Rinyirru (Lakefield) National Park - Hann Crossing Campground

 11 - 12 August 2025

After two nights at Twelve Mile Lagoon we moved on to another campground within the National Park - Hann Crossing. We've stayed there a couple of times before, but when we booked a few weeks before leaving Ravenshoe we weren't able to get the spot we wanted to so were forced to choose another one that we didn't think would be as good. As luck would have it I checked again a few days before we were due to arrive and was able to get back onto the spot we had last time. It's right on the river, huge, a short walk to the toilets and quite private. 

We left Twelve Mile quite late and stopped again at the ranger station, then continued on to Hann Crossing. Because we were only staying one night we didn't bother with the awning. This would also allow us to get away early in the morning.

Up early, ready to move on

We set up camp on the river at Hann Crossing and enjoyed a very relaxing afternoon, which included some birdwatching of course. In the morning we left as the sun was coming up and drove to another good birding spot, Nifold Plain. Mick spent a while taking photos and we had our breakfast there before we moved on to another spot to hopefully photograph the Red goshawk.

We'd found the goshawk on our ill-fated trip north the previous year so Mick was hopeful to find it again. His patience was rewarded with some great shots of the bird and it's nest. From there we drove on to Musgrave Roadhouse and the south to Artemis Station.

Rinyirru National Park – Hann Crossing Campground

13 – 16 August 2024

We set off from Hann River Roadhouse, confident we had enough battery power to get us through the next few nights. We stopped again to search for the Red Goshawk and then stopped at the lagoon on the Nifold Plain, within the National Park. While there we ran into our birding friend who we had arranged to meet at the campground. Of course the two birders shared stories before we continued on to set up camp.

We had booked our site, in advance as required, and were very happy with what we found there. We had a very large, open site, but with some shade, right on the river. We positioned the camper trailer to take advantage of the shade, but where we could also set up the solar panels.

As expected, it was hot, and there were flies, but nothing we couldn’t handle. It is such a peaceful spot, with neighbours far enough away that we couldn’t hear them most of the time, and we could only see them from the very back corner of our site. We were also far enough away from the access road to the other campsites that we weren’t troubled by traffic.

We settled in for a relaxing few days which included a couple of birding excursions, as well as visits with Paula who was camped across the river. We drove over to her camp late one afternoon and so she and Mick could do some night birding. 

Sunrise over the Hann River - simply stunning.
It was worth getting up in the dark
just to watch the sun come up.

Because Mick wanted one more try to get to perfect Goshawk photograph, we packed up and left very early on our final morning before continuing our further north. At least we didn't need to worry about disturbing the neighbours so early.

We stopped at the Goshawk spot then continued on to the Peninsula Development Road and a short stop at Musgrave Station Roadhouse.