We often travel to the Atherton Tableland south-west of Cairns in Far North Qld as Denyse was born there and her mother still lives there. We enjoy returning to Lake Tinaroo in particular, as Denyse’s father worked on the dam and her family lived here while the dam was being built. Only the concrete foundations remain of the primary school she attended.
This year we decided to check out Lake Tinaroo Holiday Park. This Top Tourist Park is also a member of the Discovery Parks parks.
PARK LAYOUT
A large grassy area with a children’s playground and picnic tables and barbecues is all that separates this park from the lake, so it has a very pleasant aspect. A floating pontoon nearby is a great asset.
The previous time we visited the park, Cyclone Larry had smashed some of the cabins and many of the large trees. The latter have been removed making the park look more spacious, and the damaged cabins have been replaced. Some very tall gum trees remain, however, and overhang some of the sites.
The caravan park is on a hill, so most sites have a view. The upper sites have concrete pads, power, water and sullage, while some of the lower sites are grassed, very large and have fireplaces and wood barbecues. Some wood is supplied. Some sites are drive-through.
As with many older parks, some of the sites may be a bit ‘squeezy’ for larger vans.
Several of the lower powered sites are beside a system of small, artificial, spring-fed lagoons. Various bird-attracting native shrubs and trees have been planted around these lagoons, and we saw many different varieties of birds.
All roads in the park are sealed. There is a variety of cabins, as well as a small camping area.
The managers, Rod and Jo Hollis, have been with Discovery Parks for some years and were thrilled to be appointed managers of Tinaroo. They have plans to improve the park and have already constructed a new dam. They love animals, and are happy to have well-behaved dogs in their park.
Next to the holiday park, and with a separate entrance, is a Discovery Home Village with freehold, demountable homes for permanent residents. Discovery Parks are adding these villages to some of their holiday parks in appropriate areas, and they appear to be popular with RVers.
The park is very quiet, with almost no road noise. Birdlife is abundant – over 350 species have been identified in the area. Many wallabies collect at the bottom of the park in the evening, and we were surprised to see a number of rabbits.
There are several bushwalking trails to explore nearby as well as a lake walk.
AMENITIES
There are two amenities blocks. The top block is renovated and kept very clean, and the lower block is new. Showers have shelves and hooks, and hand soap, paper towels and two-ply toilet paper are supplied in both blocks.
Although Tinaroo is in the tropics, it can get cold in winter, so it was pleasing to find that the showers have heaps of hot water and good pressure.
There is a laundry in each block and there is also a dump point.
FACILITIES
The office/general store sells basic supplies, papers, fuels, oils, ice and gas refills. It stocks a good range of tourist brochures and can arrange tour bookings. It also sells redclaw pots, bait and fishing gear, and freshwater fishing permits if you do not have one already. There is also an email/internet booth. A camp kitchen has barbecues, seats and tables. A guest lounge includes a large widescreen TV.
The very attractive resort-style pool is a recent addition as, is a jumping pillow. The park also conducts a Kids’ Club in the holiday season.
Canoes are available along with hire pedal karts, and there should be hire dinghies with outboard motors by the time you read this. A boat ramp is close by.
The managers allow you to wash your car and van on the grass, which is much appreciated if you have been up in the Gulf.
An onsite café supplies breakfast, lunch and dinner as well as takeaways, and there are two restaurants within walking distance of the park.
We had excellent TV reception on both digital and analogue, and two bars on our Next G phone. Next G wireless broadband was rather fluky, with up to three bars using the small antenna.
LAKE TINAROO
Tinaroo Falls Dam was completed in 1959 for irrigation for the Tableland farming industry. Lake Tinaroo has been stocked with barramundi, sooty grunter (black bream) and mangrove Jack as well as redclaw crayfish. It is a large lake with more than 200km of shoreline. You can hire houseboats, swim, sail, waterski or fish. Several world-record barramundi have been caught here.
There are some great walking tracks in the World Heritage rainforest as well as pine plantations, and brochures outlining these are available at the office.
Fishing (for barra and redclaw) is perhaps the greatest attraction, but remember, you must have a fishing permit. These can be obtained from the caravan park store. There are heavy penalties for fishing without a current permit.
For barramundi, you can fish successfully from the shore or boat. The best time is around dusk, using soft plastic lures. All fish prefer some sort of cover, so try a spot where there are old dead trees or snags, or on the outside of a weed bed.
While we were there, a fellow camper caught a 14kg barra off the shore near the van park. The world-record barramundi caught here weighed over 38kg.
You do not require a permit for redclaw crayfish. They are vegetarian, so good pot bait is half-cooked potatoes, avocado, banana skins or fruit peels, and a tin of dog or cat food seems to be a good standby. These are available at the van park store. Normally redclaw are found in the deeper spots, but you can often find a drop-off on the banks of the lake.
Manager Rod and I put a few pots in and next day they were full. One redclaw was the biggest either of us had seen.
DANBULLA FOREST DRIVE
The scenic 28km Danbulla Forest Drive takes you around the lake through World Heritage-listed rainforest and pine plantations. The road is mostly unsealed but is kept in good condition and suitable for any car.
This drive passes several interesting places, including the Kauri Creek day-use and camping areas and walks. You then come to the old Euramoo State School and Lake Euramoo, a volcanic crater, formed about 10,000 years ago, which has a short rainforest walk. The stone chimneys in the Chimneys day-use area are all that remains of a house built in 1924.
Of geological interest on this drive is the Mobo Creek Crater, around which is a 630m walk through rainforest. Platypus may be spotted on this walk. Denyse and I have also spotted platypus in many areas around Lake Tinaroo, so keep a lookout in the backwaters.
At the eastern end of the forest drive is a very impressive strangler fig tree: don’t miss it.
All these features are signposted. There are several day-use picnic and camping spots around the lake, so take a picnic lunch and make a day of this interesting drive.
You may return the way you came, or do the round trip as we did, and continue on past lakes Barrine and Eacham, Tinaburra Waters, Yungaburra and Atherton.
Lake Tinaroo Holiday Park is one of those quiet places that have not yet been overtaken by southern RVers, and it’s a great place to base yourself while exploring the Tableland.
LAKE TINAROO HOLIDAY PARK
Lake Tinaroo Holiday Park is rated at four stars, and is a member of the
Top Tourist Group as well as a member of the Discovery Parks group.
It is around 20km north-east of Atherton on the Atherton Tableland south-west of Cairns.
Contact details are Tinaroo Falls Dam Road, Tinaroo Falls, Qld 4872, (07) 4095 8232, laketinaroo@discoveryparks.com.au, www.discoveryholidayparks.com.au
The park allows dogs, but check with management first.
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