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General Category => Fishing Reports => Topic started by: A Marshall on August 21, 2011, 11:38:40 AM

Title: Sundown National Park
Post by: A Marshall on August 21, 2011, 11:38:40 AM
Decided to do a quick trip down into Sundown with my son. Temp is still a bit cold for cod as alot of the waterholes are fairly shallow.  I wanted to do some walking up & down the river from the camping site to check out some good spots for future trips.
We entered the park from the Ballandean side which involves a 1 1/2 hour 4wd trip from the entrance of the park down to the Burrows waterhole where the campsite is. The floods back at the start of the year had a fair impact on this part of the world as well with tracks washed out & toilets washed away. A lot of the track has been bulldozed which has softened the trip in & the drop toilets have been replaced.
A sign of the good year we have had was the number of kangaroos that were seen, also a lot of deer were spotted however they were a lot more timid than the roos which hardly bothered to move as we drove past them. This part of the river is still in QLD so no closed season exists, however we did not disturb any fish on this trip.

Cheers Andrew
Title: Re: Sundown National Park
Post by: rayke1938 on August 21, 2011, 01:29:49 PM
Oh to be young and fit!.
 Thanks for the report one of the many places that I have never had the privilege to visit. Nice time of the year to be in the bush cold nights but lovely days, few insects and wattle in bloom.
And a bonus to share it with your son.
 Cheers
Ray
Title: Re: Sundown National Park
Post by: Nativeman on August 21, 2011, 03:00:35 PM
Andrew

Thanks for sharing, I have done many trips into there when I was in a 4wd club years ago. If only I was into fishing back then as much as I am now. I could go back there tomorrow, that sort of country is amazing. I can remember seeing larger Kangaroos, dark fur I think they are called Wallaroos or somethinh like that, do they still roam down there in those parts..

I think the fish might have been frightened off by your sons boardshorts, you need to blend in  :D

Anyway again thanks for showing a part of this great land that I like to visit...

Cheers
Title: Re: Sundown National Park
Post by: A Marshall on August 21, 2011, 03:37:46 PM
Yes Sel, Wallaroos, a few getting around, usually a bit stockier than the eastern greys, often with quite dark fur & big block heads.
Lots of wildlife down that way unfortunately a lot of ferals, pigs, deer & goats, would be a hunters paradise if you were allowed.
Not too worried about what Dan wears, just happy that at nearly 14 he still wants to hang out with his old man.

Thanks Ray, don't know about being young enough, my knees are giving me curry today, but it was worth it.

Cheers Andrew
Title: Re: Sundown National Park
Post by: takrat on August 21, 2011, 04:15:30 PM
Hey Andrew,
THat's good country mate, I haven't been in there for years. I wrote it up a couple of times in magazines but never got to fish it. The scenery is something else! Did you go into Red Rock Gorge? that's worth a look even if there's no fishing. I spoke to the ranger there on one trip and he told me that he regularly walks from the Glen Lyon end right up to Burrows WH and picks off as many goats and deer as he can. I was woked up down there one night by a herd of deer crossing the creek. Did you know they tried to run sheep there in the old days and the digos ate more sheep than the squatters did. There used to be the remains of a 14strand fence there on the way in. Lots of stories in that country.
John
Title: Re: Sundown National Park
Post by: A Marshall on August 21, 2011, 04:42:14 PM
Hi John, I grew up in Ballandean &  used head down into that country on a tractor & trailer when it was still a sheep property,dad was friends with the owner. Back in those days the track was rougher, it took 10 hours to get to the river on the tractor. The track that is used now was put in by the mining company that was working the area in those days.
Red rock Gorge was the first place I ever abseiled, used to visit it fairly regularly with Venturers.
Yes I would hate the job of fencing the place. It really is a patch of wilderness.

Cheers Andrew
Title: Re: Sundown National Park
Post by: takrat on August 21, 2011, 10:03:57 PM
That's interesting mate, I had a look at some of the places they put in the fence posts and they've chipped a little depression in the granite then piled rocks around the base of the post. Heartbreak country with a shovel and bar.
John