July Outing Details - Lockyer Wetlands, 3 July 2022

Atkinson Dam area, June 2022

After the extraordinary rain of the last few months, the dams and wetlands are brim full, making them a great spot for a visit, this time going to places we haven’t visited for years. These four spots are quite different in nature.
Time: Meet at Helidon Rest Area at 9.00 am (or Neil Street car park in Toowoomba at 8.30am for car-pooling). If you would just like to join us for lunch, we plan on being at Atkinson Dam around 12.15pm.
Where: Lockyer Wetlands - Jensen’s Swamp, Atkinson Dam, Seven Mile Lagoon and Lake Clarendon.

Directions: All the distances below are from the Helidon Rest Area on the Toowoomba side of the bridge. We will start at Jensen’s Swamp Environmental area as it is the furthest away, then make our way home via the other locations. There are numerous ways to Jensen’s Swamp, but the following is the one members are least likely to get lost using.
• Take the Gatton bypass, then the Warrego Highway until the Laidley exit at Plainlands (approximately 34 kilometres).
• Head north past Woolworths on Gehrke Road which eventually becomes Brightview Road, towards Lowood. Approximately 20 kilometres along, turn right into Jensen’s Swamp Road (signposted) and the park is on the right.

The round trip from Helidon is around 130 kilometres.
Activities: An ephemeral swamp at the intersection with Pagel Road was alive with waterbirds at the time of the reccy. So it is worth a look. Morning tea is at Jensen's Swamp where there is a short walk with several small lagoons. From there we will head back to Atkinson's Dam for lunch. Travel past the caravan park and shop entrance for about 300 metres and turn left into the spacious and attractive Day Use area.  After lunch we'll stop at Seven Mile Lagoon before finishing at Lake Clarendon.

Facilities: There are toilets at Helidon Rest Area. Toilets and a picnic table at Jensen's Swamp, Atkinson Dam and Lake Clarendon.

What to Bring: Telescopes would be great as well as the usual, including chair, food, camera, notebook and pen for observations. 

Please contact us, toowoombafieldnaturalists@gmail.com, if there has been heavy rain during the week before the outing in case we have to cancel.