Spring 2018 - To Lightning Ridge and Back via Northern NSW

Tuesday 30 October 2018

Took a walk around town to look at the wall paintings. The town was a bit sad as most of the shops are closed and only the Post Office and cafe / info centre (now both community owned), Spar super market, chemists, CRT (hardware) and a general store remain. The fuel stop is only via card. There were not many people around!

The community is trying so hard to keep the town going. They have a cafe (2828 - named after the postcode), to bring people in and many of the walls have art.

The bright spot is the caravan park, which mainly keeps the town going. Apparantly it is an oasis and people come here from Victoria for the winter. I can see why they come as this caravan park is beautifully looked after - with nice green grass!

They do cooked dinners twice a week over the winter in the firepit, with proceeds going to the Royal Flying Doctor Service.

Wednesday 31 October 2018

Beautiful morning as we packed up and departed for Burren Junction Hot Springs. We turned off the highway at Coonamble and headed towards the town of Piliga. On this 80km section we only had 2 bends and nothing overtook us. From Pilliga to Burren about 30km was rough dirt and we could only do between 20 and 40kph. We arrived at the hot springs and set up camp and took a dip in the 37c pool. Several people there for the so called healing properties of the water. Beautiful evening.

Thursday 1 November 2018

Another pack up after taking some video, both camera and drone. We filled up with fuel and then headed the 90km to Walgett. The road wasn't great, but we made good time and a few kilometres out of town we had a car pass us, the first in over 200km! We turned right towards Lightning Ridge and the road kill was like a series of chicanes and the road surface was poor. Very hard to do more that 70kph. Arrived about midday and set up camp at the Opal Caravan park. It was "rather" warm, so we had a swim in the pool in the afternoon.

Friday 2 November 2018

We decided to visit another opal mining area called Glengarry - more what you expect from an opal mining town. This was a 76km drive. Very dry out there.

You get the impression that "outsiders" are more tolerated than welcome.

Back at Lightning Ridge we had lunch and then drove around the "car door tours". There are four tours - Red, Blue, Green and Yellow. They all use old car doors as the signs.

Their website explains it all.

On the way back to the caravan park we stocked up at IGA supermarket before going for a swim in the pool.

At Wee Waa we were going to stay at the showgrounds, but as we drove around we could see no other travellers, so booked into the better (relatively) caravan park and spent the rest of the day in the air-conditioning as it was another day with the temperature close to 40c.

Monday 5 November 2018

As a rest day, we drove the 25km down to Yarrie Lake to take a look. Unfortunately it was empty because of the drought, but it looked like a really nice place. The only downer was a sign at the ramp showing that skiing must be done clockwise around the lake. Hmmm, it might get busy and noisy at week-ends!

Just a few kilometres away, and half way between Wee Waa and Narrabri is the CSIRO Australia Telescope Compact Array at the Paul Wild Observatory.

This telescope consists of 6 x 22mtr dishes that run on a 3 km railway.

The dishes can be moved to any position along this railway.

Because we were close to Narrabri we called in to get some stuff at the shops. The weather forecast was not good, so we booked in for the following two nights at the Big Sky CP, before driving back along the highway to Wee Waa, where we filled up with fuel.

Wednesday 7 November 2018

Quite a nice morning, so we took a drive to the "Sawn rocks" on the road to Bingara and then turned left on to a dirt road to drive to "Waa Gorge". The road steadily got rougher and rougher until the road stopped. Google Maps doesn't always get it right. We back tracked for a few kilometres and then took a different road and after several opening/closing of gates, we arrived at the car park. The picnic ground was well set up.

We walked to the rock pools, but as there no water running and there was a forecast of thunder storms, we didn't walk into the gully.

Thursday 8 November 2018

We had planned to move on today, but with everything being wet underfoot we decided to stay in Narrabri for another day. It also give us a chance to visit Mount Kaputar again. It really is a beautiful area with so many beautiful views.

Later in the afternoon we went supermarket shopping and filled up with fuel. Nice to have a cool day for a change.

Friday 9 November 2018

Packed up and headed for Bingara to free camp at the No. 1 camping ground on the Gwydir River. Only a couple of caravans in, so it felt really empty. Setup next to the river in a beautiful spot. Spent the afternoon watching the wildlife. Many different bird types (including a duck that has made its home in our campsite. I get the feeling that people may have fed it!), large fish jumping, echidnas and lizards.

Saturday 10 November 2018

This spot on the Gwydir River is great for doing nothing other than watching the wildlife.

We took a paddle upstream and downstream in the afternoon. Glorious evening.

Monday 12 November 2018

Took our time packing up, reluctantly leaving around midday. Stopped in Inverell for lunch and to do some shopping. Chatted to another grey nomad from Brisbane (originally from Mansfield in Vic) while Di did shopping. We arrived in Glen Innes showground around 3pm and managed to get the last allowed spot there (they are now limited to 19 caravans).

From there we visited the museum at the old hospital. I though it well worth the visit.

Wednesday 14 November 2018

Today we were heading to Mann River, but pulled in at Boundary Falls Camping Ground to walk into the falls. Last time we were here Di was not well and she sat in the car while I did the walk. This time we also walked into Lyrebird Falls. Great views!

We pulled into Mann River CP for the night. Only a few people there. We were be-friended by an old guy (actually 10 years younger than me!).

We took a walk down to the river.

Friday 16 November 2018

Pleasant day, so we took a drive around to the ocean and the north breakwater, walking out to the end of the path, if not the end of the breakwater. Then we drove round to the bluff and walked to the top for nice water views. Walked along the walking path along to the hotel. Chilled out the rest of the day.

Saturday 17 November 2018

Up early to pick up the 8.45am ferry to Yamba. This ferry, now 70 years old, has always worked in these waters. We walked around the waterfront to the ocean and then up to the top of the bluff before heading back into town for cakes and a drink. We got the 11am ferry back to Iluka. Later in the afternoon the storm clouds built up and we put the awning and outside stuff away, but luckily we missed most of it, just getting a great light and noise show and some rain.

Sunday 18 November 2018

We took it easy during the morning and in the afternoon we walked around the whole way to the marine rescue, looking at the various wall works completed over the years to make the entrance safer. I found it very interesting.

To finish up, we bought fish and chips for tea.

Monday 19 November 2018

Another pack up and a drive south to Woolgoolga Lakeside CP.

We got a nice spot close to the beach, and after setting up we took a walk along the beach.

Tuesday 20 November 2018

Drove into Coffs Harbour on to Dorrigo for lunch and a walk into Dangar Falls. Returning to Coffs we walked out to the end of Mutton Bird Island.