Andrew Drynan Park Campground, Running Creek, Qld

Andrew Drynan Park Campground is approximately 2 hours’ drive from Brisbane and the Gold Coast.  It is 47 km from Beaudesert and 19 km south-east of Rathdowney.  Follow Running Creek Road till you come onto Lions Road.  There is a little gravel section but it is in pretty good condition.  The rest is all bitumen.  If you are coming from Kyogle, NSW along Lions Road, it is a breathtakingly beautiful drive (76 km).  One I recommend to everyone. There are a few large hills getting to this location and lots of narrow winding roads, both on the Queensland and NSW side.  Also note that Lions Road on the Kyogle side has weight restrictions on some of the bridges, so if you are a larger caravan or motorhome, you might need to take a different path.  Maybe do some homework before you begin the journey.

This scenic valley campground backs onto the sub-tropical rainforest of Mt Chinghee National Park.  There are no walking tracks or facilities at Mt Chinghee but you’re not far from the Border Ranges National Park if you enjoy a day trip.  You will find everything you need in the Border Ranges from fabulous bush walking and picnic facilities. 

 The campground runs parallel to a beautiful running creek, so if you need a bath (no showers at this campground) or simply want a swim; take a breath and go for it.  Remember not to use any soaps or detergents though. 

It is a very large, grassy, open and sloping campground.  Regardless of the slope, there are plenty of flat spots to pitch a tent but you might struggle to get a completely flat campsite, especially if it is busy.  It really is only suitable for tents, camper trailers and small caravans.  Larger motorhomes or vans will need some form of levellers or the blood might rush to your head.  There is not really a flat area for the kids to play cricket or any such but they will have a blast on their mountain bikes and swimming in that lovely creek.  Please supervise them as there are some deep pools in the creek.

There are some shaded picnic tables and flush septic toilet.  There is no drinking water but there is a water tap near the toilets which comes straight from the creek.  You need to boil the water for at least 10 mins if planning on drinking it.  A dump point and potable water can be accessed at Boonah Showgrounds if you are planning a longer stay and need to replenish (65 km) but a great opportunity to explore this area, pop into Maroon Dam or visit Mt Barney.  There are no rubbish bins so you will need to pack it in and take it out with you.  Pets are allowed but must stay on leash. There is Telstra reception but other providers might struggle.

This campground is ideal for those that want to enjoy some quiet time to sit, relax and enjoy the scenery which is spectacular by the way.  For the kids there is the swimming  and wrap up the day with a fabulous campfire dinner.  Doesn’t get any better!

When you arrive, just find a spot and the manager comes around in the afternoon to collect camp fees and I am told he sells firewood.  There is very little firewood to collect in the region, so if you don’t want to buy it, you will need to take it with you.  The thing that detracts from this campground the most is it being right on road and the train line is not far away either.  This is a small detraction though and the scenery well and truly makes up for it.

Public holidays are very busy at this campground.  I would highly recommend booking if planning an Easter visit and maybe visit in a quieter time if you don’t enjoy the noise of lots of families and children enjoying their outside time.

Costs

Price Range $8 adults, $4 children Under 5 yo free

Family package - $24 family (includes 2xAdults & 4 children)

Peak periods $10 adults, $5 child, $30 family

How to book:

Contact the park manager on 07 5544 1281

http://www.scenicrim.qld.gov.au/national-parks-and-camping

Depression Cake - also known as a War Cake or a Chocolate Crazy Cake

This cake was created and cooked during the depression because it needed no eggs, milk or butter.  You think it would be hard to make a cake without these 3 basics but women of this generation were extremely clever and adept at making a lot out of nothing.  Baking powder must also have been scarce, as this particular version of the cake has none.  Alas, it did not rise.  It is a very moist and dense cake.  Similar to a mud cake.  If you want it to be lighter and rise, I would add baking powder or simply substitute plain flour for SR flour.

This cake is all mixed and cooked in the same bowl.  

Ingredients:

• 1 ½ cups of flour (all-purpose)
• 3 tbsp. cocoa (unsweetened)
• 1 cup sugar (all purpose granulated pure cane sugar)
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• ½ tsp. salt

• 1 tsp white vinegar
• 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
• 5 tbsp. vegetable oil
• 1 cup water

Method:

• Mix all 5 dry ingredients in an 8” well greased baking dish.
• Make 3 depressions.  2 small and 1 larger. Pour vinegar in 1 small depression.  Vanilla in the other small one.  Vegetable oil in the larger one.
• Pour water over all ingredients.
• Mix well until smooth.
• Preheat oven (or camp oven) to medium heat (178 C) and bake on a middle oven rack or on a trivet if using camp oven.
• Bake for up to 35 mins – 45 mins. 
• Poke with a toothpick to see if cooked.  Toothpick should come out clean.

NB: Check regularly to ensure you don’t over bake it.

Easter 2016 at Bigriggen Campground, Rathdowney

Bigriggen is situated between Boonah and Rathdowney.  It’s approximately 90 minutes’ drive from Brisbane in pristine Scenic Rim country and by geez is it scenic.  Surrounded by national parks and mountains.  All of which are an easy afternoon drive.  Super close to Maroon Dam and a little further away is Moogerah Dam if you are into boating of any kind.

What a beautiful campground this is.  First impression is how very grassy, shady and oh my goodness, so many fabulous flat camp spots to choose from.  The campground is immaculate and appears very well run.  Although it felt like there were thousands of children and pushbikes it was notably peaceful.  It is a big park and because of this many people are moving around in vehicles all day long.  The children were all super road savvy, which was great to see.  The swimming hole was by far the most popular spot to be and needless to say, not as quiet as the rest of the campground.  Some parents had kindly rigged a slide for the kids and they were having a ball.  It was still just warm enough for swimming and everyone was taking advantage.

There are flushing toilets and heaps of additional porta loos.  Also coin showers (20 cents coins) but with 1,300 folks camping over Easter, the showers were very busy and the line-up put me right off.  If heading to Bigriggen over any holiday periods I would recommend taking your own if you can.  Not only are they busy, they can be a long walk, depending on where you have camped.

The grounds are home to a Dump Ezy dump point, heaps of rubbish bins, kitchen and/or hall and bunkhouse for rent if you ever want to do a group get-together.  The kiosk stocks basics like firewood, ice, gas and ice-creams.   It is not far to drive into Boonah if you have forgotten anything.  The hardware in Boonah is open on weekends and one of the best rural hardware’s I have ever come across and has a fabulous array of camping supplies.

New owners have decided to give DOGS a fair go and this will continue as long as no one wrecks the privilege.  Remember keep them on leash, pick up after them and no incessant barking and we can all continue to take our best mates camping with us.

Camping Fees

(There are No powered sites)

Adults (17 years +) $10.50 per adult per night.

Children (3 - 16 years) $7.00 per child per night.

My only complaints about my visit was the pricing for Easter.  It was $65 for a minimum 4 night stay per adult.  This was not on their website.  As a solo camper who could only stay the 2 nights, this made it $32.50 per night for me, which I believe is exceptionally expensive for bush camping.  The price did not appear to deter anyone else as they most certainly were not lacking campers.

I wish the new owners all the best.  It is a truly lovely campground and I enjoyed my visit very much.

NB: There is no Optus coverage at all and Telstra is also a sadly lacking, depending on your phone and where you are standing.

http://www.bigriggen.com.au/

Bread N Butter Pudding

Ingredients

Serves: 12

• 6 slices old bread (or let it dry out for an hour) with crusts cut off 
• butter (enough to butter bread slices)
• 5 eggs
• 1 litre milk
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla essence
• sprinkle of nutmeg
• 1/3 cup sultanas (optional)

Preparation: 30 min › Cook: 1 hour  › Ready in: 1 1/2 hours
Preheat oven to 160 degrees C

Directions:

• Lightly grease a large baking dish.
• Butter, then cut the crust-less slices of bread into triangles or squares (you can use any leftover breads) and lay in dish for the best fit (you can be decorative but make sure the whole base is evenly covered).
• In a large mixing bowl beat 5 eggs on a medium speed and add milk gradually.
• Add vanilla essence and sugar and continue to mix for 1-2 minutes or until thoroughly mixed.
• Pour mixture over the bread.
• Allow mixture to sit for about 10 mins so moisture soaks into bread.
• Sprinkle nutmeg on top.
• Place in oven/camp oven and cook for 40 - 60 minutes (check every now and again).

Let stand for 10 minutes before serving with vanilla ice-cream.


Camp Oven Tips#

• If cooking in a camp oven, place dish on a trivet so the bottom does not burn.  Place a little water in the bottom of the camp oven to create a steam effect.
• To brown the top of pudding ensure you place coals on top of lid for at least 10 mins at end of cooking process.

Illegal Campgrounds

On a recent camping trip with friends, I found myself at an illegal campground. This was unbeknown to me until after check-in. I classify illegal as being a campground that has not taken the time to obtain any form of council licenses or approvals. Therefore, have not been able to obtain appropriate insurance cover.

Illegal campgrounds are more likely to not complete safety plans, nor emergency management or evacuation plans. On top of this, they are likely a cash business and not declaring any income or paying any taxes on that income. Legal campgrounds and caravan parks incur huge costs when establishing their businesses, not to mention their ongoing maintenance and compliance costs so I'm pretty sure this is not fair play.

All of these things are definitely serious matters but the single one thing that concerned me above all else about this campground, was its potential to create a possible negative environmental impact and health concern. Their latrine was a very deep hole only a few metres from a beautiful creek. It was perched on the creeks terrace. After giving this a bit of thought and being unsure what to do, I decided to write them. I asked if they would at a minimum seek an alternative location for their latrine. Possibly a portaloo up on the plateau closer to the campers. I received no response from them. A week later I wrote again and asked if they had any luck with an alternative. I got a short one line response from them, asking if I had I reported them to council?

One of the minimum requirements of most bush campgrounds is that they provide suitable toilets of some kind. That might vary depending on local council and the campgrounds proximity to a waterway. Some council might insist a campground build a septic system. Others may approve a composting toilet. Many of the free council campgrounds popping up have no facilities at all and require all campers be 100% self-contained, which means they must have a toilet in their caravan.

Council would unlikely allow a campground to dig a deep hole, right next to a creek which will be used by multiple campers over an extended period. Not without first assessing potential risk of sewage seeping and contaminating the water table or the waterway. They will also likely assess risk of flooding and the sewage pouring directly into the waterway. Council may advise on a better location or that there are no environmentally satisfactory solutions other than portaloos. Hooking a rural campground up to mains sewage may also be an option but less likely the more rural a campground.

All of this involves much paperwork, survey, cost and time.

Regardless of all the paperwork, survey, cost and time, there are very good reasons for these things. Mostly they are so our environment stays pristine and that the choices of a few do not affect the health and safety of many. It allows for us to know we can safely jump in a creek for swim on a hot day, without becoming ill. Legal businesses comply. Illegal businesses don’t.

Please be wary of these types of operators. Not only could the sewage seep into our fabulous waterways. These types of operators could pollute our camping community by making it harder for those campgrounds that do comply to be competitive and survive. Those that comply care about the safety of our families, their neighbours and communities. They care about us. These illegal operators don’t. They care about themselves.

NB: If you are truly remote bush camping and there are no toilets, please ensure you dig your latrine a minimum of 20 metres from any waterway. Dig your hole deep enough so that it will not be dug up by wild animals or trod on by the unwary. Ensure it is filled in properly before you break camp and please don’t forget to carry off your toilet paper for appropriate disposal in the campfire or a rubbish bin.

Poverty Creek Campground, Bribie Island

Poverty Creek Campground, Bribie Island is a fabulous spot to camp. Don't forget your Bushman's or dettol & baby oil if you are heading here in summer. This fabulous spot is only an hour north of Brisbane CBD. You do not need to drive on the beach to get to it if you don't want but this is a pretty special spot to visit also. You can have a campfire in the fire rings as long as there isn't a fire ban. No campfires on the beach.

http://www.nprsr.qld.gov.au/par…/bribie-island/camping.html…

Captain Logan Campground, Wivenhoe Dam, Queensland

I didn't pick the greatest weather to go camping at this lovely campground.  But then again, there is never a bad time to go camping is there.  Captain Logan is a very pretty campground. Shady, well laid out. Great parking, especially if you have a trailer or jet ski. Fabulous for swimming, kayaking and paddle boarding or just not doing anything.  It is a very peaceful campground.

Clean toilets, hot showers within easy walk of all campsites.  Each site has a wood fired BBQ area and is handy to a water tap. Sites are big but very sloped.  Each site has a levelled sandy loam camping pad. It is only just big enough for one large tent and gazebo type set up or maybe three smaller tents and gazebo. If you were going with a big group you would definitely need a couple of sites. They are well spread out though, so your neighbours should not bother you at all.

There is a designated camper van/caravan section so if camping with a group of mixed tents, campers and van's you may need to head to this area.  All camps are on the water so you will not miss the beautiful sunrises and sunsets.  Cars must remain behind the bollards on driveway in the tent camping area.  This makes it a bit of an effort to cart your gear back and forth. Means you can't utilise your car awning for shade so ensure you take an alternative.

Perfect for the kids as there is a notable lack of jet-ski's and powerboats due to the boat restrictions.   Heaps of friendly roo's, birds and the odd penny turtle to discover.    Kids can explore all day long.

For the average family this is an ideal spot and only one hour from Brisbane.  Definitely worth the visit.

$25 for 2 adults so not cheap but most certainly not over-priced either. 

http://seqlakesideescapes.com.au/

Lake Somerset, Queensland

Lake Somerset is a fabulous destination if you enjoy any form of water activity or just a nice day drive. Centrally located between Brisbane, Toowoomba and the Sunshine Coast.  Only a short drive from the country towns of Kilcoy, Esk and Woodford.

There are a range of camping spots close by if you want to stay awhile. If you are simply looking for a day of activity, you can't beat the day use area and boat ramp area.  This is such a super busy spot though, so arrive very early. Large queues for boat ramp, both in and out. 

Only negative was the waters edge gets pretty choppy with all the boats and jet-ski's, which do not appear to slow down when coming near or leaving the dam edge, so not sure it is ideal for the very little children. Maybe head around the dam a little bit further away from the main boating activity.  Not a lot of shade unless you have been one of the few fortunate to arrive at day break so pack a nice big tarp or shade structure of some form. Plenty of toilets (portaloo's) in handy locations.  Nice clean park.  Great day out had by all.

http://www.lakesomerset.com.au/

Lake Somerset Holiday Park Video

Camping at Borumba Deer Park, Imbil Queensland

Borumba Deer Park - Campgrounds

Wonderful weekend away with friends and fabulous time was had by all. Started out a little bit windy and chilly on the Friday but a few hours later it passed and the weather was amazing for the rest of the weekend.

I've been to this park a few times over the years and never been disappointed. It is pretty as a picture and a very well kept.

Borumba Deer Park - Campfire

Campfires are allowed. Wood for sale on site at a reasonable price by the trolley load. Clean toilets and showers, even hot which was good as there were some chilly moments. There is kayaking if you're brave enough to face the icy but beautiful Yabba Creek. You cross Yabba Creek 5 times getting to this campground from Imbil as it snakes all the way along this road.

There is heaps of safe area for the kids to ride their push bikes and run around freely. Pets are allowed on leash only. They are quite strict about this. I didn't see it with my own eyes but I believe there is an off-leash area for puppy to let his/her hair down. It’s a big campground so there is no excuse for anyone to encroach on another. Heaps of birds and other wildlife, as well as cheeky deer’s that are happy to pose for photos. There is a kiosk on site and sells all the standard campground basics. 

The grounds are close to Borumba Lake and I am told the fishing is fabulous. The campground has boats for hire if you would like to take one for a spin around Borumba Lake and see what you can catch. The grounds are only a few minutes’ drive into the pretty town of Imbil where you will find a country pub, coffee shop and a couple of alternative type shops. The old railway line in Imbil doesn't run any longer but it is definitely worth popping your head in whilst you're in town, even if it is just for an nostalgic moment and a photo. I couldn't find the disused rail tunnel but I'm told it is not far out of town and it is easy to find. I just wasn't looking hard enough, apparently.

Caravans are welcome. Powered and unpowered sites are available. There are also onsite Cabins for $70 p/night. It’s all weather and 2WD accessible road into the grounds.

Only $13 p/night p/adult for tent or camper trailer camping. There is a camping fee for man’s best friend and they do charge a $50 Good Behaviour Bond but I have never heard of anyone not getting the bond back so don't worry.

Highly recommend this campground and I will definitely be going back.

Borumba Deer Park, Imbil Queensland

http://www.borumbadeerpark.com/

Borumba Deer Park - Entry

Borumba Deer Park Driveway

Borumba Deer Park - Amenities Block

Borumba Deer Park - Camp Kitchen

Borumba Deer Park - Campgrounds

Borumba Deer Park - Cabins

Borumba Deer Park - Campgrounds

Borumba Deer Park - Boat Hire

Borumba Deer Park - Dinner

Borumba Deer Park - Black Cockatoo

Borumba Deer Park - Brekkie

Borumba Deer Park - Yabba Creek

Borumba Deer Park - Yabba Creek

Borumba Deer Park - Yabba Creek

Imbil Township

Imbil Township

Imbil Township

Lake Borumba

Lake Borumba

Lake Borumba

Borumba Deer Park - Telephone

Borumba Deer Park - Natives