Getting out and about on the water
Bjelke-Petersen Dam & Lake Barambah
The Bjelke-Petersen Dam near Moffatdale captures the flows of Barker Creek, Four Mile Creek, Six Mile Creek, Frickey Creek and Cattle Creek to create Lake Barambah.
Boondooma Dam
Boondooma Dam is located on the Boyne River on the boundary of Boondooma and Proston in the northeast of the South Burnett and is also fed by the Stuart River.
Stuart River & Gordonbrook Dam
The Stuart River begins below Mount Kiangarow within the Bunya Mountains National Park and flows north through the outskirts of Kingaroy, before flowing west through Gordonbrook and past the town of Proston.
Barambah Creek & Ficks Crossing
Barambah Creek begins in the hills between Kingaroy and the Sunshine Coast just north of Gallangowan. The creek runs for roughly 240 kilometres and ends when it reaches the Burnett River just east of Gayndah.
Barkers Creek
Barkers Creek is a small winding creek that begins at the base of the Bunya Mountains National Park and meanders its way north for approximately 100 kilometres. Barkers runs past the township of Nanango and is a feeder creek to BP Dam.
Fishing in the South Burnett read more
With several great dams, lakes, rivers and lagoons there’s plenty of top freshwater fishing options in the South Burnett for anglers of all abilities to explore. For total beginners looking to dip their toes in, Australian Freshwater Fishing Charters can cater to every fishing experience to suit your needs, with the goal to help you better understand and educate you on how to locate, observe and catch more fish. While fishing or swimming in the South Burnett it’s important to take note of the level of blue-green algae in the water and obey all nearby signage warning against any swimming or drinking restrictions as conditions can vary greatly throughout the year depending on overall weather, temperatures and rainfall.
Coomba Falls
Right on Maidenwell’s doorstep is the majestic Coomba Falls, a waterfall and picnic spot tucked away between striking granite cliffs. Popular with bird watchers and photographers, the falls are a lovely spot to relax on a summer day, with the cool water perfect for a quick dip. Be warned, the stairs from the car park down to the falls are quite the pilgrimage and not suitable for prams.
Wooroolin Wetlands
The Wooroolin Wetlands are a fantastic place to walk and explore the native wildlife and the rest stop in the middle of town is a free 24-hour camping site for travellers to take a break and relax.
Kinbombi Falls
If you feel like a bit of an adventure head east on the Bunya Highway and follow the signs for Kinbombi Falls. The falls are a popular free camping destination, just 10 minutes outside Goomeri and an excellent place to explore by foot. The pool at the base of the falls is a great spot to cool off after hiking, so long as there has been some recent rainfall to flush it out.
Bjelke-Petersen Dam and Lake Barambah
Completed in 1988, the Bjelke-Petersen Dam near Moffatdale captures the flows of Barker Creek, Four Mile Creek, Six Mile Creek, Frickey Creek and Cattle Creek to create Lake Barambah.
The dam is named after the former state premier, Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen who lived on a farm named Bethany, just outside Kingaroy. The dam is stocked with Australian bass, golden perch, silver perch and Saratoga. Lake Barambah, which is named after one of the first cattle stations in the area, covers about 2500 hectares and is renowned for its bass fishery. Yallakool Caravan Park on BP Dam is extremely popular with families and keen fishermen and women. If you enjoy the fresh country air and a place where you can relax, swim, fish, boat or water ski, Bjelke-Petersen Dam is the perfect place for you to spend some time to find out more visit www.southburnett.qld.gov.au/BjelkePetersenDam .
Looking to stay at BP Dam?
Boondooma Dam
Constructed in 1983 to provide a water supply for Tarong Power Station, Boondooma Dam is located on the Boyne River on the boundary of Boondooma and Proston in the northeast of the South Burnett and is also fed by the Stuart River. Boondooma Dam is stocked with Australian bass, golden perch, silver perch and Saratoga. Boondooma Dam also plays host to a range of fishing competitions each year including the Family Yellow Belly Fishing Competition every February.
The family-friendly event attracts people from all over the country for a great fishing experience for all ages. The award-winning Lake Boondooma Caravan and Recreation Park, located 20 kilometres north of Proston provides a range of camping and cabin accommodation options year-round with Boondooma Dam a drawcard for anglers and campers, as well bird-watchers and water-sports enthusiasts. for more details visit www.southburnett.qld.gov.au/BoondoomaDam
Looking to stay at Boondooma Dam?
Stuart River & Gordonbrook Dam
The Stuart River begins below Mount Kiangarow within the Bunya Mountains National Park and flows north through the outskirts of Kingaroy, before flowing west through Gordonbrook and past the town of Proston. The river enters Lake Boondooma where it reaches the junction of the Boyne River and becomes the Burnett River, offering some great bass fishing opportunities to anglers who aren’t afraid of a little kayaking. Gordonbrook Dam is a relatively small dam stocked with bass and yellow belly, located 21 kilometres north of Kingaroy. Fishing is restricted to the shore and there is no camping available on site, making it one of the region’s most tranquil locations to drop a line. The best way to fish the dam is by kayak and it’s easily accessed by a small boat ramp at the picnic area. Back to top
Barambah Creek and Ficks Crossing
Barambah Creek begins in the hills between Kingaroy and the Sunshine Coast north of Gallangowan. The creek runs for roughly 240km and ends when it reaches the Burnett River just east of Gayndah. Ficks Crossing is a lovely little waterhole just five kilometres outside of Murgon nestled right on the banks of Barambah Creek, making it a great fishing and picnic location for families. Popular with kayakers and paddle boarders, one end of the creek is shallow and provides easy access to enter the water to fish or go in for a swim while upstream a pier gives shore fishermen better access to the deeper parts of the creek. If you’re going in by kayak there is a good launching site just below the picnic area at the end of the fishing hole. The waterhole provides anglers with a lot of water to fish as the creek gives you the opportunity to fish roughly 10km before you reach the next weir upstream. Barambah Creek is a great location to fish for bass, yellow belly and silver perch. Make sure you check out the famous Ficks Crossing weather stone to see what’s in store for the daily forecast. Back to top
Kinbombi Falls
If you feel like a bit of an adventure head east on the Bunya Highway and follow the signs for Kinbombi Falls. The falls are a popular free camping destination, just 10 minutes outside Goomeri and an excellent place to explore by foot. The pool at the base of the falls is a great spot to cool off after hiking, so long as there has been some recent rainfall to flush it out. Back to top
Coomba Falls
Right on Maidenwell’s doorstep is the majestic Coomba Falls, a waterfall and picnic spot tucked away between striking granite cliffs. Popular with bird watchers and photographers, the falls are a lovely spot to relax on a summer day, with the cool water perfect for a quick dip. Be warned, the stairs from the car park down to the falls are quite the pilgrimage and not suitable for prams. Back to top
Wooroolin Wetlands
The Wooroolin Wetlands are a fantastic place to walk and explore the native wildlife and the rest stop in the middle of town is a free 24-hour camping site for travellers to take a break and relax. Located 16 kilometres north of Kingaroy along the Bunya Highway. The Wooroolin Wetlands were declared a fauna sanctuary in 1973, now classified as a palustrine wetland, a non-tidal, inland, seasonally flooded, vegetated swamp. Some 25 different birds have been sighted including nankeen kestrels, striated pardalotes and golden-headed cisticola. Take in the surroundings with a stop over at the bird hide or take on one or both of the walking trails. Back to top
Barkers Creek
Barkers Creek is a small winding creek that begins at the base of the Bunya Mountains National Park and meanders its way north for approximately 100 kilometres. Barkers runs past the township of Nanango and is a feeder creek to BP Dam. This creek system is quite small and tight and holds a tremendous amount of structure. The best holes in the system are located below and a kayak option would be the best to fish from. Barkers Creek produces some of the best fishing sessions in the region, particularly early in the morning and late in the afternoon. Access points include Barkers Creek Flat Weir, five kilometres west of Nanango on Mcauley-Roome Road, Mondure Crossing eight kilometres north of Nanango and Broadwater Camping Reserve also offers some great access to this system and sits 15 kilometres north of Nanango. Back to top