Lake Benaroon

Kgari, Queensland

This isolated swim is near the unfenced bush camping area that provides a stopover for hikers along the K'gari Great Walk. A little section of the white sand beach is free of reeds, which provides access to the transparent, tea-coloured water, and open water swimming beyond. Above: The beach near the campground at Lake Benaroon (Order this image)

Wandering around the campground here, along the beach, and out into the water, I felt like I was the only person who had been here for quite some time. Any walkers who had previously passed through had left no trace of their presence, as it should be in a wilderness experience like this. For the best swimming, head to the campground near the westernmost point of the lake, about 1 km by foot from Meeting Point M1 on the K'gari Great Walk. There is a track that leads directly down to the water at the (closer) northern end of this beach, but there are reeds blocking the way as you approach the water here. Instead continue along the track that runs on top of the dune behind the beach, all the way to the campground. From the campground there is a short, sandy track that runs down to the beach where there is a clear area for accessing the water. Above: Limited access to the water near the northern tip of Lake Benaroon (Order this image)

The cleared section of beach near the campground is only small, at a few metres deep and a few metres across. If you are the only one here, which is likely, it is more than enough space to leave your gear on the sand or spread out with a few friends. The entry into the water is shallow, with thin tree roots criss-crossing the sand. You need to wade out about fifteen metres or so to reach the deeper, large expanse of open water beyond the shore. Here you can swim for several hundred metres uninterrupted, noting however that there is only one well-defined entry and exit point that you need to come back to. Above: The unfenced walkers campground at Lake Benaroon (Order this image)

If you are planning to camp here, be aware that the campsites are not dingo-proof, so preparing and eating your food out in the open could attract some four-legged visitors. There is a steel box at each campsite to store your food securely, but no other barriers between you and any dingos. The campsites that I looked at were flat and sandy, surrounded by a good cover of scrub and overhead trees. Before you head out, make sure to read the swimming safety information and check with the managing authority for any current change of conditions. Specific to this swim, this site is quite isolated, so make sure you are being dingo safe by at least carrying a stick, walking in a group, and not carrying any food with you if possible. The marker indicates the approximate location of the swimming entry point at the lake. If the map is not zoomed in locally, as can sometimes occur when loading, simply click or tap on "View Larger Map" below.
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