5 Best Lakeside Towns in Queensland

The Australian towns of Boreen Point, Yungaburra, Esk, Emerald, and Mount Isa are built around some of Queensland's most impressive bodies of water. Boreen Point overlooks Lake Cootharaba, a shallow coastal lake that opens into the Noosa Everglades. Yungaburra shares a shoreline with Lake Tinaroo, an irrigation reservoir built in 1958. Esk lies between Lake Wivenhoe and Lake Somerset, two important sources of drinking water, while Emerald overlooks Lake Maraboon and Mount Isa is located near Lake Moondarra on the Leichhardt River. Whatever you enjoy doing in, on, or beside the water, each of these Queensland towns offers an authentic Australian lakeside getaway.

Boreen Point, Lake Cootharaba

Sailing dinghies bobbing about on Lake Cootharaba are usually the first thing people notice when visiting Boreen Point. Set on a low headland with water on three sides, this small community rests on the shores of the largest lake of the Noosa River system. Measuring 6.2 miles by 3.1 miles, its average depth of just under five feet makes Lake Cootharaba an ideal place for families as it's shallow enough to wade a long way out from the shore.

Boating enthusiasts head for Lake Cootharaba Sailing Club on Boreen Parade. In addition to its weekend races, its home of events including the Allboats Regatta held in August, the Cat Challenge in November, and MonoMasters in December. The lake's also a popular camping destination, with the Boreen Point Camping Ground being the go-to spot for outdoor enthusiasts for its sandy foreshore and kangaroos.

For a comfortable indoor stay, the Apollonian Hotel was built as a music hall in the 1870s during the Gympie gold rush and relocated here in 1987. In addition to its cozy rooms, it's earned a reputation for its dining experiences, which include a Sunday lunch featuring a wood-fired spit roast prepared in the outdoor bush kitchen. Served under the fig trees on the beer garden lawn, you won't find a more authentic Aussie experience anywhere in Queensland.

Yungaburra, Lake Tinaroo

Eighteen buildings in Yungaburra are listed on the Queensland Heritage Register, among them the courthouse and police station, built in 1921, and the post office, built in 1926. The village core has changed little since 1910, and a fun "old town" loop stroll takes you past most of it. For a truly memorable experience, head to the Yungaburra Platypus Viewing Platform. Overlooking Peterson Creek, you might be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of one of these fascinating creatures.

The other reason to visit is Lake Tinaroo. This 8,600-acre stretch of water is used for waterskiing, sailing, and kayaking, and is accessible by boat ramp from Yungaburra. Tinaroo Falls Dam, a concrete gravity wall 138 feet high and 1,749 feet long built in 1958, stands across the Barron River and is what made the lake. The first large dam in the state to be built primarily for irrigation, when the reservoir filled in 1959, it covered the small settlement of Kulara, whose residents moved to Yungaburra and other nearby towns.

It has become a popular spot for fishing enthusiasts, with barramundi and sooty grunter stocked in the lake. Redclaw crayfish can be trapped here, though permits are required. Two volcanic crater lakes are located nearby, Lake Eacham and Lake Barrine. You'll find them in Crater Lakes National Park, where the privately owned Lake Barrine Teahouse runs rainforest cruises and a short trail leads to two 148-foot-tall bull kauri pines.

Esk, Lake Wivenhoe and Lake Somerset

Two of the biggest water storages in southeast Queensland are located just a short drive from Esk, a Brisbane Valley town with Mount Glen Rock rising behind its main street. Its body of water, Lake Wivenhoe, is the region's largest drinking water dam and was completed in 1984 to hold back the Brisbane River. The dam wall alone is impressive, stretching 1.4 miles end to end. For great views of the dam and the lake, head to Lakeview Park Lookout. Take a picnic, as shaded tables are available.

Upstream on the Stanley River, work on the 160-foot-tall Somerset Dam started in 1935 and only ended in 1959. The result was Lake Somerset, a body of water that's popular for its swimming enclosures at Kirkleagh and The Spit, and the two-lane boat ramp at The Spit. Water skiing, wakeboarding, and tubing are all permitted on the lake, and a permit is required to fish.

Other touristy things to do here include walking or biking along the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail. One hundred miles long and Australia's longest rail trail, it connects North Ipswich and Yarraman, passing through Esk on the way. While in town, check out Nash Gallery and Cafe. It's housed in an old home that was the first in Esk to have electricity.

Emerald, Lake Maraboon

Built across the Nogoa River, the 151-feet-high, 2,700-feet-long Fairbairn Dam is responsible for Lake Maraboon, Queensland's second largest lake. Completed in 1972, the lake takes its name from the local Aboriginal name, which translates as the "place where the black ducks fly."

It's a popular spot for catching redclaw, a freshwater crayfish native to northern Australia, as they're so plentiful that no permit is needed and no size limit applies. Barramundi and golden perch are stocked, though line fishing does require a permit, which can be picked up at the Emerald post office. Boating is also popular here, and includes water skiing, jet skis, sailing, and kayaking. Booking a stay at BIG4 Lake Maraboon Holiday Village on the shore will get you close to the action.

In-town fun includes posing next to the Big Easel in Morton Park. Reaching a height of 82 feet, it supports a 23 by 33 feet reproduction of Vincent van Gogh's Sunflower. The old Emerald Railway Station from 1900 is also worth photographing. And just outside the town hall is a fossilized tree trunk estimated to be 250 million years old, unearthed in 1979 during construction of a railway bridge over the Mackenzie River.

Mount Isa, Lake Moondarra

Although Lake Moondarra is several miles north of Mount Isa, this mining town is intrinsically tied to its 5,868 acres of water and the river that runs through it. Built across the Leichhardt River in 1958 to supply both the town and its mining company, the lake takes its name from the local Aboriginal phrase for "plenty of rain and thunder."

Lakeside facilities include picnic areas with free barbecues, along with pontoons for swimming, a ski jump, and a boat ramp. The lake's still water is especially well suited to swimming, sailing, and canoeing. While no permit is needed to fish, catch limits apply for the barramundi and sooty grunter that inhabit the lake. As for wildlife, pelicans, cormorants, and ducks are all regulars here.

The town's mining history runs deep. Pay a visit to Outback at Isa for its visitor center together with the Hard Times Mine, an underground tour led by former miners. The Riversleigh Fossil Discovery Centre is another must-visit for its displays relating to the Riversleigh fossil deposits, one of Australia's most important UNESCO sites.

Five Lakes, Five Very Different Towns

Whether they're man-made or nature-made, each of these five lakes makes for a compelling visit. Between them, they cover rare crater rainforests, industrial ruins, and a fossil site that's so unique it's been deemed of international importance. All five have public access to the water and so make for excellent places to visit for a lakeside getaway.