Carnavron Gorge - Awesome plus plus

June  21 and 22

CARNARVON GORGE -  Awesome - is there a better word to describe an amazing  place.

Awesome, beautiful, spiritual, outstanding, breathtaking, pretty, spectacular, mind blowing – I don’t think the photos do it justice.  Do come and walk the tracks if you possibly can.  We walked up to the Bluff on the first afternoon – very steep – see the ladders – and of course the panoramic view was outstanding. 

Next day we walked over 15 km, but it sure was worth it all.  One of the prettiest places in Australia.  WE walked up the main Gorge and into four side gorges.  Not one gorge was cloned.  Each was so different, different flora and wonderful. 

The National Parks camping ground is only open in the school holidays so we were just plain lucky to get in – only two nights @ $10.80 per night, when the other camping areas hold everyone to ransom at $45 per night.  Disgusting. 

So book yourselves in for the next holidays – no caravans allowed, but campervans and tents, camper trailers fine. 

Bingara, Texas, Toowoomba and the wonderful BUNYA MOUNTAINS

June 12 saw us leaving Allawah – farmer’s property on the Gwydir River – out of Bingara.  Luckily packing up was done just in time to miss the rain.

We travelled north all day in the rain.  Lunched in the park at Texas – just before the rain really set in.  So we opted to keep travelling to Toowoomba and get a cabin in the BIG4 caravan park for two nights.  It was just lovely to lie in bed and listen to the rain.  We shopped and drove around to show Warren a few sites before he left us to go to his brother-in-laws.  He stayed there a few days then drove down to the Tweed River to another friend and is home in Cooranbong now.  He was a great travelling companion – very interested and knowledgeable about the camping world.  He has camped over in England and Europe too.

June 14-17 – we camped in Kevin and Thelma’s back yard at Blackbutt.  Thelma feeds the birds each evening.  Great hobby for her and Ian got some wonderful pics.  They took us for some great drives around the area which were quite mind boggling.  Felt like we were in the boondocks – very isolated areas. 

June 18 and 19 – BUNYAH MOUNTAINS.  Wow. Wow both in terms of a lovely camping area, lovely walks but very freezing.  We had a cold wind blowing from south and the first night was MINUS FIVE degrees!!  We went to bed with beanies, gloves and hot water bottles and were nice and warm until we got up to check our tent ropes!!

The walks here are just wonderful – see photos.  Nice to get a coffee in a lovely café with an open fire place. 

Kanga Visit, they were very tame

The wrens sat on our feet

Fabulous walking through the Bunyan Mts

Bunyan Pine

What a whopping Ficus

Chalmers Trip North to Lawn Hill, back through Diamantina River System to SA - Ceduna

June 5 - Wed

Not an auspicious start to our trip.  We did leave home at 8.30 am, however Robyn had to visit Doc for infection in ear (good now thanks :) ).  Ian meanwhile got a flat tyre (we have never had one on an outback trip and hope it stays that way).

Finally left Ryan and Nerrine's home at about 12.30 pm after setting up Eillah's painting easel which was her birthday gift.

Travelled up the picturesque Hunter Valley through to Nundle, then climbed the mountain to Sheba Dam where we set up the Camper Trailer properly, for the first time.

Setting up camp for the first time.  Lovely position on Sheba Dam, which was built for the gold rush in this area.  

Cooking dinner in our camp oven - cold here.

Beanies, woollen socks and boots showed how cold it was here.  Water bottle at night was just lovely.

Looking over Hanging Rock above Nundle, driving from Sheba Dam to Narrabri

After two days, we moved onto Narrabri as we wanted to visit Mt Kaputar.  If you ever want a great holiday, book a cabin via National Parks - 0267927300  - see pic below of the cabins at top of Mt K.

8 June -   Saturday
Travelled Narrabri (we were camped in the showgrounds - basic but good) to Mt Kaputar - 1 1/2 to 2 hours to travel up, depending on how often you stop to take photos.

We were 1510 metres above sea level.  If ever Shirley McClain came up, she would sing 'On a Clear Day you Can See Forever'.  We could see 94 kms to the Warrambungles.

1932 saw 300 people walk or ride horses up here to try and pressure the Government to build a road up here.  Very interesting history.

Rocky Outcrops seen from the road

Red Rump Parrot pair on Narrabri Showground

You can see forever

Rentable Cabins seen from behind trunk.  Wood supplied - Double bed next to fireplace - how good is that.

Sunday 9 June - Narrabri via Sawn Rocks to Bingera.  Bingera is an amazing little town.  Would be lovely to live here.  We camped on the Gwydir river on Peter Rose's farm - Allawah - great fishing.  Quiet and lovely.

So what giant got up here and sawed the rocks?  Amazing

And who placed these rocks into a honeycomb pattern?

Looks like a pipe organ

BEST CAMP - THREE DAYS on Allawah on the Gwydir River.  Best bird life.  We listed these:
Black fronted dotterill (minature plovers - from plover family)
Grebe
Frecked duck?
white faced blue heron
Water hens
Honey eater
Willy wag tail
crows
sulphur crested cockatoos
Gallah
azure kingfisher
friar birds
pee wee
Magpie
fly catcher - white fronted
apostle birds
three types of parrots
plovers
tree creeper
lorikeets


Tuesday 10 June
Woke to a splash of water on my face and then one into my ear - the blessings of condensation.  Very heavy mist.  Warren had the fire going from our lovely coals the night before.  It was starry night at 1 am, but deterioted through the night and day to a heavy rain.

Lovely farmer Peter Rose came down with some yummy caramel slice for us.  How is that for country hospitality?

Sun wasn't able to break through the mist .  Gumboots and woollen socks - only way to keep feet warm.

Tuesday 10 June - Weather improving a little so we drove the 10 kms into Bingera for lunch and a walk around a really lovely quaint town.  Memorial arbore of orange trees for fallen soldiers.  Excellent.

Back at camp revved up the fire and fished - One cod and one carp.

Ian so please to get a Cod - of course this ancient line of fish went back into the river.

You can see how busy and frantic we are. :)

Looking over Bingera

On the other side of the lookout - the Gwydir River

Can you see the bend in my rod?  Very large Carp!!  YUK

Evening Reflections on the Gwydir River.

Wed 11 June - packed up quickly as rain looked like happening.  Half hour later the rain started and came in fits and starts all day.

Drove to Inverell - lovely town
Texas - quaint, rural town - lunched in the park - then the rain came again.
Millmerran - great little bakery

Toowoomba - two night stay in a cabin at the BIG4 Caravan park - very nice to be out of the rain.  Super cell storm happened near Warwick during the night.

Off to Blackbutt to see our friend Kevin.