THE SMALL town of Benaraby, situated on the Bruce Highway, is positive proof of the saying that good things come in small packages.

Sited where the Bruce Highway crosses the picturesque Boyne River, it’s a nice little place on its own merits as well as being close to some really lovely attractions.

When driving along the approaches to town, take note of the hoop pines, for they have a special meaning to the town. The trees were planted at the end of World War II as a memorial to the area’s fallen soldiers.

This rural community is home to about 650 people and while it has everything you could need for a quick stopover - a rest area just off the highway and a service station to fill up and have a meal - it’s actually a good place to plan to stop for a couple of days and unpack your fishing rods.

Book in to the Greenacres Motel and Caravan Park. It’s a small, friendly park which is a comfortable place for an overnight stop or a longer stay. Air-conditioned units, on-site vans (they’re air conditioned too), powered sites and shady campsites are available. The complex has a pool and a camp kitchen available for all to use. Or have one of their fresh country meals delivered to your room! The complex is situated 1km north of

Benaraby and its country address means there’s plenty of room. Be there in the afternoon for the daily birdfeeding session.

Once you’re settled in, grab your tackle and head down to the Boyne River. The river has a history of providing spectacular barramundi and other species. In fact, locals speculate that this might become known as one of the truly great fishing spots.

Upstream from the Boyne River bridge is a great hunting ground for many species including flathead, bream, grunter and mangrove jack. Access can be made from the road on the south-eastern side of the bridge.

If you’d like to do a bit of beach fishing, Turkey Beach is just down the road. Fishing is also rewarding at Boyne Island and Tannum Sands. The mouth of the Boyne River is a particular good spot to drop a line. Or spend some time at Lake Awoonga, which is a 10-minute drive from Ben-araby and offers the special treat of year-round barramundi fishing. Thousands of barramundi fingerlings are released into the lake each year, and as this program was started a decade ago, there’s always a good chance of success for a giant catch. Mullet and mangrove jack have also been released into the lake, and many other species can be caught, ranging from bony bream to spangled perch.

Even if you’re not a fishing enthusiast, Lake Awoonga is a great place to visit. Simply relax and enjoy the gorgeous scenery or do some serious wildlife spotting or birdwatching. The lake is considered a vital off-coast bird refuge. Wander along some of the walking paths, have a swim in summer or bring a few snags to throw on one of the barbecues.