Brilliant Bigriggen

[AUS-BNE-FISHO]

Hi all

The other day (the weekend before last to be precise) I went out with a few families to Bigriggen Park, a camping ground situated on the (Upper) Logan River. Apart from one report from 2013, where someone had success when catching bass in there, I didn't have anything to go by. I decided to pack a couple rods anyway, and Dad was good enough to even pack the yak!

On Friday night we got to the campsite. There were plenty of firepits and we could find a spot pretty easily. We set up camp and had an early dinner and night. The next morning, we weren't going fishing... there was a little BMX/Bike track there, which was a bit of fun. It could probably do with a bit of TLC, as most of the things that were once on it are worn away, but I still had fun there. I came back to camp and had some brekky, then I rode along a lovely trail by the creek. It was really rocky, but it was good to ride along the track, which was just by the creek. 

At about 11, I was informed we were going for a hike at Mount Barney - lower portals. After a 20 odd minute drive, we got there. The sign at the start of the trail said 7.5KM's, so with a bit of water and food we departed. It was a nice track, with enough ups and downs to be interesting but not to completely exhaust you. We crossed small creeks, up rocks, and in general had a nice time. We got to a larger creek crossing which required me to clamber across with all arms and legs down looking like a clown (to make matters worse everyone else did it with ease ). 

After a little bit more walking, we got to a awesome part of the track. It was a big creek, which I could rock hop up. I followed a couple people from our group up to the top, and after clambering back and forth from big rocks I decided to see if I could walk out in the water (fail, everything that touched the water went numb within seconds ). For the next hour or so, I went back up and down the rocks, as well as climbed up a little hole to get to the top. One of the girls with us (my sister was at a birthday party, that's why there were a fair few people), also found a nice little Halco lure (perfect size for a bream or bass I would've thought), and apparently someone saw a large eel!

Hi!

Going up the rocks

On the way out, I realised there was a campsite there. This would be a pretty good spot to come and camp in, when it's Summer. I could go with my mates, we could hike in, cook dinner on our Trangia's, swim in the pools, and then catch an eel! We hiked out, and I must admit, I quite enjoyed the whole experience . 

Snoozing

Freezing

We drove back to camp, and Dad and I both wanted to go for an exploratory mission, so we launched the yak in down at the creek. To start off with, we fished the Upper Logan River with the little Halco lure and a Holt Productions Swim Prawn. I stood up on the yak, and I reckon I gave the whole creek (until it got blocked off by a assemblage of shrubs of branches) a pretty good crack. We only had to navigate through a couple sets of rapids before this point, so it was quite nice. On the way back up I fished the creek with the other lure. As we were going up, we realised there were a few more rapids, so we had to walk a bit. We continued to fish until the was another creek block from branches. In this time, we saw a couple of native birds up close, but otherwise there was nothing of interest happening on our lines. We did see a shrimp trap (nothing in it), so I guess that means we weren't the only ones fishing that creek. 

Leaving

Fishing

Dad trying to get through rapids

When we got back, we went and sat around the fire, and ate some yummy pasta for dinner. Sooner or later I was in bed and I woke up for our final day at Bigriggen. The tent was working well, and it had rained a little and we were all still dry. I woke up the final day, and after going for another ride packed away all the gear. I finished off the camping trip with another ride, and just like we got there, we were away at about midday Sunday arvo. 

Overall, it was a nice experience. I would definitely recommend the Mount Barney hike for anyone who can do a little bit of rock stepping and walk on a trail with a couple of slipping hazards. Also, if you do camp there, bring plenty of twigs, newspaper, sticks, and logs, so you can light and sustain fires easy, as it's pretty barren for firewood around the campsite. The toilets and showers are pretty good, though there is only one in the whole campsite so it's a bit of a pain to walk. Remember to bring dollar coins for showers, it's five minutes for a one dollar coin. It was only until the next day we found we should've gone in Burnett Creek, which was still on the campsite. I still had fun, and thanks for reading this report if you're still here.  

Cheers Hamish

[Junky]

Looks like a lovely place. 

Pitty about the fish not having a bite. 

[AUS-BNE-FISHO]

Just now, Junky said:

Looks like a lovely place. 

Pitty about the fish not having a bite. 

Hi Junky

Yes, it was very nice. The campsite does get crowded by the looks of things, so if a crowded campsite is not your thing I probably wouldn’t recommend going there.

Cheers Hamish

[Junky]

1 minute ago, AUS-BNE-FISHO said:

Hi Junky

Yes, it was very nice. The campsite does get crowded by the looks of things, so if a crowded campsite is not your thing I probably wouldn’t recommend going there.

Cheers Hamish

Thanks Hamish. 

Looking for places to take the squids. This is just up the road from where we live. 

Will check it out. 

[Drop Bear]

13 hours ago, AUS-BNE-FISHO said:

hanks for reading this report if you're still here

Nice one mate. Thanks for the report. I hope you weren't tampering with fishing apparatus?  

[jmac]

Staying there at the end of the month. Thanks for the report. Was thinking of taking the Kayak.

[AUS-BNE-FISHO]

21 hours ago, Junky said:

Thanks Hamish. 

Looking for places to take the squids. This is just up the road from where we live. 

Will check it out. 

I hope you like the place Junky . Flanagan's Reserve is nearby also. 

21 hours ago, Drop Bear said:

Nice one mate. Thanks for the report. I hope you weren't tampering with fishing apparatus?  

Thanks Robbie. Haha, nope, that trap was interfering with the kayak's route up the creek...

20 hours ago, jmac said:

Staying there at the end of the month. Thanks for the report. Was thinking of taking the Kayak.

No worries jmac. Hope you enjoyed it. The owner says water levels in the creeks vary. I think Burnett Creek is slightly bigger (which is the one at the top of the campsite). 

Cheers Hamish

[ellicat]

Hamish you are spoilt getting your folks to take you to all these places. You'll have good memories when you're old like me. (Well, assuming your memory is good )

[AUS-BNE-FISHO]

7 minutes ago, ellicat said:

Hamish you are spoilt getting your folks to take you to all these places. You'll have good memories when you're old like me. (Well, assuming your memory is good )

Haha, thanks Brian. Yes, I'm very lucky that my parents don't mind going out camping too. Dad and I want to go and kayak and camp at Harries Hut to the Everglades on the Noosa River (I think that is what it is), because it looks so nice!

Cheers Hamish

[Junky]

3 hours ago, ellicat said:

Hamish you are spoilt getting your folks to take you to all these places. You'll have good memories when you're old like me. (Well, assuming your memory is good )

It's good seeing parents be actual parents.

I thought the wife and I were the only ones that enjoyed having kids. 

[rayke1938]

if you are very fit a day trip to the stinson wreck via xmas creek is well worth the effort. Look up the details of the crash and subsequent search.

Cheers Ray

[ellicat]

4 hours ago, Junky said:

It's good seeing parents be actual parents.

I thought the wife and I were the only ones that enjoyed having kids. 

Count me in. I've always taken the kids camping along with the other stuff. They are still happy to do it with me too except we're more like mates these days.

[AUS-BNE-FISHO]

On 07/07/2021 at 4:34 PM, rayke1938 said:

if you are very fit a day trip to the stinson wreck via xmas creek is well worth the effort. Look up the details of the crash and subsequent search.

Cheers Ray

I will Ray. That sounds like a dream trip for my Dad and I!