Kinbombi Falls, Queensland.

Kinbombi Falls 

While camping at Goomeri Caravan & Bush Camp we checked out Kinbombi Falls. The falls were down to a trickle due to the very dry conditions in the whole Goomeri area. 

There are lots of concrete steps to negotiate on the way to see the falls.

Steps down to view the Falls

From the falls we could see another lookout so we returned to the car park and made our way to that lookout. There were a few more steps to negotiate but our reward was a nice view over the gorge.

Steps to the second lookout

View of the gorge

There is a large flat area at Kinbombi Falls where free camping is allowed. For details see below.

Kinbombi Falls camping area

Datails for Kinbombi Falls Free Camp:
Where: Between Goomeri and Kilkivan, Queensland.
Access: About 5 km along Kinbombi Road; good gravel road.
Camping: Allowed. Suitable all rigs. Flat areas. We couldn't determine the time limit because the sign had been damaged.
Facilities: Picnic tables and bins. Flush toilets are down a flight of stairs. Pets allowed. We ran out of phone reception about halfway along Kinbombi Road.
Of Interest: Beautiful gorge. Waterfall and lookouts.
Caution: No disabled access to toilets. Several flights of stairs to see the waterfall. Very dry at the moment so the waterfall is just a trickle. Some water still in the gorge.

Goomeri Caravan & Bush Camp, Goomeri, QLD.

Goomeri Caravan & Bush Camp

In October we chose to camp at Goomeri Caravan & Bush Camp while exploring the South Burnett region because we needed to stay somewhere with phone reception at the time. 
Goomeri turned out to be a good choice because this is a campground where a lot of thought has gone into what campers want and it is very peaceful. There are no cattle wandering through the campground. There isn't a lot of shade yet because the plants are still growing but we usually park in the open to optimize our solar power anyway. The entire Goomeri area is very very dry at the moment and the creek running through the campground was mostly dry, as are all the local creeks. However, there is plenty of bore water available via taps at the sites and tank water is collected at the amenities block for the showers. We were very impressed with the amenities block as the showers had hot water which is always a treat when bush camping!

The amenities block

Every night the sunset would throw out different colours to end a perfect day.

A highlight of our trip was visiting Boat Mountain Conservation Park where we really enjoyed the walk and we got to see close up the incredibly large numbers of Caper White butterflies on the move. We also visited Kinbombi Falls (which I've yet to blog about), Jack Smith Scrub Conservation Park and Mudlo National Park while staying at the campground.

Despite the dry conditions we saw quite a few birds and butterflies in the campground and we enjoyed walking around the campground when we weren't out exploring the area. There is also a ridge walk leaving from the campground but we will have to come back for that one as we ended up getting the phone call and we had to move on.

Red-backed Fairy-wren, male.

Golden-headed Cisticola

White-throated Honeyeater and Dollarbird

Glasswing Acraea andromacha

On the outskirts of the western side of Kilkivan on the Wide Bay Highway, there is a produce stall that sells pineapples and pure honey. There is room on the other side of the road to pull up if you are towing and travelling east. We had to stop for the pineapples as they were a lovely yellow colour. It's such a pleasure to eat pineapples that have actually been picked ripe! We bought some sweet potatoes as well and they were selling beetroot at the time.

Produce stall in Kilkivan

Wildlife seen on our stay: Grey Kangaroos.
Birds:Brown Quail, Australian Wood Duck, White-faced Heron, Cattle Egret, Black-shouldered Kite, Peaceful Dove, Little Corella, Galah, Rainbow Lorikeet, Pale-headed Rosella, Channel-billed Cuckoo, Pheasant Coucal, Laughing Kookaburra, Dollarbird, Red-backed Fairy-wren, Spotted Pardalote, White-throated Honeyeater, Brown Honeyeater, Scarlet Honeyeater, Blue-faced Honeyeater, Golden Whistler, Willie Wagtail, Magpie-lark, Olive-backed Oriole, Australasian Figbird, Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike, Pied Butcherbird, Australian Magpie, Pied Currawong, Torresian Crow, Golden-headed Cisticola.

Details for Goomeri Caravan & Bush Camp 
Where: Lot 147 Wide Bay Highway, Goomeri, Queensland. Phone 0418 734 060
Access: On left if heading towards Goomeri from Kilkivan. Turn off highway at signs. 2.5 km dirt road in good condition. Suit all rigs.
Facilities: Group or single sites, every site has a fire ring, communal campfire, can collect or purchase firewood, lots of taps with bore water, lots of bins. No powered sites or slabs. Small camping generators allowed 8 am to 9 pm, pets allowed. No trail bike riding allowed. Gas refills available. Nearest supplies in Goomeri 3 km away. Amenities Block has toilets and hot showers. Washing line and laundry. We had Telstra phone reception, TV reception and internet.
Fees: $15 per night for 2 people, extra adults $7.50, children 5 yrs to 17 yrs $5 per night, children 4 yrs and under free. Special: watch out for pay for 3 nights stay 4th night free deal.
Cautions: Limited shade. Creek dry at time of our stay.
Whats special: Friendly host and caretakers, excellent facilities for a bush camp. 

Jack Smith Scrub Conservation Park, QLD.

View over the South Burnett Valley 

When we were at Boat Mountain Conservation Park we saw information about Jack Smith Scrub Conservation Park and drove the short distance to have a look around. We had a pleasant picnic overlooking the South Burnett valley before doing the easy 900 m Orwenia Nature Circuit.

Black-breasted Button-quail are found here and we saw large numbers of platelets on and beside the track. Platelets are circular depressions left on the ground by quails spinning around. We did see more Caper White butterflies and cane toads were out and about.

Caper White Butterfly

Cane Toad

Wildlife List on our short visit in October:
Many Caper White Butterflies. Black-breasted Button-quail are found here; we didn't see any but we did see large numbers of platelets. Australian Brush Turkey, Willie Wagtail, Torresian Crow, White-browed Scrubwren, Magpie, Eastern Yellow Robin, Rufous Fantail, Golden Whistler. 

Details for Jack Smith Conservation Park:
Where: 16 km north-west of Murgon or 9 km west of Boat Mountain Conservation Park.
Facilities: Picnic table. Small car park with a short rough driveway off Smith's Road which may prove difficult for a small sedan or low vehicle.
No Camping.

Mudlo National Park, Kilkivan, QLD

Approaching Mudlo National Park from Kilkivan.

While camping at the Goomeri Caravan and Bush Campground in October we visited Mudlo National Park, north of Kilkivan. The national park protects one of the few remaining native hoop pine vine forests in the local area.First,we drove past the Scrubby Creek Day Use Area and checked out the Mudlo Gap Picnic Area. On one side of the road there are picnic tables and the toilets are on the other side of the road.

Mudlo Gap Picnic Area.

Native Hoop Pines in Mudlo National Park.

Then we drove back to the Scrubby Creek Day Use Area where we saw three Eastern Whipbirds posing right out in the open and we were still too slow to get a photo. The walk from here to Pearson's Lookout is a 3 km return, Class 4 walk.

Scrubby Creek Day Use Area

The view from Pearson's Lookout

On the return walk we did the remaining side of the Scrubby Creek Circuit. The complete circuit is a Class 2, 1 km loop. We arrived back in time to see the national park rangers removing the fence from the picnic area.

Strangler Fig on the Scrubby Creek Circuit.

Wildlife for Mudlo National Park seen in October:
Butterflies: Blue Tiger, Glasswing, Caper White, Monarch.
Birds: Galah, Lewin, Eastern Whipbird, Wonga Pigeon, Spotted Pardalote, Spangled Drongo. We could hear Paradise Riflebird, Kookaburra and Pheasant Coucal. Sadly we saw Indian Mynas on the side of Mudlo Road as we drove in.

Details for Mudlo National Park:
Where: Mudlo Road, 8.5 km north of Kilkivan, 45 km north-west of Gympie.
Access: gravel road with some pot holes and corrugations.
Facilities: Walking trail. Scrubby Creek Day Use Area has two picnic tables and a car park. 1.4 km further along Mudlo Road the local council has provided Mudlo Gap Picnic Area with flush toilets on one side of the road and picnic tables and wood BBQ's on the other side.
No Camping.