Boyne River/Awoonga Dam

[Fitzy]

A mate reccomended a spot to stay at when fishing Awoonga Dam.
Willowgrove is on the Highway at Benaraby & is only a few minutes from the dam & has the added bonus of having access to the Boyne river at its back door. A private ramp for guests is procided.

Willowgrove has acres of camping area, self contained villas, cabins, & powered sites available. The added advantage is that you can park you car/boat right next to where you're staying. (big issue for me!)

A brand new camp kitchen right next to the pool area is a top spot to cook dinner, have a dip in the pool & sit back with a coldie after a hot day on the water. All other facilities are provided, laundry, toilets, showers, telephone etc & mobile phones work there too. (We tested optus, vodafone & telstra). The afternoon bird feeding is a must see.

After getting blown off the open water of the dam by 25 knot winds we decided to check out the Boyne River right at the back door. I hadn't fished this river since I was a kid & was amazed at the fishy looking country there. We caught a few big eye trevally that were chopping into baitfish but I recon jacks would be here in numbers. Time didn't allow us to work the area well.

There is a 24/7 road house next door to the park that's handy for a snack, milk, bread, fuel etc for those that stayed out late or rise early.

Willowgrove is a great base to fish alot of the neary country; Awoonga Dam, Boyne River, South Trees Inlet, Wild Cattle Creek, Tannum, Turkey etc.

Hosts Chris & Julie are friendly folks who are only too willing to help you plan your trip.

For enquiries or bookings phone- 07 4975 0163, Fax- 07 4975 0470, email - willowgrove@bigpond.com or visit their website http://www.willowgroveontheriver.com.au/

http://www.ausfish.com.au/fitzy/Willowgrove/DCP_4578a.jpg An average Awoonga Barra

http://www.ausfish.com.au/fitzy/Willowgrove/DCP_4580a.jpg The pool area & camp kitchen

http://www.ausfish.com.au/fitzy/Willowgrove/DCP_4583a.jpg camp kitchen

http://www.ausfish.com.au/fitzy/Willowgrove/DCP_4584a.jpg

http://www.ausfish.com.au/fitzy/Willowgrove/DCP_4597a.jpg Bird feeding time

http://www.ausfish.com.au/fitzy/Willowgrove/DCP_4590a.jpg

[Fisherman02]

whew!!
looks like paradise to me!!
Great pictures too ever considered working as a part time photographer?
Great fish Fitz
cheers jack

[greg30]

is it dear to stay at awonga dam greg30

[jimbamb]

Nice commercial fitzy.
Gotta agree with everything ya say.
Only drawback is gettin access to the dam as the gate dont open till 7am.Its a real pain in the proverbial.and it is 10 km from the camp area at willowgrove.Leaving the boat in the water is an option but have heard some tales of gear gettin lifted.it is not easy to leave the car out early in the mornin as there is quite a distance to walk to the water.
Camping at the dam is about the same price and u can leave your car inside the gate an drive to your boat in the morning

[Mattman]

I agree fitzy
Good place to stay, good facilites, fishing if get a bit bored over the back in the river. The only prob i found were the sandflies :(. Gee they got me good :P ::)

[dazza]

hi guy's
heading up there in oct/nov. got the cabin booked, was going to camp but the lure of airconditioning was too much ;D ;D.
have heard the river is fairly shallow, and there are alot of rock bars. is there a big tidal influence etc. decided to stay at willowgrove because of the river giving us another option.
any info would be great
cheers
dazza

[Julie_J]

Hi Fitzy,
Great info mate!!
Hubby And Myself are going to Awoonga in October and we were wondering how far ahead we need to book a cabin at this great location, looks like a very popular place to stay? Maybe we will catch our first Barra!!

[Fordo]

Hi All,
I am not so sure the Caltex at Beneraby is 24 hour any more I think it closes about 10pm.
Last time I headed to Awoonga from Brissy they were packing the signs and things up when I stopped to fuel up.
Might pay to check, if its a close call.
Handy to Willowgrove though.

Fordo