It’s an easy drive out to Maroon Dam when you know the fish are on the edges and biting and you can rest up in good accommodation while having a quiet beer overlooking the lake on the veranda.

This was the exact feeling Greg Livingstone and I had as we drove out to Lake Maroon in early March to check out the recently upgraded Lake Maroon Holiday Park.

Lake Maroon Holiday Park is perfectly situated amongst world heritage listed reserves and covers an area of 220 acres.

Originally the park was run by church groups until 18 months ago when the new managers took over the Park and set about upgrading the accommodation options and setting Lake Maroon Holiday Park up as one of the best and easiest places to stay if you’re visiting the lake.

The two communal houses were essentially stripped back to the bare bones and refitted, painted, refurbished and prepared for families and groups to visit. They are heritage listed buildings and really do have that old world charm that is so popular these days.

During the transformation from bush block to accommodation venue, plenty of rubbish and trash was removed and the surprised owners found some delightful areas to locate their expanded camp grounds. Everything is now up to speed and looking the goods, just waiting for you to visit.

Since taking over the Park, the owners have really put in a lot of hours to ensure everything is right. For starters the two houses are clean, neat and organised in such a way that everyone who stays will have the basic essentials right there.

The two houses are similar in that they are both older style Queenslander houses. But they have been lovingly restored and maintain their original charm. The smaller house (that can accommodate up to 20 persons) has actually had the Queensland Museum staff out to photograph and catalogue the roof structure, which is still original. The larger house that can accommodate up to 25 persons has everything you need for a comfortable stay. There’s a TV and DVD player, wood heater, ample seating and enough crockery and cutlery to see everyone getting fed at the same time.

But to top off these great houses, there is also a communal fire pit outside. We sat around a blazing fire eating a great curry while we watched the sun go down over the hills. It was only rivalled by the next morning’s wake up call on the front veranda of the big house where the lake spread out before us as the sun slowly inched its way over the surrounding hills.

Down the hill from the houses is the camp ground. This camp ground is not like many other camp grounds I have been to. For starters the camping areas are large. By that I mean you will not be tripping over other campers tents pegs and being told off for having a guy rope centimetres over the painted line like you do at many other camp grounds. Basically the sites are large enough to have your own space and do your own thing – which is the whole reason for getting away in my book.

The camp ground also has a small amenities bloke that has two showers and toilets (male and female) and endless hot water. This does not mean endless hot water showers as the camp ground is supplied by tank water, but I does mean that if you’re third, fifth or tenth in line for a shower your water will still be the perfect temperature. Now that’s worth paying good money for.

There is also access to power for those with boats that have electric motors on them. The power is not for campers per se, it is for use by boaters to charge up their batteries ready for the next day’s fishing. A great little inclusion that will appeal to many anglers.

If you’re not into lure fishing for Maroon’s bass, then the camp ground also has its own dam that is chock full of baits like shrimp. You can collect these in the morning, hit the water and catch your fish. Now where else do you have bait on tap?

A pay phone is available 24/7, and basic shop supplies can be arranged through the office which is at the entrance. One word of warning though, the Holiday Park is strictly for booked sites so make sure you ring and book a site or the house/s before you hop into the car for the trip.

Lake Maroon Holiday Park is ideally located on the vineyard and wine trail, and it's just a short scenic drive to nearby Lake Moogerah and Queen Mary Falls.

Mt Barney National Park, the Upper Portals, Mt Maroon and Mt May are at your doorstep too, so if you’re into sight seeing or bush walking there is plenty to do.

Because of the park's size and location it offers something for everyone, whether it be mountain climbing, water skiing, four wheel driving, bush walking, bird watching, waterfalls, wineries or just relaxing and enjoying the views.

The kids, and the not so young kids, love the wallabies and at night they can feed the possums or see the resident colony of tiny bats, or you can just sit around the open camp fire and chin wag your way through a few night hours while discussing and fixing, the problems with Australia and the world.

So if you’re not into fishing, and I can’t imagine why you wouldn’t be, Lake Maroon Holiday Park is ideally located to provide a variety of other options to keep everyone in the family entertained.

At just over an hour's drive from Brisbane or the Gold Coast Lake Maroon Holiday Park is near Boonah in the heart of the Great South East's scenic rim.

If you head to Maroon from Boonah on the Boonah-Rathdownie Rd you will pass the turn off for the public boat ramp. Keep going without turning off and you wind your way down the hill into the Burnett Creek gully. Less than 1km after you cross over the bridge (which is a one car wide bridge with Give Way signs) there is a turn off to the right on Burnett Creek Road. Take this turn and follow the road up and over a couple of hills for 2km and you’ll see the front gate to the Lake Maroon Holiday Park. You can’t miss it.

Maroon is a special place for anglers. Sure the fish aren’t the monsters you can get elsewhere but if you can’t catch one at Maroon then you’re not really trying. The best part at present is that the water is up and the fish are biting. Can’t you just see yourself sitting around the open fire chatting about the day’s fishing while smelling the roast cooking inside? I can. In fact a friend and I have already booked a three night stay!