Split Rock Dam & Bingara
12th July – 26th July 2024
Leaving the locals to Lake Keepit, we made our way to Split Rock Dam and from there, a campsite on the Gwydir River at Bingara.
We’re pleased to report that there were no incidents with the car, the van, the terrain or us. Halleluiah!
We finally found the relaxation we had been searching for at Split Rock Dam. Our friends (Jenny & Ralph) from Tamworth came out to visit us and we were able treat them to a camp oven meal.
But of course, before camp oven cooking, there’s camp oven wood hunting.
We really detoxed there, it was quiet, peaceful and quite lovely. But again, we were disgusted with the rubbish left behind in the picnic area. Camping isn’t allowed in the picnic area, so it’s a local problem. Split Rock is a popular spot for day visitors, for swimming, picnicking and boating – and I’ll leave it at that. Our camp was a kilometre away, so our cleanup didn’t get that far. We did clean up for a couple of hundred metres in each direction from our camp.
Rubbish aside this was a really pretty area, and I think we’ll be back again. We even had a chance to wet the kayaks. Split Rock dam is huge, and we only saw a small part of it; much more to explore, and a good excuse to return.
There weren’t many birds there, but there was one very curious Whistling Kite. We must have been camped in his territory as we saw him several times a day. Each day he came closer, and I was able to get some lovely shots.
The only other bird shots I got were of an Australasian Darter and a parrot I had not seen before, a Musk Lorikeet. I couldn’t get many decent shots, but these should show how pretty he was.
I saw a Sea Eagle chasing a Whistling Kite. I couldn’t figure out why, then I saw the fish clutched tightly in the Whistling Kites talons. They disappeared from view and I don’t know who ended up with the meal.
We spent five nights at Split Rock Dam then started to make our way north to Kingaroy. We camped by the Gwydir River in Bingara, and it was so nice we stayed two nights. If time would have allowed, we would have stayed longer.
I think in the right season, this place will be full of birds. As it was I saw a few, including this stunning Azure Kingfisher who spent quite a bit of time fishing near our camp.
From there we drove through Glen Innes and Tanah Merah for four nights, and our regular stop at Rodney’s Rest before reaching Kingaroy on the 26th.
There we’ll catch up with family and run Big Ears and Chunky Bum over the scales…again.
Now that’s going to be scary.
See you out there somewhere
On tow and on the go!
Looks like another great adventure. Enjoyed the photos – particularly the birds. 🦆😁
Thanks Rae
Thank goodness you got some stres
s free camping. Looks beautiful
Thanks Julia, there’s more to come, but its exciting stress. If there is such a thing. 🙂