Lakefield NP suggestions

[Big D]

Hi all....my wife and 2 girls are travelling through Lakefield in July and before I book a campsite I thought I'd throw it out there and ask for suggestions of camp locations.  I've found the perfect site which is available (Annies) but it is only a single campsite and the wife would prefer to be camping near others.  We have a camper trailer and  I want somewhere to throw a bait or lure from the bank with my 11yo fishing daughter, but would prefer somewhere with tidal influence to give us a chance of saltwater fish (Queenies, cod etc) given the chance of a barra is fairly low at that time of year.

I know I'm being fussy but this is our 8 week trip of a lifetime and want it to be as good as I can make it.

So I'm open to all suggestions from those who have some knowledge.

Thanks in advance

Big D

[GBC]

Camp at kalpower with the facilities and drive to the fishing.

[Big D]

Camp at kalpower with the facilities and drive to the fishing.

Hey GBC, thanks for the tip.. we will only have one day to fish,,,,I was kinda hoping we could camp somewhere to throw a line out front of camp....dawn and dusk....to save time having to drive and find somewhere....I was looking at Melaleuca Waterhole and Orange Plain Waterhole but there seems to be a stack of trees in the river in front.....but both of which seem to have other campsites nearby but not too close....any other suggestions???

[sol]

Big D give Duggie a pm.
He had a write up on here about Lakefield a while back.


         

[duggie]

Big D give Duggie a pm.
He had a write up on here about Lakefield a while back.


         

Sol and BigD ,

Sorry , even though I have been going to Lakefield National Park for over 35 years fishing I have never been down in the salt water end of the park . So I can't really advise you on the kind of spot you are looking for .

cheers duggie

[Redback]

Mick Feinn is a good spot, camps one and two are the best I think, there's 5 in total, and a boat ramp, no facilities though.

https://www.npsr.qld.gov.au/parks/rinyirru-lakefield/camping.html#mick_fienn_waterhole_camping_area

[jclures]

Mick Feinn is a good spot, camps one and two are the best I think, there's 5 in total, and a boat ramp, no facilities though.

https://www.npsr.qld.gov.au/parks/rinyirru-lakefield/camping.html#mick_fienn_waterhole_camping_area

It is a good spot, but it is still in the fresh water though.

[Chris J]

Annie is in the northern part of the Park, it’s salt water, open flat area with mangroves, A concrete boat ramp located as you reach the water, A pro crabber lives beside the boat ramp, there is no shade in this area and you will suffer from sand-flies and mosquitoes if it not blowing 20 knots or better. The Annie is for hard core fisherman with boats as it offers the closest and shortest run to the coast

My suggestion would be either Kalpowar crossing, cold showers, toilets. Other campers very close by, upstream from the causeway is an expansive area of water DON’T SWIM in this water way as it has CROCS. Swim in the shallow smaller pools downstream but look for crocs first. Last time I was there I had to chase a fresh water croc from my swimming hole.

Hann River crossing located at the northern end of the park, good fishing at times just below the small waterfall below the causeway, watch for Crocs and DON’T SWIM unless you swim in a shallow small pool between road causeway and falls. The area has two drop toilets but no other facilities, most camp site in this area have good shade. Camp site20 further down has access to upper salt reaches.

Hope that helps

[Big D]

Thanks for all the advice, I've ended up booking Hann Crossing camp 2.  Will travel a bit to find some tidal influence but who knows I might be able to pick up a nice 80cm barra in the waterhole out front of camp!

Will try the waterfall below the crossing too.  I've only ever caught a golden trevally and some sort of estuary cod in the tropics, so have  lot to learn....will have to hit locals up for some technique tips. ]

Thanks again.

Big D

[krisandkev]

Spent a few days in camp 5 last year.  Heard a lot of splashing one night and got our torch and found it was a croc hunting.  A couple of families turned up the very next day and went right into the water where this croc had been and starting fishing.  I told them about the croc and they did not care, then their children followed and went splashing in that very water!  We were absolutely amazed that this family did not have any concerns about crocs.  They did catch two not bad sized barra but released them.   We loved Lakefield and went for lots of drives.  Enjoy......   Kevin

[Rumpig]

Plenty of crocs at Lakefield that's for sure, keep a good on your kids there. I met a guy that had caught his daily limit of Barra when we stayed there last, he was actually one fish over his limit, so asked if we wanted one, which I took off him and we cooked it up for dinner.

[listo]

I'm not sure what our camp was called (I thought it was called Annie River camp), but it was further up the river than the boat ramp. We fished it pretty hard of land & out of boats & were glad we took plenty of food with us as we barely caught a feed. Talking to a guy at the boat ramp, he said for some reason the Annie doesn't seem to fire so well. He recommended Kalpowar crossing for us too.
There were plenty of crocs alright, I've never seen so many in one area

[bully]

Annie river. A mate just got back from there and cleaned up on king salmon. Also another mate is a fisho and just got back from there and said the pros are also cleaning up on fish. Area is easy to access as the road is not to bad apparently.