Dubbo and Western Plains Zoo

Friday, Nov 28

After an absolutely blinder of an electrical storm last night, we planned to visit the Western Plains Zoo for the day. It rained on and off all day subsequently we were the only visitors today. We had the park to ourselves and freely accessed all the exhibits. I can’t show you all the shots we took at the zoo but I loved the small Meerkats who on queue posed and played for our camera.

Meerkat

Giraffe

Galapagos Tortoise

Saturday, Nov. 29

This was and easy day. I set up the TV and tuned into the cricket. Sally spent most of the day, cleaning the car as it had been through the ringer the last week.
To our surprise, Mike and Jan arrived in Dubbo and camped next to us. After stories were exchanged about lightning, floods and bad weather in general, we ate dinner and settled down a few games of 500.

Dubbo Camp Site

Goulburn River National Park

Wednesday, Nov. 26

Sally and I left Mike and Jan behind in Tamworth and set off towards Dubbo. We had decided to stop for the night in Goulburn River National Park and again stocked up on plenty of firewood anticipating another cool night. We were very confused as we entered the park for there were no signs to the camping areas. In fact we drove through the park without stopping. It wasn’t until we reach the small town of Bylong that we found signs pointing us back into the western boundary of the park to Spring Gully. These camp grounds were spacious however, as there were two vehicles parked at Spring Gully already, we pushed on another kilometre to the Big River camp ground. This we had entirely to ourselves for the night.

Big River Camp Ground

Thursday, Nov. 27

As there were no showers here, I took a dip in the Goulburn River to Sally’s amazement, and then we broke camp and headed onwards to Dubbo.

Colin swimming in Goulburn River

On the way out of Goulburn Nat. Park, Sally spotted one of the largest goanna I’ve seen. He darted up a tree given me a wonderful photo opportunity.

Big Goanna

Tamworth

We pulled up at the Big 4 park on the bank of the Hunter River, booked in for 2 nights (Mike and Jan were staying for three to fix an oil leak in his diff) and set up. Then it was off the Outback Jack’s Bar and Grill where we were to surprise the owners, Virginia and Pete. Sally couldn’t resist tucking into Port Ribs.

Sally at Outback Jacks

We caught up to Pete and Virginia and Virginia was going to visit us in the morning for coffee.

Tuesday, Nov. 25

Sally and Virginia at Tamworth Campsite

Then we visited them for coffee in the afternoon.

Pete, Virginia and Family outside Outback Jacks

Virginia and Sally behind Tamworth BIG Guitar.

Mount Kaputar

Sunday, Nov. 23

We were now all heading for Tamworth to visit ex-Dawinites, Pete and Virginia, but again decided to break this trip into two legs. We decided to cut through the Mount Kaputar National Park and camp on the mountain for the night but we should have known something was amiss, as both our Sat Navs had a hissy fit on the way out of Narrabri and we ended up have to seek directions from a local. He told us that this happens on that road all the time. Now on the right road we heading into the park, knowing that there were open fires we were loaded up with fire wood ready to go. We picked up park brochures at the information bay and headed for the Bark Hut camp ground. On arrival we read the brochures only then to discover that the road through to Barraba had been closed to vehicles by NSW Parks and Wildlife. Resigned to the fact that we would have to return to Narrabri tomorrow and after checking out the Dawson Spring we set up camp at the Bark Hut ground, lit the camp fire and prepared ourselves for the coldest night of our trip.

Sally, Jan (cold) and Mike

Jan (warm)

Monday, Nov. 24

Before leaving Mt Kaputar, we enjoyed the hot showers and flushing toilets (five star) then drove up to the summit of Mt Kaputar. The road goes almost to the top and then there is an easy climb up wooden steps to the summit where we had uninterrupted 360 deg. view.

Colin, Sally, Mike and Jan (Finally worked out how to use the camera timer)

It was then off the mountain (much to Sally and Jan relief as they had been experiencing vertigo from the steep drop-off off the side of the road in) and onto Tamworth.

Lightning Ridge

Saturday, Nov. 22

We spent the morning exploring Lightning Ridge where the tourist drives are marked in a unique fashion. We first checked out the “Green Door” drive, which involves following a series a green car doors placed along the side of the track number from 1 up. This led us to Nettleton’s First Shaft, the first opal mine in the area. Unfortunately, it’s a hole in the ground covered by steel mesh. Besides the plaque alongside it was indistinguishable from several hundred others in a kilometre radius. The view across the Coocoran Opal Fields was fairly good.

Disused Opal Mines

Coocoran Opal Fields

We had arranged to meet Mike and Jan in the afternoon and visit the “Chambers Of The Black Hand” opal mine which is renowned for the sandstone carvings created by the mines’ owner. As we had some time to kill, we visited a spoil heap next to the 3 mile open cut mine that Mike and Jan had been shown that morning managing to pick up a few shards of opal.

Fossicking around 3 Mile Mine

The Chamber of the Black Hand was very interesting as well as venturing down underneath the sandstone layers in the clay base were Opals are still sort. Our guide on this trip was an old opal miner and his passion for the gem was exposed as he took us through the diggings, some of which are still worked.

Chamber of the Black Hand

Chamber of the Black Hand

Chamber of the Black Hand

After this adventure it was back to camp for dinner and cards, albeit difficult because of the gale blowing.

Lightning Ridge Camp Site

Goondiwindi, NSW Border

Friday, Nov. 21

We set off early today endeavouring to make it to Lightning Ridge. We stopped at Goondiwindi to pick up some supplies and have lunch by the bridge where we crossed into NSW.

Queensland / NSW Border at Goondiwindi

Macintyre Bridge, Goondiwindi

The weather had certainly improved and going was fairly comfortable until we cam across this monster. It had a Prime Mover at the front pulling, one at the back pushing and some poor bugger sitting on a dolly underneath steering the rear bogie.

The Monster

We made it to Lightning Ridge before dusk, caught up with Mike and Jan and promptly went out for dinner.

Warrick

Thursday, Nov. 20

We had arranged to meet Mike and Jan at Lightning Ridge but from Brisbane we decided that it was too far to attempt in one day. We headed for Goondiwindi and possibly Moree if time permitted but as we approached Warwick we could see storm clouds brewing and decided to seek shelter in Warwick.



Storm Clouds outside Warwick


As the lightning appeared intense on our approach, it was decided that an on-site cabin for the night would be the best option. We made it to the caravan site and booked in and as we returned to the car the heavens opened. We parked outside the cabin and dashed inside and within seconds, Warwick was engulfed in a hail storm. I got absolutely soaked in an effort to protect the car from hail damage.

Hail Cover (For Brett).


We snuggled up in our cabin to see the night out counting our lucky stars we weren’t sleeping in the camper that night.

Chinchilla, Maroochydore, Brisbane and Gold Coast

Saturday, Nov. 8
Although dry, it rained most of last night. I know it rained as I could here the flush of water being released that had built up, overnight, on the roof of Mike and Jan’s Roof top tent. There must have been about five litres flood from their roof onto the ground, sparking a comment from a neighbour, “what a waste of good rain water”. We managed to break camp without further rain delays and headed for Roma for supplies. Luckily was arrived pre-noon as again we were almost caught out by early Saturday closing in Queensland. On the way, we stop to check out the wreckage of a C478 Dakota aircraft also bought down during a violent storm in this area in1943.
We stocked up and pushed on to Chinchilla, but as the rain set in, we abandoned our usual camping routine and settled on self contained cabins for the night. Looking outside as I type this, I’m happy not to be setting up the camper trailer up tonight.

Sunday, Nov. 9
Today it rained again so instead of heading to Rainbow Beach we decided to head to Buderim to catch up with Kris and Kylie (more ex-Darwinites). We choose a van park on the Maroochy River called the Maroochy Palms. As it was still raining we checked into a onsite villa and shared with Mike and Jan. The 2 bedroom villa was heaps big enough for the four of us.
That evening Kris picked us up from the park and drove the 8 kilometres to his house in Buderim. We stay for a barbie and late in the night taxi’ed home. (So I’m told).

Monday, Nov. 10
The weather still unrelenting, we stayed another night at Maroochy Palms but as the villa was expensive, we downgraded to the camping facility, quite nice near a highly populated duck pond. At least they were enjoying the weather.

Tuesday, Nov. 11
Again we stayed another night but the long distance forecast looked bleak.

Wednesday, Nov. 12
We decided to defer our trip to Fraser Island so broke camp. Mike and Jan wished to head inland to explore some national parks and Sally and I choose Brisbane to visit her sister Cathy. We stayed 2 nights in Brisbane and then planed to visit more ex-Darwinites, Gary and Debra who now live on the Gold Coast.

Glass House Mountains

Friday, Nov. 14
After a lazy drive along the M1 Motorway we arrived at the Gold Coast around five. Buying a few supplies we lobbed up at Gary and Debra’s around six and stayed for Barbie and Drinks. There was plenty of catching up to do.

Debra and Gary

Surfer’s Paradise

Saturday, Nov. 15
We left Gary and Debra’s early so drove done through the NSW border to fine some seclusion so Sally could enjoy the paper and I could work on this blog. Since commencing the blog, I’ve appreciated the effort bloggers go to in sharing their adventures. We found and picnic ground in the Numimbah State Forrest on a river full of turtles.

Numimbah State Forrest Picnic Ground

Numimbah State Forrest

We then called into Kevin and Gaye’s place near Upper Coomera where we stayed for dinner and drinks.

Sunday, Nov. 16
Breakfast with Kevin, Gaye and Miranda at the Southport Surf Lifesaving Club, an excellent feed right on the Gold Coast beach.

Kevin, Gaye, Miranda and Colin

Now it was back to Brisbane for another night at Cathy’s before heading back up the coast.

Monday, Nov. 17
We received a call from Mike and Jan because last night south east Queensland received the most severe storms in a decade. We were safely locked away in Cathy’s unit unlike Mike and Jan who weathered the storms camped out at an inland national park. Needless to say, we have decided to abandon our plans to tour Fraser Island as weather forecasts for south east Queensland remain bleak for the next two weeks. We decided to continue up to Dicky Beach (north of Brisbane) to visit Boob and Karen, more ex-pat Dawinites, who are now living in Dicky Beach. There were still living in the van park with settlement on their new house still a week away.

Dicky Beach Van Park

Bob and Karen took us to the Dicky Beach Surf Life Saving Club where Bob won on the trots and dogs and we celebrated with a few more drinks.

Colin, Bob and Karen

Tuesday, Nov. 18
It rained all of last night and this morning. To make matters worse, the zipper holding the weather cover on the top of the trailer disintegrated whilst packing up the trailer. As we were heading to Brisbane again, we called a canvas repair place were we could drop the trailer off to be fixed. We are now waiting at Cathy’s for the repairs to be completed.

Cathy and Sally

Wednesday, Nov. 19
We filled in the day by going into Brisbane and as the weather was sunny we took the fast ferry from Ascot. This was a very pleasant trip disembarking at North Quay.
Paddle Steamers on the Brisbane River
Upon our return to Ascot via train, we received a all informing us that our camper was fixed and ready for collection. We drove out to collect it and then set it up outside Cathy’s unit to dry everything out after Dicky Beach’s torrential rain.

Colin drying out the Camper

Canarvon Gorge National Park

Thursday, Nov. 6



Canarvon Camp Groud

An early start then off for our walk up the canyon. We started with the Moss Garden, an excellent pool up a side canyon. Very picturesque and a pleasant walk to boot so we decided to go on further.


The Moss Garden



The Amphitheatre was a few kilometres past the Moss Garden, up and down some flights of steps and finally up a gantry into a small cave entrance up the side of a cliff. Once we accomplished this climb, the path lead us threw the cave into an un-roofed chasm the size of a bowling green with steep sides all around. The photos don’t do it justice.

The Amphitheatre


After returning, we headed straight to the Rock Pool for a dip before returning to camp. “more steps and stepping stones”.


The Rock Pool


After dinner, something incredible happened. Sally and I beat Mike and Jan at Triv.

Friday, Nov. 7

Sleeping in is great so with only a few chores to do in the morning, the afternoon was free to return to the Rock Pool.
After returning, late afternoon, Jan started her stew and we walked down to see the Platypi.
Unfortunately the platypi did not wish to see us so it was back to camp to eat and play Triv.
Tonight, Mike and Jan made a remarkable comeback making Sally and I feel some what disillusioned by last night’s victory.


Olive Hunting Platypus

Saturday, Nov. 8

Although dry, it rained most of last night. I know it rained as I could here the flush of water being released that had built up, overnight, on the roof of Mike and Jan’s Roof top tent. There must have been about five litres flood from their roof onto the ground, sparking a comment from a neighbour, “what a waste of good rain water”. We managed to break camp without further rain delays and headed for Roma for supplies. Luckily was arrived pre-noon as again we were almost caught out by early Saturday closing in Queensland. On the way, we stop to check out the wreckage of a C478 Dakota aircraft also bought down during a violent storm in this area in1943.
We stocked up and pushed on to Chinchilla, but as the rain set in, we abandoned our usual camping routine and settled on self contained cabins for the night. Looking outside as I type this, I’m happy not to be setting up the camper trailer up tonight.



Muddy Drive Out

Kroombit Tops

Tuesday, Nov. 4

We set off late knowing that the drive from 1770 to Kroombit Tops should only take a couple of hours.


The Drive In

We arrived at the Barracks around 3:30 after some winding dirt roads with steep climbs. It was decided to push on to The Wall which was the other recommended camp site in the park. This was on a 4WD loop road which proved very challenging. We stopped at the site of the Beautiful Betsy B24 crash site (fairly untouched since 1945 when it crashed on route to Brisbane. Towing the camper trailer to the site was a challenge in itself as there is a timber ramp leading uphill for about 60 meters which is very steep.


Beautiful Betsy Crash Site

After this we completed the remaining 5 or so kilometres to The Wall and were very impressed by this location. Only one other sole camper was there so we had almost all the camp ground to ourselves. We quickly commandeered a campfire place and set up a bush camp. Excellent spot.

The Wall Camp Site

Wednesday, Nov. 5

The drive out of Kroombit Tops along the remainder of the 4WD track was even more difficult then yesterdays drive. There was a lot of low range sections and dragging our camper trailer up some of the steep rocky sections proved challenging for vehicle, driver and passenger alike. The view from both the loop road and the lookout were excellent.

Kroombits Tops Lookout

Kroombot Tops 4WD Loop Road

The drive out along Mahoon Creek Road was remanistant of our drive into Lawn Hill. Lots of cattle and gates.
We arrived exhausted after being on the road for around nine hours we finally arrived at Canarvon Gorge and were happy to see that the van park was again very comfortable.
Mahoon Creek Road