Stockyard Point Lookout – Byfield National Park

Tag Archives: Byfield

Five Rocks 4WD Trip – Byfield National Park

Five Rocks Headland and Beach

Looking out over the Five Rocks Headland & Beach

Recently my family and I did a drive up to the Byfield National Park area, which is located around Five Rocks, Stockyard Point, and Nine Mile Beach. Access is 4WD only, so we took along our new Nissan Patrol. This was the first time we’d ever done sand driving, or proper four wheel driving for that matter, so it was exciting to be testing out the 4WD.

Byfield National Park covers an area of around 15,000 hectares or 37,000 acres, so it’s a huge, fairly unspoilt area. Notable features include the huge sand dunes in the Nine Mile Beach area. For more information about camping spots and facilities in the area, please visit this page on the EPA’s website.

Most people visit the Five Rocks area to four wheel drive, fish, camp or explore. Some do a combination of all these things. One good piece of advice for anyone wishing to go and visit this area is to bring someone in separate vehicle along, as there are plenty of potential for getting bogged in soft sand and the like. Anyway, below are some photos of our day trip up there:

Our convoy on the road to Five Rocks, as you can see the whole track there is sand.

Our convoy on the road to Five Rocks, as you can see the whole track there is sand.

Driving down the hill to the Stockyard Point Lookout. From here you can look north to the Five Rocks Headland or south over Nine Miles Beach.

Driving down the hill to the Stockyard Point Lookout. From here you can look north to the Five Rocks Headland or south over Nine Miles Beach.

Our parked cars at the Stockyard Point lookout.

Our parked cars at the Stockyard Point lookout.

The view to the Five Rocks Headland from Stockyard Point.

The view to the Five Rocks Headland from Stockyard Point.

Looking down to the start of Nine Mile Beach, jutting up to Stockyard Point.

Looking down to the start of Nine Mile Beach, jutting up to Stockyard Point.

I took this picture from the top of a small hill, overlooking the end of Nine Mile Beach. It was a beautiful place for swimming.

I took this picture from the top of a small hill, overlooking the end of Nine Mile Beach. It was a beautiful place for swimming.

The Orange Bowl - or so it called by locals. This gigantic pile of orange sand is a great place to rev up the 'ol 4WD and spin some wheels, but be wary of burning out your motor.

The Orange Bowl. This gigantic pile of orange sand is a great place to rev it up and spin some wheels, but rangers are handing out spot fines for anyone driving in the bowl itself.

December 28, 2008 – 4:11 pm | Posted in Byfield, Information for Locals, Information for Tourists, Photography | Also tagged , , | Comments (20)

Stony Creek

Well just yesterday we went for a drive up to Stony Creek in Byfield to have a picnic with some friends. I wanted to add a panorama of the Stony Creek crossing to my Yeppoon Photo Panoramas, so I took enough photos of the creek crossing for Photoshop to stich the whole scene together.

Stony Creek is a large camping and picnic area, with the main feature being, of course, the creek that divided those two areas. To cross there is a concrete causeway which is covered by about 10cm of water in normal flow. After heavy rain the picnic area is sometimes cut off because the causeway is too deeply covered.

Stony Creek has many important facilities such as toilets, free gas barbeques, picnic tables, taps, and bushwalks. Because the Stony Creek area is protected, no domestic animals such as dogs or cats are allowed. There is one marked bushwalking track, which winds along beside the creek for kilometres. The main circuit is only about 1km long however.

Camping can be booked through the EPA website.

Below I’ve put in some photos of Stony Creek from the day:

The Stony Creek crossing, looking towards the entrance and camping area.
The Stony Creek crossing, looking towards the entrance and camping area.

The Stony Creek swimming area. This is the main swimming area, looking from the road crossing.
The Stony Creek swimming area. This is the main swimming area, looking from the road crossing.

Looking in the other direction from the above photo, Stony Creek merrily continuing on its way downstream.
Looking in the other direction from the above photo, Stony Creek merrily continuing on its way downstream.

This view shows the platform on the picnic side of Stony. This is where most people jump in the creek from. The drain in the middle helps keep the water level over the crossing down.
This view shows the platform on the picnic side of Stony. This is where most people jump in the creek from. The drain in the middle helps keep the water level over the crossing down.

Water spilling over the other side of the road crossing.
Water spilling over the other side of the road crossing.

Looking over the road crossing towards the day use area of Stony Creek.
Looking over the road crossing towards the day use area of Stony Creek.

A small bridge on the main walking track. The blurred corners are an added effect.
A small bridge on the main walking track. The blurred corners are an added effect.

One of the many lovely plants growing along the walking track.
One of the many lovely plants growing along the walking track.

Rows of pine trees on either side of the road on the way out from Stony Creek. Again, I've added the blurred corners.
Rows of pine trees on either side of the road on the way out from Stony Creek. Again, I’ve added the blurred corners.

Stony Creek Panorama #1
Stony Creek Panorama #2
Last but not least, above are the two panoramas that I made from photos taken at Stony Creek. Click on the thumbnail images to see the full-size versions.

October 19, 2008 – 7:36 pm | Posted in Byfield, Daily Life, Information for Locals, Information for Tourists, Photography | Also tagged , , , , | Comments (6)

Stony Creek – Two New Panoramas

Recently we drove to Stony Creek for a picnic, and while there I took enough pictures for two different photo panoramas, which you can see below. Just click the thumbnail images to go to the full-size version:

Stony Creek Crossing, Byfield, #1
View of Stony Creek Crossing, Byfield, #1. Click photo for larger view.

Stony Creek Crossing, Byfield, #2
View of Stony Creek Crossing, Byfield, #2. Click photo for larger view.

October 19, 2008 – 6:18 pm | Posted in Byfield, Daily Life, Information for Locals, Information for Tourists, Photography | Also tagged , , | Comments (0)

Waterpark Creek

A few days ago on Tuesday my family and I went up Waterpark Creek in Byfield, to help our friends who run Waterpark Eco tours. They were replanting native shrubs and bushes along a section of Waterpark Creek that runs past their property. We helped plant a variety of different bushes, then after that we jumped in the creek and had a swim. Claudie (one of the owners) then took us for a ride around the tea-tree farm in the horse carriage. Below are the photos from the day:

Some of the very tropical looking trees right next to the creek. The two just in front are mango trees.
Some of the very tropical looking trees right next to the creek. The two just in front are mango trees.

Waterpark Creek on an overcast day. As you can see its a bit bigger than your average creek!
Waterpark Creek on an overcast day. As you can see its a bit bigger than your average creek!

Planting native shrubs and bushes along a small section of Waterpark Creek. Due to the flooding at the start of 2008, all the soil was sandy.
Planting native shrubs and bushes along a small section of Waterpark Creek. Due to the flooding at the start of 2008, all the soil was sandy.

Hey all you Yeppoonites, this is where the town water supply comes from (until the Rocky to Yeppoon pipeline is finished anyway). These pipes are up on a high section of the bank, about 5-10 metres away from Waterpark Creek.
Hey all you Yeppoonites, this is where the town water supply comes from (until the Rocky to Yeppoon pipeline is finished anyway). These pipes are up on a high section of the bank, about 5-10 metres away from

Another view of the town water pipes.
Another view of the town water pipes.

These leaves are from the famous Byfield fern, which is native to the Byfield area where it grows prolifically.
These leaves are from the famous Byfield fern, which is native to the Byfield area where it grows prolifically.

Another view of the Byfield Fern.
Another view of the Byfield Fern.

My sisters having a swim in Waterpark Creek, along with a couple of stick-mad dogs.
My sisters having a swim in Waterpark Creek, along with a couple of stick-mad dogs.

Claudie pulling out the horse carriage. The horses are hitched up on either side of the wooden bar in front.
Claudie pulling out the horse carriage. The horses are hitched up on either side of the wooden bar in front.

A row of very young tea-tree trees. Every few years or so a whole section is cut down, then processed to make tea-tree oil and mulch.
A row of very young tea-tree trees. Every few years or so a whole section is cut down, then processed to make tea-tree oil and mulch.

September 25, 2008 – 9:15 pm | Posted in Byfield, Daily Life, Information for Locals, Information for Tourists, Photography | Also tagged , , , , | Comments (0)

Camping at Red Rock State Forest

A few weeks ago my family and I went camping with a group of friends to a place called Red Rock, which is located around the Byfield area. We camped there for one weekend, and did some exploring around all the interesting forestry tracks. I’ve included some photos below of the lovely Stony Creek that runs through the camping area, as well as some views of the Red Rock area.

The facilities at Red Rock are pretty good. There are men’s and women’s toilets, taps (although you’re not supposed to drink the water), camping areas, picnic tables and a car track around the whole camping area. The road into Red Rock is all dirt, but it’s only a few kilometres long. There is also a self-registration booth at the entrance to camping area.

In summer Red Rock is known for its terrible swarms of mosquitoes, but in winter they’re all dead and we were only bothered by one or two single mosquitoes.

Below are some of the photos that I took while camping at Red Rock:

One of the many forestry tracks winding in and around the Red Rock area. They're all dirt, but hardly anyone uses them and they're really good for long walks or rides.
One of the many forestry tracks winding in and around the Red Rock area. They’re all dirt, but hardly anyone uses them and they’re really good for long walks or rides.

Some baby pine trees next to the road in to Red Rock. The forestry department log these trees once they grow big enough.
Some baby pine trees next to the road in to Red Rock. The forestry department log these trees once they grow big enough.

A few more pine trees, which appear to be leaning a lot but really aren't. It's just the camera angle.
A few more pine trees, which appear to be leaning a lot but really aren’t. It’s just the camera angle.

The beautiful Stony Creek running just down from the camping area. This particular spot is about 800m downstream from the camping area.
The beautiful Stony Creek running just down from the camping area. This particular spot is about 800m downstream from the camping area.

Looking downstream in the other direction from the above photo. I reckon it looks like somewhere from the Northern Territory! But don't worry about crocodiles too much, the water in the creek was much too cold for crocodiles to survive in it.
Looking downstream in the other direction from the above photo. I reckon it looks like somewhere from the Northern Territory! But don’t worry about crocodiles too much, the water in the creek was much too cold for crocodiles to survive in it.

August 19, 2008 – 6:20 pm | Posted in Byfield, Daily Life, Information for Locals, Information for Tourists, Photography | Also tagged , , , , | Comments (0)