Gundabooka National Park - near Bourke

24 – 25 April  2015

We had read about this park, and the lady at the visitor centre recommended Yanda Campground as the best spot to camp. We drove out of Bourke and then turned onto the mostly unsealed Louth Road. The campground is signposted, but with the smallest writing possible so it was necessary to slow almost to a stop to read the directional signage. Turning right off the road, the road to the campground is only a few kilometres, but quite rough in parts.

We were told the campground is right on the creek – and it is, but it’s quite a walk down to the water.  We selected a spot close to one of the picnic shelters and not too far from the (hybrid) toilets, and set up our camp. We didn’t bother with the awning or table as the picnic shelter had ample space as well as a free gas barbecue – which we later learned wasn't working. I hope the next user appreciates how clean we left it.

An opalescent sunset more than compensated for our lack of proximity to the water.

We were fortunate that we were the only ones camped there and looked forward to a peaceful night when we saw the headlights of 5 vehicles. We were somewhat concerned as we have heard horror stories if rowdy young people arriving in campgrounds like this, after dark, and causing quite a nuisance with unruly behaviour (gosh I am sounding old and cranky!). Anyway we need not have worried, this group of young people set up camp and hardly disturbed us. We heard them going to and from the toilets, but they had turned in by about 10pm. Perhaps they were really old people masquerading as young’uns.

Hooded Robins are common but not as common as Jacky Winters.

A lucky catch. This Black Falcon flew past late in the afternoon and for once the focus was bang on.

We took our time in the morning to pack up and left for Bourke, intending to stock up on supplies – silly mistake. It was Anzac Day and all the shops were shut, except for the bakery which was going to be shut during the Anzac March. We stopped in to buy, what turned out to be, a very nice loaf of bread. I can recommend this little bakery.

We tried to fuel up, but waited an inordinate amount of time and gave up, confident the long range fuel tank on the Prado would get us to Cunnamulla. It’s 250km from Bourke to Cunnamulla and most of the road is straight, with a 110km speed limit, so it was an easy drive – except there are a couple of rest stops but not one toilet – be warned! When we arrived we found the town to be closed – nothing was open. We were able to get fuel at a 24hour card operated bowser, but that was it. So much for our plans for meals for the next few days. It was a Saturday and apparently Cunnamulla is closed on a Sunday too.

We made our way the short distance to Bowra Bird Sanctuary, which was to be our home for the next three nights. 

Nyngan

23 – 24 April 2015

We drove to Peak Hill and then on to Narromine, stopping for lunch at a rest stop on the highway. Because we needed to do a load of washing we decided to stay at a caravan park. We saw signs for a riverside park in Nyngan so made our way there. The grassy camping area was right on the Bogan River and not crowded when we arrived, although more campers arrived during the afternoon. There was plenty of room for everyone.

Great Egret

There were a number of moveable fire tubs and plenty of wood around so Mick lit a fire after dinner, even though it wasn’t as cold as we had been experiencing. It was nice to sit by the campfire with a glass of wine.

In the morning we packed up and headed back into town for supplies – how civilised being able to buy beer at the supermarket at 9.45am! A quick stop at the op shop and we were on the road to Bourke. Once we arrived we found the Visitor Information Centre and obtained decided on Gundabooka National Park as our next stop. There are picnic tables in the park like grounds at the visitor centre so we had lunch there before heading to the National Park.

Goobang National Park

22 – 23 April 2015

It was still raining and cold when we left the cabin, but a quick stop for coffee in Oberon warmed us up. We fuelled up in Bathurst then stopped at the visitor centre in Orange to get information about camping at Goobang NP.

We had a quick lunch stop at Molong – still windy and cold – then on through Yeoval and Baldry to Greenbah Creek camping area in the national park. The road from Baldry is unsealed, and the road within the park is very rocky, but the camping group is only 6km along this road so it didn’t take long. There are a number of sites, mostly level, some picnic tables, firepits and a toilet. We chose a spot, hoping the last of the dark clouds would move on, and set up our camp.

Speckled Warbler

Galah

Eastern Rosella

This is a nice place but I didn't manage to turn up many birds, probably due to my lack of persistence more than anything. In Spring I'm sure there would be much more activity, not just here but in most of the locations we've been to this trip. It was nice to find a Speckled Warbler on my morning walk although I couldn't get as close as I'd like. Mick.

There was only one other couple camped at this spot so it was a quiet night – cold but dry. Kangaroos grazed the grounds and in the morning one came right up to us, looking like it wanted a hand-out. There had been a heavy dew during the night so we had to wait until about 9.30 for the tent and awning to dry out. It wasn’t hard to do, this was a very nice, peaceful spot.

This Roo was obviously after a free feed.

Getting ready for an Antarctic expedition.

When we finally hit the road we headed towards Bourke, with a view to seeing how far we could get.

Blue Mountains – between Jenolan Caves and Oberon

20 -  22 April 2015

The car was due for it’s 10 000km service so we booked it in at Lithgow, with the intention of looking for accommodation in the area once we arrived there. The traffic heading towards the city was very heaving – it was raining and there had been a truck accident on one of the other motorways, so there was extra traffic on the M2 - thankfully going in the opposite direction to us. We stopped for morning tea and a look around in Leura. It was really cold and drizzling rain – not very pleasant walking around the village, but nice and warm in the café and shops.

We arrived in Lithgow at exactly the time we had the car booked in for, and the odometer read 10001km. Don’t think we could have done that if we’d tried! We left the car, rugged up and walked to the nearby shopping centre for lunch and to pick up supplies for the next few days. We had hoped to get in to a cabin at Capertee National Park, but it was unavailable so we settled for our second choice – Jenolan Cabins. After collecting the car we drove back down the highway to the turnoff, then along the road towards Jenolan Caves.

The road is ok until the last few kilometres before the caves – then it becomes very narrow and really windy. You cannot take a caravan on this road. The weather was awful and we were glad to arrive at the cabins, about 6km past the caves. It was raining and blowing an arctic wind, but the fire had been lit in the cabin, so we were soon warm and cosy. We were told snow was a possibility and we believed it. The weather outside was deteriorating rapidly.

We decided not to venture back to the caves – driving on a wet, narrow, windy road while it was blowing a gale was not my idea of a sensible thing to do. Instead we settled in for a day by the fire. As the day wore on we heard more and more news about the appalling conditions in Sydney, Newcastle and the Central Coast. We were glad we had left Sydney when we had, but felt for friends and family in the affected areas.

On Wednesday morning, as we were packing up to move to, we heard the dreadful news that there had been lives lost, and that more storms were expected. Time to head west, hopefully into better weather.  It was still raining and really windy so instead of driving back through Jenolan Caves, we headed towards Oberon, where we stopped for coffee, before travelling into Central New South Wales.

Sydney

15 – 20 April 2015

We had planned to visit Sydney to attend the Caravan and Camping Supershow – hoping to make a final decision on the purchase of a camper trailer, and to visit family and friends. I was not looking forward to driving in Sydney traffic, despite growing up there.

From Lake Conjola we drove north to Nowra, Wollongong and then into Sydney itself. The traffic snarls started almost as soon as we approached Nowra, no longer the sleepy town I remembered. 

Fortunately the GPS was on her best behaviour and directed us to my sister’s place in Lilyfield without incident. Bronwyn and her partner John were happy to have us stay for a few days. On Thursday morning she took Mick and I to the Supershow. What a day! Not as busy as we had expected, but our heads were overloaded with information and ideas by the end of the day. We thought we had made a decision but needed some time to think it over by ourselves.

On Friday morning we caught the Light Rail into the city with Bronwyn for a serious shopping trip to replace my hiking boots that had fallen apart in Tasmania. We found all the shops selling outdoor apparel on Kent St and I found a pair that felt right - and they were on special too! We had Yum Cha for lunch at Bronwyn’s favourite place, Marigold, in Chinatown. From there Mick and I walked to the Australian Museum to see the Wildlife Photographer of the Year Exhibition. We then walked back to Darling Harbour and took the Light Rail back to Lilyfield.

On Saturday morning we packed up again and set the GPS for my friend Anne’s place in Winston Hills. Again, we managed to get there without incident, but the traffic even for a Saturday morning was awful. We enjoyed a relaxing day and evening with Anne and Stephen. We joined them, and some of their friends, for Sunday lunch at the local “Bowlo” – Northmead Bowling Club, and then a quiet evening.

We rose early on Monday morning ready to tackle the city traffic as we headed for Lithgow. It seemed to take forever to get to the motorway, but once on the M2 it was a smooth run up to the Blue Mountains.

Lake Conjola

14 – 15 April 2015

We had one more night before we had to be in Sydney so we looked for somewhere nice to stay. Many of the south coast towns I remember from my childhood are now bustling cities. We picked up a local map at the visitor information centre at Bateman’s Bay and Mick chose LakeConjola, and a cabin in the caravan park nearest the bush reserve. What a good choice!

Our cabin was well appointed and on the bushland edge of the park. Unfortunately for us it faced the playground and cricket pitch rather than the bush. I guess it would have been perfect for families with young children.                                                                           

The end of the boardwalk was a 'birdy' spot.

Male Variegated Fairywren.

In the morning we went for a walk along the lake where families were fishing, snorkelling, swimming and paddling canoes, and up along the path to the ocean beach. This was a really nice walk, with lots of birds about.

It was a hazy morning and the surf looked a bit untidy.

From one corner of the park, a great little boardwalk meandered through coastal vine thicket and heath to a surf beach. Lots of Banksias were in flower providing nectar for Little Wattlebirds, Eastern Spinebills and New Holland Honeyeaters. Close to the beach, we saw an Eastern Whipbird, White-browed Scrubwrens and Variegated Fairywrens. Mick.

Croajingalong National Park

13 – 14 April 2015

Mick was keen to spend a night in the Lakes Entrance area and we chose Croajingalong NP. On the recommendation of the staff at the visitor information centre in Lakes Entrance, we chose MuellerRiver. The first part of the road from Cann River is sealed, and the unsealed section in the national park is reasonably well maintained (compared to some) but it was slow going and quite narrow in some parts.

Eastern Whipbird was a surprise early morning visitor .

Little Wattlebirds go for gold in the early morning light.

Coast Banksia (Banksia integrifolia)

Our tent was only two metres from the calm water of  Mueller Inlet.

There are only 8 sites at this campground and two long drop toilets. Tank water is available for hand washing but there are no other facilities – but the location is beautiful. The 4 drive in campsites are all a good size and along the edge of the river with views out beyond the mouth of the river to the waves crashing onto the beach beyond. It’s quite disconcerting to be camped on a river and hearing crashing waves. If we hadn't had a commitment in Sydney on Wednesday night we might have stayed longer than one night.

I'm happy with this close encounter with a Brown Thornbill but I missed a great shot of an Eastern Whipbird. Mick.

There were lots of birds around the camp ground so Mick spent some quality time with the camera before we finally left mid-morning, heading towards Nowra.

Melbourne

12 – 13 April 2015

After a calm trip across Bass Strait, on a beautiful day, we arrived in Melbourne and made our way to St Kilda to stay at a backpackers’. We thought we might be too old for this sort of accommodation but our kids had stayed there on their way to Tassie and this particular one offers motel style rooms – just perfect for people like us. The nearby pizza place served a tasty pizza at a good price.

Leaving Melbourne on Monday morning, we (I) made the mistake of not getting onto the motorway soon enough. Who knows how much time that added to out journey! We made the usual stops – coffee, op shops, picnic lunch, visitor information centre – before choosing to camp at Croajingalong National Park.