A jaunt to Jimna

If the opportunity presents itself, a mid-week camping trip to Jimna is the perfect antidote to those mid-year, inner-city blues. Sure it's cold but you'll probably only have to share the campground with a couple of other campers, and it's likely you'll see some of the rarer species of Australian wildlife. Just remember to pack your beanie or your hoodie!
My attorney and I landed in Landsborough on a Wednesday so unfortunately the historical museum was closed. However, there are plenty of lovely little craft shops to poke about and the locals are very friendly. On to Kilcoy, and we partook of a delicious country-style lunch and a couple of bets at the Exchange Hotel.
On arriving at the Peachtree campground at Jimna, we set up our little tent as the black cockatoos wailed in the distance. Jimna is on the boundary of the Mary River catchment, and the Peachtree campground sits along Little Yabba Creek. It remains to be seen how the cursed dam will impact on the abundant wildlife of this beautiful region of South East Queensland.
At dusk we wandered down to spot platypus gliding through the depths of the glassy, black creek. The water fowl harked and splashed causing the reflections of the tall eucalypts to shimmer in the moonlight. As evening descended, we lit a fire and luxuriated in the peace and quiet, while every now and then, a small plane traversed the star filled sky. Some rustling revealed a mother possum with a baby on her back and a couple of crash bandicoot. Later, some louder rustling revealed not the Kilcoy Yowie, but three free-ranging cows, presumably from a nearby station. We tuned into some trashy talkback and serendipitous Billy Joel on the trusty transistor, before turning in, and drifting off to sleep as the dingoes howled at the moon.
The morning bought with it a clear, crisp day and melodious native birdsong. We watched a couple of dancing satin bowerbirds and stealthy goannas before gathering some lemons from a bush lemon tree, which made a decent marmalade! A visit to the Jimna Store for more ice was worth it to see the pretty garden. As for the heritage-listed Jimna Fire Tower, well it's still there, but only just. According to one of the rangers, the state and local government couldn't agree on who should pay for repairs to a rotten post.
According to the winter edition of Bush Telegraph, camping fees are on the rise and from this Saturday (July 1) - it will be $4.50 for adults (under 5s free) or $18 per night for a family. Take some marshmallows to toast on the fire!
Megan Yarrow