Fishing in Kwiambal National Park

Kwiambal sits near the NSW–Queensland border, about 70 km north of Inverell on Kamilleroi Country.

Two rivers do most of the work here — the Severn and the Macintyre — cutting through granite gorges and forming the kind of plunge pools, rock pools, and river beaches that hold fish as well as swimmers. Limestone Creek runs through the park as well.

The roads in are mostly unsealed, and around 26 km of dirt separates the main campground from the highway, so this is not a casual drive-by. The Severn River is the park's central water.

It runs past Lemon Tree Flat campground, where most anglers base themselves, and enters a steep gorge at a section called The Dungeon — worth the walk to the lookout after rain when the river is moving.

The Severn holds Murray cod, yellowbelly, and catfish, species that turn up in the broader river system through this part of northern NSW. The Macintyre River anchors the other end of the park's fishing.

The Macintyre Falls area has a rock pool that draws both swimmers and anglers, with a picnic area and lookout nearby.

Private properties along the Macintyre downstream toward Yetman also list yellowbelly, cod, and catfish as target species, which gives a reasonable picture of what the river holds inside the park boundary.

Limestone Creek is a smaller water in the park, near the limestone cave car park area. Summer brings the heat — mid-30s to above 40°C is normal — but the rivers stay cool enough to fish early and late.

Winter nights can drop below zero, and the park gets quieter. The unsealed access roads can become boggy after rain, so check conditions before you go. Fishing in Kwiambal requires a NSW Recreational Fishing Licence.

The park's own materials also note that a permit is required to fish at Lemon Tree Flat — check with NSW National Parks before you go, as the details matter. No generators or pets are permitted in the campground.

The isolation that keeps the crowds away is the same thing that keeps the water in reasonable shape. Come prepared, go light on the resource, and you'll likely have a long stretch of river to yourself.