📍Mingo Crossing Visitor Guide: Kayaking, Camping & Other Visitor Info. (2024.)

WANT TO KNOW EVERYTHING ABOUT VISITING MINGO CROSSING?

Halfway between the North Burnett town’s of Biggenden, Mt Perry and Gayndah lies the beautiful riverside escape Mingo Crossing. Not to be confused with Paradise Dam recreational area which at the easternmost end of this section of the impounded Burnett River and equally as stunning, this gorgeous place on Gayndah-Mt Perry Road is a expansive modern facility with a wide boat ramp, plenty of picnic tables, BBQs and grassy areas, plus it backs directly onto the caravan park, making it a fantastic destination for day trips, pitstops between towns and overnight adventures. Here’s all you need to know about visiting one of the region’s best riverside parks.

1. Paddling.

One of the best ways to appreciate the peace and serenity that lakes have to offer is by paddling. Keep the atmosphere and the ambience as natural as possible by quietly kayaking, canoeing or stand-up paddleboarding the calm waters.

What’s great about these activities is that it is one of the most affordable ways to spend time on the water, from minutes to hours, and the non-motorized nature of it means you can appreciate nature at its most tranquil and get up close to the birdlife that calls this beautiful place home, such as pelicans, cormorants, darters, herons, ducks and wedge tail eagles, who all love perching themselves on the foliage-less waterlogged trees in the little coves. (There were a few of the latter soaring above the river just as I sitting on the grass.)

2. Sailing.

Another peaceful way to soak in the serenity is sailing, especially if you go east, as at the far end of the impounded Burnett River is the dam wall and the Paradise Dam recreational area, making it a fantastic mid-sail stop. Make sure you head up to the top level where the kiosk and picnic tables where you can enjoy a packed lunch, cook up a storm at the free BBQs and grab a cold drink from the vending machine while enjoying gorgeous views over the lake.

Better yet, if you take camping gear, you can turn it into an overnight adventure as Paradise Dam is home to one of the best free campgrounds in the North Burnett region. All you have to do is call the caretaker from the aforementioned kiosk area (where there is reception) when you get there and let them know your intentions before setting up camp. And with campground facing the sunset, it’s a fantastic place to call it a day.

Note: A bridge lies on the west of Mingo Crossing. It’s has reasonable clearance but may not fit tall sailboat under it.

3. Boating.

Allowing even more exploration of the dammed Burnett River, a motorized boat is a great way to discover its expanse in the shortest amount of time. With Paradise Dam one direction and plenty more to discover west past the bridge, you could easily spend hours on the water seeing seldom seem landscapes and getting up close with the wildlife.

4. Tubing/ Water Skiing/ Wake Boarding.

One of the best things about having a boat is its towing capabilities and with no restrictions on vessels permitted for use, it’s a great place to engage in some high-octane activities such as water-skiing, wakeboarding, or tubing, which is always the best way to make memories with friends or family at the lake.

5. Jet Skiing.

For the solo types who sometimes has a companion, a jet ski is the ultimate self-sufficent way to get the adrenaline pumping fun without needing another person. It can also be used as an alternative to a boat and tow friends waterskiing, wakeboarding or tubing. Or if they’re into flying, a flyboard.

Other self-powered vessels. No better place to do extreme water-based activities with the most epic of scenic backdrops than at Cania Dam.

6. Other Watercraft.

Other water-craft perfect for Mingo Crossings calm waters are hydro foil boards, which are great for skipping across the water, and sailboarding and windsurfing when it’s windy.

7. Swimming.

Swimming is a great way to cool off on those hot summer days, especially since the toilet block has hot showers available for day use visitors to rinse off the sticky river water. However, there is no cordoned off area dedicated for the activity, so don’t go too far away from the shore and keep your eyes peeled for vessels.

With the precautions out of the way, a good idea might be to take a snorkel and see what lurks beneath, but for the ultimate relaxation, I recommend laying on a pool floaty and watching the clouds go by. Just make sure you don’t drift too far away!

You could even take a long plastic tarp, wet it and use it to slide into the water for a wildly fun and inexpensive experience, thanks to the smooth grassy hill leading to the lake.

Note: I always recommend wearing water shoes when swimming or snorkelling in the natural environment because who knows what’s on the bottom.

8. Picnic/ BBQ.

Speaking of the grass, it’s not all prime real estate for slipping and sliding into the drink. There is also plenty of flat areas, which is perfect for a traditional blanket picnic on the grass or setting up a gazebo for a larger get-together.

There are also two large sheltered areas with free BBQs and tables for visitors to cook up a storm and dine in shade while overlooking the river, perfect for breaks between all the other activities you’re undertaking there.

9. Sports & Activities.

The grassy areas also mean there is plenty of space for family-bonding sports like cricket, soccer, and activities like catching a ball playing, flying a kite, great for bonding with family and friends.

10. Stay The Night.

For those who want to make an overnight adventure out of it, backing directly onto the day use are is the Mingo Crossing Caravan & Recreation Park. The beautiful modern accommodation digs caters to a range of guests with 20 powered caravan sites, around 125 unpowered sites and six glamping tents, starting for $11, it’s a fantastic and affordable place to stay by in the North Burnett.

11. Take Their Dog.

Another great thing about Mingo Crossing is that it allows dogs. Whether you’re just dropping by for a picnic or BBQ, heading out on the water or staying the night at the caravan park, you can bring your furry four legged friend along for the adventure, provided that they are kept on a leash and you pick up after them.

The day-use area at Mingo Crossing is a huge modern facility with plenty of space for people to spread out on the northern banks of Paradise Dam.

• Large flat and sloped grassy area, perfect for traditional picnics with blankets, playing sports, sitting down and enjoying the scenery or doing birdwatching, laying down to watch the clouds go by or rolling down the hill into the water.
• Wide, fully concreted boat ramp.
• Two large undercover barbeque areas with picnic tables.
• Small children’s playground.
• Flushing toilets and hot showers.
• Plenty of parking and turnaround space for boats, caravans and similar long vehicles.
• Wheelchair-friendly.
• Pet-friendly.

Mingo Crossing currently has no restriction on the watercraft permitted for use on the lake and with a wide, fully concreted boat ramp, it’s a great place for launching powered boats, sailboats, and jetskis and enjoying towed activities such as water skiing, wakeboarding and tubing. And if you have the latter, you could probably even go flyboarding too if you have one of those too!

Although there are no level areas next to the water, which is what I need if I am taking the kayak off the roof, it’s a great place to go paddling and hydro foiling, and when there’s wind, sailboarding and windsurfing.

Biggenden.

Biggenden is the nearest town to Mingo Crossing. While the town doesn’t have much to offer tourists and road trippers, the mountains of nearby Mt Walsh National Park are a sight to behold. The impressive mountains can be seen from far and wide, and intrepid hikers with navigation experience can trek to the breathtaking summit, while those with high-clearance 4WDs can venture to the formidable Mt Coongara. Meanwhile, casual walkers will love visiting Utopia Falls in the Waterfall Creek section of the national park.

It’s also close to Coalstoun Lakes National Park, home to Australia’s youngest extinct volcano where walkers can visit its two crater laters.

Gayndah.

Further past Coalstoun Lakes National Park, lies Gayndah. Not only is it Queensland’s oldest town, but also the North Burnett’s biggest and the most direct to Mingo Crossing. This beautiful, bustling place is one of the region’s must-visit destinations thanks to its fantastic heritage museum, unique railway bridge, and two surprising breathtaking lookouts.

Paradise Dam.

Another place to access the dammed Burnett River is from the Paradise Dam day-use area and campground at the other end of the lake. From the picnic area at the top, there are several tables and free BBQs under a sun shelter and gorgeous views overlooking the water and the dam wall. Read about its history, construction and the trouble that the floods from the early 21st century revealed and the township of Paradise that used to exist but now resides submerged at the bottom.

Launch a kayak or a boat from the concrete ramp or the level grassy area beside it and explore the narrow expanse of the water, which is great for seeing the local bird life up close, then at the end of the day, spend a night at the free campground. You will have to call the caretaker from the top section before setting up at the boat ramp level, but it’s a picturesque place to spend the evening, especially since it faces the setting sun, and it won’t cost you a buck for those million-dollar views.

Good Night Scrub National Park.

On the northern side of Paradise Dam is Good Night Scrub National Park. It’s a lovely place for a drive in the bush and is mostly accessible for 2WDs, however, One Tree Hill Lookout is only accessible by 4WDs in dry conditions. There are also no formal walking trails, but the activity is permitted along the fire trails.

Mt Perry.

North of Mingo Crossing is the small township of Mt Perry. One of the town’s top attractions is the Boondoomba Tunnel, on the westernmost fringe of the beautiful Bundaberg region. It is a notable piece of railway history as it is Australia’s longest unsupported hand-dug train tunnel. Another must-visit place is the Mt Perry Lookout which has magnificent uninterrupted panoramic views of the extensive mountain range eastward, including the hike-able Mt Perry, which I attempted and lost my way in the farmland you have to traverse before reaching the conservation park, due to lack of signage. Then it was too overgrown when I did get there. But I did get to see wild emus up close, so it wasn’t a total loss.

Where Is Mingo Crossing?

Mingo Crossing lies 34km northwest of Biggenden, 40km northeast of Gayndah and 30km south of Mt Perry in the beautiful North Burnett region of Queensland.

How To Get To There?

From Biggenden.

From Mt Perry.

From Gayndah.

What To Take to Mingo Crossing.

• Sunscreen.
• Hat.
• Sunglasses.
• Lip Balm.
• Camera/ Waterproof Camera.
• Food/Snacks.
• Drinking Water.
• Cooler.
• BBQ/Picnic Stuff.
• Beach Shelter/Gazebo.
• Beach Chairs.
• Sports Equipment.
• Paddleboard/Kayak/Canoe & Equipment.
• Binoculars.
• Book/ Music Playlist.

Interesting Facts About Mingo Crossing.

• Type Of Dam: Roller-compacted concrete gravity dam.
• Year Completed: 2005.
• Maximum Capacity: 300,000ML
• Catchment Area: 33,000ML

Accommodation: Where To Stay.

• Mingo Crossing Caravan & Recreation Park.

With its being a new and spacious recreational facility featuring a fully concretely boat ramp permitted numerous water-sports like boatingr, kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, hydrofoiling and more, sheltered picnic tables, electric/gas BBQs, plenty of grassy areas, flushing toilets, hot showers and a new caravan park, Mingo Crossing is a fantastic place in the North Burnett region to spend time by the water or ripping around on it