Lake Monduran - Gin Gin
by Ross W.
Situated approximately 20 km north of Gin Gin it is a large stocked impoundment. Monduran has a surface area of some 5300 ha, an average depth of 11 metres and holds 586,000 megalitres of water at full capacity. Stocked species include Bass, Golden Perch (Yellowbelly), Silver Perch , Sooty Grunter, Saratoga, and Barramundi. Native species includes Fork-tailed Catfish, Eels, Tandans, Gar, and Spangled Perch. The lake is dominated by massive amounts of standing timber and is ideal for kayaks.
Getting there
Take the Pacific Motorway out of Brisbane, heading for the Sunshine Coast and follow the road signs to Gin Gin. Approximately 20 km north you will see the turn-off to Lake Monduran / Freg Haigh Dam. The recreational area is some 4 km along this road. The road is bitumen all the way to the recreational area and the boat ramp approach roads are gravel in good condition. You should allow 4 to 5 hours to get there.
Launching
The boat ramp (A) is down a 100 metre dirt road in reasonable condition. With the dam at 45% the launch area is three boats wide and has grass parking for 15 vehicles. It is worth noting that barramundi can and were caught within 10 metres of launching. It has a small beach beside it so you can park whilst you finish loading. There is no lighting in the area.
A - Boat Ramp near cabins / managers residence
B - Main boat ramp off access road
The formal boat ramp (B) is accessible via paths from the car park and is gently sloping into the water. Again the actual ramp is dirt but has a bitumen loop for parking the car.
Both offer good launching where you won't interfere with larger boats.
Facilities
There are full facilities at the launch sites, including informal car parking for over ten vehicles at each site on dirt / grass and some boat trailer parking. Down in the camping / recreational area there are free push-button operated electric BBQ's provided by Isis Council. There are a few picnic tables, rubbish-bin, toilets, and fish cleaning table.
The area has poor GSM mobile coverage except on the top of the hills but has good CDMA coverage through the area including the entire dam.
The recreational area (located at the northern end of the road loop at the base of the dam) has good camping or powered sites with ready access to the dam. If you trolley your kayak it is a steep hill and about 300 metres to the water. The shop sells ice and basic foodstuffs as well as fishing permits and a limited amount of lures. They can be contacted on:
| Phone: | (07) 4157 3881 (normally only answered between 10am and about 4pm) |
| Fax: | (07) 4157 3882 |
| Email: | monduran@kolan.qld.gov.au |
The recreational area has four cabins which are fully self contained. They have a microwave, TV, air-conditioning and ceiling fans. In the kitchen they have all your cooking utensils, cutlery, crockery, kettle, toaster a two burner hotplate. There is a small container of washing up liquid for you to use but if that runs out then you need to bring your own. There is a dishcloth and scourer pad. One extra garbage bag is supplied but same thing if you run out then you need to supply your own. They sleep up to five in relative comfort with a queen sized bed made up with linen and blankets and two towels. You need to bring linen and towels for the bunk and trundle single beds - blankets and pillows are supplied. Note the cabins are very cosy with five in for anything longer than a weekend. We found the fridge in the cabins was small if you bring all your food for seven days. Gin Gin is only 30 minutes away and has most of your needs whilst Bundaberg is only an hour away.
There are also one or two holiday houses available.
Comments
We were there when the dam was at 45%. The parking availability for the ramp near the recreation / camping area would have less parking if the dam water level was higher.
Fishing from launching ramp A in the branch of the dam was excellent. You need to be aware that the dam is full of standing timber and especially lantana in the shallow areas and you do get lures hooked up. Trolling across the dam wall and adjacent bays is very productive. At night in your quiet kayak or canoe you can hear the Barramundi rising. Catching a 1 metre Barramundi in a kayak makes the travel well worth it.