Dragon, Short-necked Turtle, Lace Monitor (Goanna).
Butterflies: Meadow Argus, Brown Ringlet, Monarch, Varied Eggfly.
Bird list: Australian Brush-turkey, Pacific Black Duck, Azure Kingfisher, Noisy Miner, Bell Miner, Channel-billed Cuckoo, Lewin's Honeyeater, New Holland Honeyeater, Laughing Kookaburra, Spangled Drongo, Regent Bowerbird, Australasian Figbird, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo, Wompoo Fruit-Dove, Brown Cuckoo-Dove, Wonga Pigeon, Golden Whistler, Brown Gerygone, Brown Thornbill, Variegated Fairy Wren, Rainbow Lorikeet, Australian King Parrot, Crimson Rosella, Grey Shrike-Thrush, Grey Fantail, Rufous Fantail, Eastern Yellow Robin, Pale Yellow Robin, White-throated Needletail, Russet-tailed Thrush, Logrunner, Black-faced Monarch, Spectacled Monarch, Pied Currawong, Torresian Crow, Pied Butcherbird, Australian Magpie, Magpie-lark, Willie Wagtail, Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike, Common Koel. We saw platelets but no quail. Heard but not seen: Green Catbird, Pheasant Coucal, Paradise Riflebird.

Charlie Moreland Campground

Details for Charlie Moreland Campground, Imbil State Forest:
Where: About 130 km northwest of Brisbane. Southwest of Kenilworth on Sunday Creek Road. 
Access: About 5 km of 2WD gravel road to the campground. Past the campground Sunday Creek Road becomes 4WD and is a popular drive through to Jimna.
Camping: Suitable for tents and all rig types. Open grassy sites, some shade.
Bookings: https://qpws.usedirect.com/QPWS/Facilities/SearchView.aspx or phone 13 74 68. No mobile phone reception at campground. There is a booking phone at the rangers station on the drive in on Sunday Creek Road.
Fees: $6.15 per adult per night, family rates.
Facilities: Flush toilets, non-potable water taps, fire rings, BYO wood. Swimming in Little Yabba Creek. Walks. 
Prohibitions: No pets. No generators. No fishing.
Cautions: Gets extremely busy at peak times. Bookings are taken for up to 380 people.

Another Camping Trip to Charlie Moreland Campground, Imbil State Forest, QLD.

After our camping trip to Charlie Moreland and our visit to Booloumba we went home to attend to a few things then we returned to Charlie Moreland for two nights to show this wonderful place to some friends of ours. 

We saw a female and a male Paradise Riflebird in the morning and a female in the afternoon. They were feeding on the fruit of the Celerywood tree Polyscias elegans. The fruit of Celerywood is eaten by many birds and the seed is spread from the droppings of Pied Currawongs. 

Male Riflebird feeding on the fruit of the Celerywood Tree.

Female Paradise Riflebird showing off her scalloped breast.

Female Riflebird feeding on Celerywood in the afternoon.

Lewin's Honeyeater. 

One of the two crossings on the Little Yabba Creek Circuit

Little Yabba Creek Circuit

There were quite a few Rainbow Bee-eaters passing through high up in the trees. Although not the best photos I'm rather amused by the bee-eater imitating a torpedo.

Rainbow Bee-eater

Back in the campground, this Kookaburra was keeping an eye on us while crunching its catch.

Bird List for this visit:  
Australian Brush Turkey, Wompoo Fruit-Dove, Brown Cuckoo-Dove, Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo, Australian King Parrot, Crimson Rosella, Fan-tailed Cuckoo, Laughing Kookaburra, Rainbow Bee-eater, Azure Kingfisher, White-browed Scrubwren, Bell Miner, Noisy Miner, Lewin's Honeyeater, Eastern Yellow Robin, Grey Shrike-thrush, Golden Whistler, Grey Fantail, Willie Wagtail, Paradise Riflebird, Torresian Crow.