Lake Cressbrook, QLD.

View of Lake Cressbrook from our campsite.

We have been to Cressbrook Dam before but we have never camped there. We were keen to camp there because on our previous visit we only had time to partly do one of the walks and we were impressed with the amount of wildlife we saw in such a short time. There used to be a fee to pay to enter the Lake Cressbrook area but that is no longer the case.

There are about 30 bollarded tent camping sites and only 6 sites for caravans and camper trailers. Sites can not be booked and there is a self-registration booth at the entrance to the campground. It is very popular here on weekends and holidays. As well as an amenities block with flushing toilets and hot showers there is a large camp kitchen and a fish cleaning station in the campground.

Pets are not allowed in the Lake Cressbrook area or the campground. One of the reasons for this is the abundant wildlife to be found here. Someone tried to camp with a dog while we were there but the rangers were on to them straight away.

Kangaroos are plentiful around the lake.

The campground is a couple of kilometers away from the public boat ramp and has lake frontage with its own mooring area. Although boating and fishing is allowed on the lake, swimming is prohibited.

We thought the main walk started from the boat ramp area so we walked there from the campground and had a look at the boat ramp. There are excellent facilities here with two children's playgrounds, a beach volleyball court and many sheltered picnic tables. We tried to find a path from the playground area but there are signs prohibiting entry so we returned to the campground; altogether a walk of about 2 km. We were pleased to spot a koala in a tree along the walk.

Lake Cressbrook Boat Ramp

One of the playgrounds in the public area at Lake Cressbrook 

Fortunately, we met a couple of rangers in the campground who showed us the entry to the walking track next to the Self-registration booth. This turned out to be in the opposite direction from the boat ramp and is a circuit of about 5.5 km with great views of the lake. About half way around there is even a bush toilet which could be a contender for best "Loo with a View". 

How's that for a Loo with a View?

Black-fronted Dotterel

Eastern Osprey

Details for Lake Cressbrook Campground:
Where: 142 km (less than 2 hours) north-west of Brisbane.
Facilities: All sites are unpowered. 30 tent campsites (no camping beside your vehicle due to bollards). 6 caravan or camper trailer sites (the entry to 4 of these sites could be a challenge for some caravans). Fire places (BYO wood), water taps, flush toilets, hot showers, camp kitchen comprising covered area with several tables and gas BBQ's, industrial bins near entrance, fish cleaning station, boat mooring area. Boat ramp and playgrounds about 2 km away.
Fees and Bookings: $8 per adult per night, $32 family of 2 adults and dependents. Self-registration on arrival. No bookings. Maximum stay 14 nights. 
Prohibitions: Do not collect firewood. No generators. No pets (strictly enforced). No swimming in lake. No fish cleaning on or around the lake.
Of Interest: Lots of wildlife. Boating permitted. Fishing allowed with a permit.

Wildlife List: Koala, Grey Kangaroo.

Bird List: Whistling Kite, Eastern Osprey, Grey Butcherbird, Galah, Pied Cormorant, Little Pied Cormorant, Pied Currawong, Torresian Crow, Pacific Black Duck, Australasian Wood Duck, Australasian Grebe, Peaceful Dove, Variegated Fairy-wren, Grey Fantail, White-faced Heron, Blue-faced Honeyeater, Yellow-faced Honeyeater, White-throated Honeyeater, Laughing Kookaburra, Australian Magpie, Magpie-lark, Masked Lapwing, Noisy Miner, Australian Pelican, Pheasant Coucal, Crested Pigeon, Pale-headed Rosella, Grey Shrike-thrush, Welcome Swallow, Buff-rumped Thornbill, Black-fronted Dotterel, Golden Whistler, Rufous Whistler, Willie Wagtail.

Lake Cressbrook, via Lake Perseverance, QLD

Campground at Lake Cressbrook

Lake Perseverance

From Crows Nest National Park we traveled to Lake Cressbrook, via Lake Perseverance. Lake Perseverance is one of the region’s major water supply dams. Use of the lake is restricted and there is no camping allowed in the rest areas. Coming from the direction of Crows Nest, on Perseverance Dam Road, there is a picnic area immediately on your right after going over the spillway and a smaller area with an information sign on your right after crossing the dam wall.

Lake Perseverance

Lake Pereverance Spillway

Lake Cressbrook

Lake Cressbrook is 21 km east of Crows Nest National Park and 60 km northeast of Toowoomba. There used to be boom gates and a small fee to enter Lake Cressbrook but the Toowoomba Regional Council has decided to do away with the fee and the gates were up when we visited in October 2014. The first things we noticed when we arrived were that the lake and surrounding area was nowhere near as badly affected by the drought as Lake Leslie, which we had seen earlier in our trip, and that the place was teaming with wildlife. The lake is a flora and fauna reserve and no pets are allowed.

Grey Kangaroos at Lake Cressbrook

Day Use Area

There is a large day use area with a children’s playground, BBQs, toilets, attractive picnic shelters, even a beach volleyball court; all for free.  The lake is popular for fishing and there is a boat ramp. There are restrictions on boat speed limits due to the lake being a major water supply for the region. A Stocked Impoundment Permit is required for fishing. While boating, canoeing, windsurfing and sailing are permitted, swimming is prohibited. There are also defined times that water based activities can occur, largely not at night. As soon as you sit down at a picnic table Blue-faced Honeyeaters arrive to check out the food options.

Blue-faced Honeyeater

Picnic Shelters at Lake Cressbrook

Large Numbers of Eurasian Coots Resting on Lake Cressbrook

Tranquil area for canoeing at Lake Cressbrook, not far from the boat ramp.

Boat Ramp at Lake Cressbrook

Camping at Lake Cressbrook

The campground is on the shores of the lake. There are more than 30 campsites and large areas for groups. There is a choice of shady or open sites. Site numbers  23 to 28 are dedicated for caravans and motorhomes. No bookings are taken. There is a self-registration booth at the entry and you need the correct money as no change is given.  Fees are $8.00 per person over the age of five. There is a family rate of $32 ( 2 adults and children under the age of 18 yrs). Groups of 20 or more are $5 per person. A 14 night maximum applies. There are toilets, showers, bins and camp kitchens. Wood barbeques are scattered throughout the campground, BYO wood, and there are two gas BBQs. However, at time of writing, there is a ban on all wood fires due to the drought. Generators, pets and swimming are not permitted. There is lake access for paddle craft only, otherwise use the boat ramp adjoining the day use area.

Campsites at Lake Cressbrook

View of Campground across Lake Cressbrook

Lake Cressbrook Walking Track

The Lake Cressbrook Walking Track is 6.7 km. Walking from the Boat Ramp to the Campground is approximately 2.5 km  one way. The track itself is mostly an easy flat, wide, mowed grass strip.

Grey Kangeroo Macropus giganteus, Lake Cressbrook

Black-fronted Dotterel, Lake Cressbrook

Lesser Wanderer Danaus chrysippus, Lake Cressbrook

Varied Sittella Race leucophala

We saw a number of other birds such as, Azure Kingfishers, Rainbow Lorikeets, Willy Wagtails and other common Australian birds.