After weeks of wet and windy weather we were keen to get out of the house, so as soon as the sun broke through we escaped for an overnight camp. The trip was also a chance to bed in some trailer maintenance and changes before our big desert trip later this month.
We chose to check out Tiz Tam Fam, a private nature reserve that we found on Hipcamp, tucked in behind the D’Aguilar National Park in the Brisbane River Valley.
The reserve is accessed by a dirt track through grazing land that runs beside Reedy Creek, which it crosses several times. The trail eventually passes through a locked access gate then winds through rainforest to the camp sites, we chose the Creek Campground, a flat and well grassed site beside the clear running creek. We picked up some firewood on the way into camp from the stash provided, an extra cost option when booking the site.
A benefit of somewhere so close to home with only a short drive is ability to take a more relaxed approach to getting set up, so first job was to make lunch – brisket sliders with the beef cooked in the 12V oven on the drive into camp.
We then set up the camper and started a fire to get some coals for our camp oven roasted beef and veg dinner.
Tucked into the forested valley meant it was soon getting dark and cool, so time to get dinner started. I set up the camp oven with a garlic and wine marinated piece of beef together with vegies that included pumpkin from our home garden. After an hour on the coals it was ready and tasted great, plus enough for left overs the next day 😛
We always end up having an early night when camping which I think adds to the feeling of well being we get from being in the bush. Next morning we woke to the sound of rifle birds calling and the nearby creek gurgling through its rocky bed. Then time for breakfast, bacon and egg toasties on Turkish bread, washed down with great coffee – yummo!
A leisurely breakfast led to breaking camp, then hitching the rig for the trip home. The track into the nature reserve winds through some very pretty grazing land and the locals watched nonchalantly as we headed off the property. The day had turned on one of those beautiful blue Queensland winter skies…
You can get some more insight into Tiz Tam Fam and our trip on this YouTube video that captures more of the scenery and our antics on this great overnight camping adventure.