The 7 Best Fishing Spots in Australia for Seniors
As we get older, a great fishing spot isn't just about the fish. It's about somewhere you can park close to the water, sit down when you need to, find a toilet, and stay safe. After forty years of fishing around this country — and the last five running this website from our retirement on the Gold Coast — these are the seven spots I'd happily take my own 84-year-old father to, one for every state.
1. Lake Burley Griffin, Canberra ACT
Flat, paved paths run right along the foreshore with benches every hundred metres or so. Redfin and golden perch (yellowbelly) are the main targets, and the National Capital Authority keeps the area beautifully maintained. The Lennox Gardens section has the easiest access and toilets a short stroll away.
2. Bribie Island Jetty, Queensland
Just an hour north of Brisbane, Bream, whiting and flathead cruise the sand flats around the old jetty at Woorim. You can park within 50 metres of the water, there's a proper toilet block, picnic tables with shade, and the jetty itself has a rail to lean on. On a rising tide with a few wriggler soft plastics, you won't wait long for a bite.
3. Tuross Lake Boardwalk, New South Wales
This flat boardwalk on the Eurobodalla coast is a gem. Wheelchair and walker friendly, with seats, shade and a toilet at the car park. Flathead and bream are plentiful, and because it's an estuary there's nearly always somewhere out of the wind.
4. Lake Wendouree, Ballarat VIC
Stocked with rainbow trout by Fisheries Victoria, this shallow city lake has gentle grassy banks and a full loop path. Fishing from the Steve Moneghetti Track side gives you the closest parking. Trout season runs from the first Saturday in September to the Queen's Birthday weekend in June.
5. Port Noarlunga Jetty, South Australia
Twenty minutes south of Adelaide. Squid, tommy ruffs, garfish and the odd snook hang around the jetty pylons. There's a ramp rather than steps, a café and public toilets at the foreshore, and the reef is protected — so the fish are big and plentiful.
6. Busselton Jetty, Western Australia
At 1.8 kilometres, it's the longest timber jetty in the southern hemisphere — and yes, there's a little train that runs you out to the end and back if the walk is too much. Tailor, herring and squid are the main catch, and a day fishing pass is cheap. Toilets and shelter at the end. This one is worth the trip alone.
7. St Helens Wharf, Tasmania
The game-fishing capital of Tassie, but the town wharf itself is flat, fenced, and has a fish cleaning station with running water. Australian salmon and barracouta show up in huge numbers through winter. Grab a scallop pie from the bakery when you're done — you've earned it.
Five things that make any spot senior-friendly
- Parking within 100 metres of where you'll fish
- A public toilet close by (non-negotiable after a certain age!)
- Seating or a rail to rest against
- Firm, level ground for walking frames and gumboots
- Shelter from wind and sun
Tight lines, and take your time getting there. The fish have been waiting this long — they can wait a little longer.
Ron Callahan is the founder of GearFish Guide. He fished his first Australian beach at age nine and hasn't stopped since. Read more about Ron and GearFish Guide.