Boolambayte: Settlement History by the Water

Boolambayte combines an early settlement history with nature and water destinations nearby. For planning your trip, the specific differences are useful: Violet Hill brings together several water-based activities and boating facilities, Bungarie Bay combines shoreline, forest and wildlife, and access to Johnsons Beach is clearly restricted. This makes it possible to compare destinations based on the activities and access options that really matter to your plans.

Boolambayte’s Early History by the Water

Boolambayte was established in the early 1800s as a settlement at the point formed by Myall Lake and Boolambayte Creek. Local timber resources were the reason for its founding: the timber was suitable for building boats, barges and paddle steamers. Two specific aspects of the town’s history are therefore linked: its location by the lake and creek, and the use of timber for shipbuilding. If you are interested in how Boolambayte came to be, the types of vessels mentioned tell you more than a general connection to the water: they illustrate how local resources were used. The vessel types clarify what the timber was intended for, connecting the story of the settlement’s origins with the town’s relationship to the water.

Campgrounds and Activities Nearby

Violet Hill Between Two Lakes

Violet Hill campground and picnic area is located near Boolambayte, between Boolambayte Lake and Myall Lake, in the Boolambayte precinct of Myall Lakes National Park. The area is suitable for fishing, canoeing, kayaking, swimming and boating. Facilities include a boat ramp, a jetty and temporary moorings for boats. If you’re looking for an outing where you can choose between different activities on and in the water, Violet Hill offers a wide range of options.

Shoreline and Forest at Bungarie Bay

Also near Boolambayte, Bungarie Bay campground is located on the shore of Boolambayte Lake. Its seven campsites are surrounded by tall casuarina and paperbark forests. Koalas, swamp wallabies, echidnas and dingoes live in the forest around the campground. Bungarie Bay is a good base for boating, swimming and birdwatching. Swimming and paddling are seasonal options during the warmer months. This makes Bungarie Bay distinct from Violet Hill: it combines a lakeside setting with a forested environment, while Violet Hill offers a range of water-based activities. If you’d like to include wildlife watching and lakeside scenery in your plans, the forest and birdlife offer a particular focus.

Johnsons Beach: Access and Birdlife

Johnsons Beach campground, in the Boolambayte Lake precinct of Myall Lakes National Park, is accessible only by boat or on foot. Take this access restriction into account when planning your outing. Visitors can fish and swim at the campground, and walking trails are nearby. Many native and migratory birds can be found around the campground. Johnsons Beach thus combines water-based activities and nearby walking trails with a strong focus on birdlife, but requires different access planning from a destination without this explicitly stated restriction.

Ferry at Bombah Point

Further afield in the region, a car ferry at Bombah Point provides a way to cross the lake. If you’re including the crossing in your regional plans, check the timetable in advance. The ferry crossing is therefore a separate planning consideration when travelling around the wider region.

Discover more destinations: Blueys Beach, Forster, Bulahdelah, Tea Gardens, Elizabeth Beach and Charlotte Bay.

For the main travel overview: Great Lakes Council.