Bicentennial Lakes, Mareeba

Visited: all year round

Recommendation: These lakes are either fantastic or not. The area feels safe sometimes and sometimes not. It is worth checking out, with caution.

I will always visit the lake area of Mareeba when I am in town. At times I don't feel very safe here but it is still worth going. The lakes run for about half a kilometre behind, and parallel to the high street. You can walk around the northern end, from the creek down to Keeble Street. Crossing over there gives you more parkland and large trees. Over the years, I have seen over 60 species of bird here, everything from raptors to water birds and bush birds. 

In the middle of the main lake there is a bridge over to a small island where lots of resident waterfowl can be found. Domestic Muscovy Ducks, presumably escapees, ducks and always lots of White Ibis. The thick bushes and flowering trees here always seem to attract honeyeaters, cuckoo and herons. You can see other sides of the island from both sides of the water which gives great views of the shy species like the Nankeen Night Heron.

In the middle of the area is a causeway. The vegetation here is great cover for smaller finches and gerygone. A sit under a fig tree provides cover from where you can watch them duck down to drink and bathe. It is my favourite spot and a very pleasant and productive area. If you keep walking, you come to a creek and Azure Kingfishers have been spotted there but I never saw th