ADOS 4 X 4 Park Trip plus Warrumbungles ... Easter 2009

Trip Leaders:     Errol and Jenny Gordon

Participants:

•        Eric and Helga Newmann

•        Alan Hughson

•        Ian and Ann Petty

•        Lew and Joy Davidson

•        Glenn Cottrell and Lyn Conroy

•        Graham and Ann Thatcher

•        Barry and Claire Willis

Day 1: Six vehicles started at the meeting point of Aratula, a traditional pie stop. Appetites sated, we headed for Wallangarra on the Qld. – NSW border. The greenery of the journey’s start was to be a complete contrast of later dry areas.

Driving along the Bruxner Highway to the back of Tenterfield was blissfully quiet with hardly any traffic on the roads and the loop to Bonshaw forms part of the state border with NSW. At Bonshaw, there was a worrying moment when tail end Charlie, Graham, drove through the tiny town the wrong way but he was soon back  in the convoy in his rightful position and heading in the same direction as the rest of the convoy. Eventually, just out of Warialda, we set up the first of our bush camp settings in the peace and quiet and near water, which was also a popular fishing spot for the locals.

Day 2: An unrushed start to the day and to Moree, where we met up with Glenn and Lyn, before heading to Narrabri for “smoko” at a very pretty park, through the Pilliga State Forest region and then a lunch stop in Coonabarabran. In the meantime, we were keeping a watchful eye on the ever darkening clouds in the direction of our next camp site, Ados Four Wheel Drive Park.

An interesting pastime is keeping track of the unusual names around the country and wondering, particularly, about the meanings of the aboriginal named spots as we were passing through Tooraweenah, place of black snakes. Thank goodness it was cooler weather!

Peter, the property owner of Ados, assured us that the rain was unlikely to be a bother as they had been in a drought for the past nine years, and when it does rain, it always stays on the other side of the ranges. I wonder why statements like that always sound foreboding?  Yes, it rained and the wind howled and all this strange weather must have had an affect on Glenn as he decided that maybe he had better ram his tent-pegs down a bit further into the ground, Amazingly, out of seven and a half acres of ground, he managed to pierce the hot water pipe! An investigation to assess the dilemma was made, after making Glenn dig the hole in the wet and mud, and temporary repairs were successfully carried out until the necessary fittings were purchased the following day.

Day 3: The dull weather did not deter us from going on a scenic tour, led by Dave, in his Jeep. Dave was from NSW and was camping at Ados and was familiar with the tracks, as he was a regular visitor to the area and had kindly offered to show us around. There were several gates to pass through and he was quite impressed with our tradition in the rotation of gate “openers” and lolly rewards. We learnt from him that only the gates not painted white, were to be opened, which is a great idea.

Our first named track was The Russia Track, so named after a winning race from the local area; then past the rock formation known as The Four Sisters; down Rustlers’ Gulch and finally a stop to view the old springs. The early settlers reckoned the water tasted like soda water, so “Ados” was named, a reverse spelling of soda. Most of the tracks were very rocky and l would not like to venture on the really hard tracks! However, it was well worth the trip up to the trig station as the views of the surrounding country was magnificent. Our day ended with the traditional half past gathering and then dinner in the communal kitchen-hall.

Day 4: Easter Sunday, another wet day, which obviously had not deterred a visit from the Easter bunny, as we all found Easter eggs, had been left at our residences. During the morning, the male species of the trip ventured out for a thrill seeking morning on the wet tracks.

On the first hill, Glenn managed to make it to the top, with Errol following after several attempts. The main problem was caused by a huge rock in the middle of the track, A spur of the moment decision to try another challenging hill, was too hard to resist, Dave being the first to attempt it, but to no avail, then Glenn decided to try. Near the top of the track, Glenn slid to the right, in front of a huge rock, stopped and found he could not go anywhere as the rock was behind him, leaving him in an awkward position. Errol climbed the hill on foot to assess the situation and to try and instruct Glenn how to manoeuvre out of the predicament. Somehow, Glenn managed to pivot in the same spot and turn the car to face forward to drive carefully down the left-hand side of the offending boulder. Our wet day ended with a communal dinner under the awning of “Café-a-la- Thatcher”

Day 5: As the next day was a return to work for Graham and Ann, they said their “goodbyes” and then it was time for us to decamp in the wet, something we could not begrudge the locals. Near our camper, we had noticed a particular type of tree with a very hollowed out trunk, Peter then explaining that the tree was a Kurrajong, a much valued fodder plant that can sustain cattle during the dry conditions.

Unfortunately for Lew, his vehicle developed a gear problem which slowed him down, but we eventually arrived at our campsite at the Warrumbungles, joining up with Barry and Claire Willis who had already set up their camper. More rain! Plenty of mud! Beautiful country!

Day 6: A miracle; a dry day which entailed a visit to the town of Coonabarabran, where Lew visited the NRMA to have his vehicle problem investigated. Now, Lew being a person who is renowned for always wanting to stop for his morning tea, missed out on delicious coffee and cake at the “Jolly Caulie” which did not please him at all. An afternoon visit to the Siding Spring Observatory, a joint Anglo-Australian venture, was most interesting and as we approached the observatory, the dome was covered in a mantle of mist, giving an eerie appearance. The tour inside the observatory was fascinating and to be able to watch the massive telescope moving at different angles, was awesome. From cold and mist to a beautiful sunset back at camp ended the day perfectly.

Day 7:  A fine, misty day had most of us up early as we had a strenuous day ahead of us and had plans to tackle the 12km. round walk and climb to the “Bread Knife”. As Errol and Jenny had already done this climb on a previous trip, they decided to tackle “Split Rock”. Despite the arduous venture, the spectacular view from the top was worth every painful step.

Long before European settlement, the Warrumbungle Mountains were often visited by the Aborigines and it was from the Gamilaroi tribe the Warrumbungles, meaning “Crooked Mountain”, were thus named.

Day 8: The rain was long gone, but the coldness took over, so it was quite a relief to be able to pack up in dry conditions. Narrabri was our destination and Lew was still having trouble with his vehicle, so to lighten his towing load, he and Alan had some plug changes made to their respective vehicles, so enabling both parties to swap over vans. Lew now had a T-van to tow, while Alan had a Jayco. I am sure it was quite a different towing experience for both drivers. Sadly, after lunch, we had to bid farewell to Lew and Joy, who had to return to Brisbane by bus, whilst leaving the caravan in the Narrabri caravan park and the car gear-box to be sent to Tamworth.

Our plans to head off to our next camping spot, via Stoney Creek, were almost thwarted as the GPS insisted on trying to take us down a “no through road” but with persistence, we eventually found the right route. The beautiful drive took us past Mt Kaputar and Sawn Rock and onto our overnight stay beside the Gwydir River. Every now and then, we heard fairly loud plopping sounds in the river and the next day we learnt from some of the locals, that Murray Cod and Yellow Belly habitate the river. Another perfect day ended after much star gazing and “oohing” and “aahing” each time a shooting star was sighted.

Day 9: Our plan for the day, before heading for Inverell, was to visit Copeton Dam. The dam holds three times the volume of Sydney Harbour, when full and is also a drawcard for fishermen. Errol was also revisiting familiar ground as he had played a part in the construction of the dam many years earlier.

After setting up at Fossickers’ Rest Caravan Park in Inverell, the men enjoyed a visit to the Transport Museum, housing one of Australia’s largest collections of transport memorabilia, also temporarily, the bridal fashions and sewing-machine of past eras. Once again, the ladies headed for an afternoon tea experience after having heard that we able to find such a place at the well appointed Tourism Centre, which was surrounded by lovely maintained land-scaped gardens. Our very obliging proprietors of the caravan park arranged a courtesy bus to transport us to the RSL where we had a dinner booking, so rounding off another day of our trip.

Day 10: Our last major attraction was a visit to King’s Plains Castle, located between Inverell and Glen Innes. Errol and Jenny had made a booking for morning tea before embarking on a tour of the castle. How often can one delight in freshly made scones, jam and REAL cream and in the grandest of settings? A most amazing building that one would not expect to find in the Australian bush. Construction of the castle was completed in 1910 by George Vivers, great nephew of William Vivers who first settled the property, King’s Plains Station, in 1837. The magnificent castle has 12 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms, 87 doors, many balconies and several fire-places. The surrounding gardens are four and a half acres featuring lush white rose bushes, lavender and old English trees, including oak. Still standing is the 1860’s woolshed with shingle roof, the school room and various other buildings. Further away on the property are the remains of a once thriving sapphire mine.

Our last bush camp at Beardy Creek was by far the coldest and windiest, so out came the gloves, scarves, hats and knee blankets to rug up against the unwelcome weather.

Day 11: A 6`C start to the day was a bit cool to decamp before heading home via Tenterfield. Like the previous towns, Tenterfield looked glorious with displays of autumn-coloured trees. At Wallangarra, it was a quick stop at the driver reviver centre before heading for Aratula, lunch and parting of the ways for home.

After such a tantalising peep into some of these places on the trip, a return visit is a must for us. There is so much on offer in the way of activities and attractions, it would be a shame not to explore more in the future.

Thank you, Errol and Jenny, for a wonderful Easter break and to all the people who shared it with us.

Ann Petty

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