Get it on at Glenlyon Glenlyon is a place any self-respecting native angler wants to visit or has visited. Sadly I had never been, even though I’d driven within half an hour of it many times going to fish gorge country cod. It was time for that to change.
Like all good excuses for a fishing trip, a reader asked us to do something on Glenlyon at the Tinnie and Tackle Show. Who was I to argue? So we organised a trip with a few of my mates who had fished the waters of Glenlyon a few times and had an idea on what was going on in 2012 at this fantastic fishery.
FACILITIES
Glenlyon is well serviced by the Glenlyon Dam Tourist Park, a very convenient place to stay and get all the latest and greatest information.
The park itself has ample camping areas, cabins, a well supplied general store and access to the boat ramps within the park’s boundaries. The park is conveniently located near the dam wall giving visitors the opportunity explore and fish the entire lake.
We stayed in a cabin that was suitable for four with a double bed and 2 bunks. With Wayne Kampe, Greg Livingstone and I on the trip, everyone had their own bed, which was brilliant. You do need to bring your own cutlery and crockery, along with your bedding, however the cabins do contain a fridge, simple cooking pots and pans and, most importantly, a reverse cycle air conditioner. We stayed in a cabin that adjoined another cabin that had two mad keen lure collectors (Rob Dunne and Mike Gilbert) and the talented Gidgee Lures builder Tom Barratt. These three had had some memorable trips to Glenlyon in 2012 and were keen to experience more before the waters cooled right down.
In between our cabins was a small fireplace with seating and this is perhaps the best part of the cabins as you can crank up a fire, sit around having a drink and dissect the day’s fishing. There is just something magical about sitting around a fire talking fishing – especially when one of the guys makes timber lures!
But back to the facilities and there is a large common shower/toilet block, firewood is available on site for free and car parking is plentiful. If camping, you can mostly choose your preferred location and set up whatever size camp you want. There is also room for caravans and motor homes with powered sites strategically placed around the park.
All in all Glenlyon Dam Tourist Park is simply organised in a way that allows visitors to experience their stay how they want, rather than being told what not to do from the time they drive through the front gates. I really enjoyed my time there.
GETTING THERE
Glenlyon Dam is easy to get to from Brisbane or northern NSW.
From Brisbane it’s roughly 3 1/2 hours travel up the Cunningham Highway to Warwick before turning towards Stanthorpe and then travelling through Pikedale and Pikes Creek. This will take you over the very top of the lake, giving you a bit of an adrenalin pump when you first see the lake. This route has recently been upgraded and is now the preferred way to access the Glenlyon Dam Tourist Park. The other way to get to Glenlyon is to travel through Wallangarra and then into Tenterfield where you turn right onto the Bruxner | 
