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Lake BoomanjinKgari, Queensland
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Swim in the largest perched freshwater lake in the world at a massive white sand beach, or in smaller bays near the campground. Both swimming spots are shallow and patrolled
by dingoes in what is both a remote and wild swimming experience.
Above: Lake Boomanjin near the campground
(Order this image)
The first point of contact with this lake for most people, whether arriving by road or along the K'gari Great Walk from Dilli Village, will be at the campground on the hill near the south-west corner of the lake. To go for a swim here, head about 100 metres down the well-defined and signposted track from the campground.
Here you will find small sandy inlets along the shore, bounded by sedges and small trees on either side. This is a great option for a quick swim or freshen up in the water, with the option
of wading out further to find deeper water to fully submerge yourself and have a proper swim. Space on the beach is however very limited.
Above: In the water at Lake Boomanjin main beach
(Order this image)
To get a more complete picture of the scale of this lake, head north along the track that starts directly north of the campground. This track is part of the K'gari Great Walk. After about 200 metres of walking through scrub, the track opens out to the sparsely vegetated dunes along the lake foreshore. It is then a further 1 km walk along the foreshore to reach the main section of beach that is completely clear of any vegetation.
The beach here is massive, with several hundred metres of white sand in every direction. Visiting here on a weekday outside of peak season, with no one else around, it felt extremely remote in
an environment that was both fascinating and somewhat alien because of the wide open space and the crazy colours all around. The sand was a brilliant white, criss-crossed by water that shined bright
orange in the sunlight, with darker water in the distance and grey clouds that seemed to hang low overhead as they blew in from the ocean nearby. Having visited at both sunrise and sunset, the softer
colours in the sky at these times added to the visual strangeness.
The water is extremely shallow, which makes it great for splashing about in if you do not want to fully commit to a swim. It is also interesting watching your feet turn amber in the water. To swim it is actually a couple of minute walk to find deeper water, a long way off shore.
Above: The expansive main beach at Lake Boomanjin
(Order this image)
Make sure you carry a stick with you at all times here and do not bring food to the lake. Staying overnight here, there were four dingoes hanging around the fenced campground, occasionally howling in unison in beautiful song, and trotting behind anyone who ventured outside to the toilets or the lake. I also had a stand-off for a few minutes with two dingoes on the walk to the main beach, who were not going to let me through until they were satisfied that I did not have any food. If swimming on the main beach, remember that your gear can be well over 50 metres away when in the water, which makes easy pickings for the dingoes if left unattended.
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Above: Lake Boomanjin near the campground
(Order this image)
The first point of contact with this lake for most people, whether arriving by road or along the K'gari Great Walk from Dilli Village, will be at the campground on the hill near the south-west corner of the lake. To go for a swim here, head about 100 metres down the well-defined and signposted track from the campground.
Above: In the water at Lake Boomanjin main beach
(Order this image)
To get a more complete picture of the scale of this lake, head north along the track that starts directly north of the campground. This track is part of the K'gari Great Walk. After about 200 metres of walking through scrub, the track opens out to the sparsely vegetated dunes along the lake foreshore. It is then a further 1 km walk along the foreshore to reach the main section of beach that is completely clear of any vegetation.
The water is extremely shallow, which makes it great for splashing about in if you do not want to fully commit to a swim. It is also interesting watching your feet turn amber in the water. To swim it is actually a couple of minute walk to find deeper water, a long way off shore.
Above: The expansive main beach at Lake Boomanjin
(Order this image)
Make sure you carry a stick with you at all times here and do not bring food to the lake. Staying overnight here, there were four dingoes hanging around the fenced campground, occasionally howling in unison in beautiful song, and trotting behind anyone who ventured outside to the toilets or the lake. I also had a stand-off for a few minutes with two dingoes on the walk to the main beach, who were not going to let me through until they were satisfied that I did not have any food. If swimming on the main beach, remember that your gear can be well over 50 metres away when in the water, which makes easy pickings for the dingoes if left unattended.
Other Information Before You Go:
Location:Lake Boomanjin, K'gari, along the Birrabeen Road (Southern Lakes Road) and the K'gari (Fraser Island) Great Walk, 18 km south of Central Station, or 7 km north of the Dilli Village campsite.
K'gari is opposite Hervey Bay, which is 300 km (approximately 3.5 hr drive) north of Brisbane.
Latitude:-25.556734 Longitude:153.067222
Getting there: From Central Station head south along the Southern Lakes Road / Birrabeen Road to Lake Boomanjin. Park outside the fenced camgpround. If walking from Dilli Village campsite, it is about a 7 km walk to the Lake Boomanjin campground.
Facilities: Car parking area, toilet, information board, fenced campground with picnic tables and a kitchen sink, a separate fenced walkers campground with steel lock boxes and elevated wooden platforms.
Entrance fee: None at Lake Boomanjin, but you will need to purchase a vehicle permit from the Queensland Government if driving on K'gari. A camping permit is also required if you are camping here.
Water temperature: Mild
Water clarity: Clear
Under foot: Sand
Maximum water depth: Greater than 2 metres
Minimum swimming proficiency required: Beginners near the edge of the lake, where the water is shallow. Experienced swimmers only in the deeper water further from the shore.
Prohibitions including whether you can bring your dog: No dogs, no fires, no camping outside of the fenced camping areas. No drinking water from the taps at the toilets or the kitchen sink. No feeding dingos, no attracting dingos using food or food waste, no disturbing of dingoes.
Sun shade: Limited shade at the lake near the campground. No shade at the lake on the main beach. There is limited shade in the two campgrounds.
Opening times: Always open
Wheelchair access: The toilets and campground are not designated as wheelchair accessible, but the ground is fairly flat. The tracks to the lake are not wheelchair accessible.
Managing authority: Queensland Government
Nearby attractions: Lake Benaroon, 7 km to the north.
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, the managing authority advises that
dingoes roam this area, with safety advice on site, including not to take food to the lake.
Latitude:-25.556734 Longitude:153.067222
Getting there: From Central Station head south along the Southern Lakes Road / Birrabeen Road to Lake Boomanjin. Park outside the fenced camgpround. If walking from Dilli Village campsite, it is about a 7 km walk to the Lake Boomanjin campground.
Facilities: Car parking area, toilet, information board, fenced campground with picnic tables and a kitchen sink, a separate fenced walkers campground with steel lock boxes and elevated wooden platforms.
Entrance fee: None at Lake Boomanjin, but you will need to purchase a vehicle permit from the Queensland Government if driving on K'gari. A camping permit is also required if you are camping here.
Water temperature: Mild
Water clarity: Clear
Under foot: Sand
Maximum water depth: Greater than 2 metres
Minimum swimming proficiency required: Beginners near the edge of the lake, where the water is shallow. Experienced swimmers only in the deeper water further from the shore.
Prohibitions including whether you can bring your dog: No dogs, no fires, no camping outside of the fenced camping areas. No drinking water from the taps at the toilets or the kitchen sink. No feeding dingos, no attracting dingos using food or food waste, no disturbing of dingoes.
Sun shade: Limited shade at the lake near the campground. No shade at the lake on the main beach. There is limited shade in the two campgrounds.
Opening times: Always open
Wheelchair access: The toilets and campground are not designated as wheelchair accessible, but the ground is fairly flat. The tracks to the lake are not wheelchair accessible.
Managing authority: Queensland Government
Nearby attractions: Lake Benaroon, 7 km to the north.
Locality Map:
The marker indicates the approximate location of the campground at Lake Boomanjin. If the map is not zoomed in locally, as can sometimes occur when loading, simply click or tap on "View Larger Map" below.
View Larger Map
Comments:
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I am particularly interested in your experiences after visiting, and any changes in conditions, etc.
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