Island Reach Resort, Imbil: June 2014

Island Reach Resort
5 Island Road
Imbil
June, 2014

Mr and Mrs P.

We knew we wanted to go away for the long weekend in June, but didn't realise so would most other campers. It was beautiful weather with warm days and cold nights and mornings. Perfect weather for enjoying the river and a campfire. Last time we went camping on the long weekend was many years ago in a national park. It was freezing, freezing cold and there were only about 5 other campers there. No surprise really.

Our destination was to be Island Reach Resort at Imbil, we left early Friday morning, it was a very easy drive taking around 1 hr 40 minutes, the office opens at 8am and we were there about 8.30 am. The camping ground is on the edge of town coming from the south, it is on your right. Look for the red sign, it is easy to miss.

http://www.pradopoint.com/

On entering you need to park, and pay at the office, there are no credit card facilities. We drove in and were surprised by the crowd already there, we found a lovely spot on the river and set up camp. All day people arrived and arrived and arrived. By late Friday we were starting to wonder where they were all going to fit. A few drifted in Saturday morning, and the park ended up very squeezy indeed.

After we set up camp, we went for a walk to look at the campground. There are two clean amenity blocks each for men and women with showers, yes hot showers and flushing toilets. Only one basin though, which seemed to work, despite the hand washing, teeth cleaning and beauty routines of the campers. Even though the campground was very busy, there was plenty of hot water. Close to the shower blocks is a dump point for you if you need to empty your portable toilets and rubbish bins. There is a large cage for cans and both green and yellow wheelie bins. On the side of the older block is the laundry. It costs $4 a load for either the front loading washing machine or dryer. There is a communal clothes line as well.

The newer amenities block

The dump point is in the fenced area, showing bins.

  

Laundry facilities

Island Reach is a dog friendly campground, all dogs must stay on a leash at all times and be cleaned up after. Red became great friends with the dog in the next camp site, she would just lay back there and take all the tummy rubs she could get. For the number of dogs there, they were remarkably well behaved. We'd never camped with dogs before so it was pleasing to see how it can work so well.

There are rules at Island Reach, music has to be kept down, and turned off at 10pm. Oh how I wish someone had enforced that rule. Profanity is not accepted and I wish someone had enforced that rule as well. Had we been in a caravan like the campers next door, I doubt it would have bothered us as much but as we were in a tent you can't really escape it.

The river would have to be one of the loveliest I've seen. It was quite long and there are plenty of camp sites where you can camp alongside it, or higher up the campground where you can see it. Across the river from our campsite in a tree lives an eagle or hawk, there are 2 nests in the tree one is very large. I wished I'd had some binoculars for a better look though.

You can hire (for very reasonable prices) canoes that hold 2 people or kayaks that hold 1 from the office, or you can take your own.  Amy and Red enjoyed their blow up boat that Red found on a throw out rack in Kmart. There is also a large earth slide, you need to swim out to it and then climb up, jump off into the water or slide down the well worn muddy slide that is on it. The river has a large beachy area where you could see parents sitting watching their children swim and play.

Fires are welcome in designated spots, there are no metal surrounds. You can buy split wood from the office, $20 for a wheelbarrow full. We took wood but ended up buying some as well, it was cold at night and in the mornings and the fires were enjoyed by us all. Amy and Red loved eating porridge by the fire in the mornings. I have to agree, porridge tastes much better in the outdoors.

The camp kitchen is really good, although as a National Park camper I have not come across one before, it was very clean and had all you could need. There are picnic style tables, cooking facilities, 2 sinks, a fridge and freezer for campers to use and a microwave oven. The fridge and freezer were both clean and ready for use. We never needed to use the camp kitchen but I am sure it would be a help if you had forgotten your gas stove.

On Sunday mornings from 9.00 there is a little market in the town of Imbil itself. It is an easy walk and there are lovely trees running down the centre of the street. I bought a funky beanie for $2 which I put to good use that very night and the next morning and the next night and so on. There were stalls selling jams, chutneys, books, toys and clothes. 

http://www.maryvalleycountry.com.au/

themaryvalley.com.au

                  

Despite the busyness of a long weekend, we enjoyed our stay at Island Reach Resort. The owners were always smiling, very friendly and helpful despite having six things to do at once. Unless you went up to the office they left you alone to just camp.   We really enjoyed that we could drive around and choose where we'd like to camp. There are a lot of Jacaranda trees there and we have plans to come back when they are flowering, it is very pretty from the pictures I've seen.           

Prices for an unpowered site per night are:

Adult $12

Children $6

They do not have card facilities as yet. Further details may be found on their website .