Welcome to Cindy and David's 2013 Adventures
Note 04 - Walcha, Armidale
Walcha is famous for the Apsley falls which involved some bush walking across a very fancy suspension bridge and walked around the perimeter of a goge to a couple of very well constructed (by the local Lions Group) lookout platforms. Cindy felt very smug because she had packed a picnic lunch with flask etc. However, water is good but tea bag essential and Cindy forgot to pack the tea bag. Thirstily we drove on to the Kia Falls which involved 11km dirt road, again a bit of a walk but were rewarded with yet another beautiful view of a gorge and waterfall
Packed the van and drove up Thunderbolts Way after stopping at the Walcha Cemetry where Nathan Buchannan is buried. David had come acquainted with the amazing exploits of Nat Buchannan in the Stockman’s Hall of Fame in Longreach and was surprised to find his grave here. Once again the countryside was spectacular. Then we started to go up-hill, mostly in second gear and sometimes in first gear for a very long time. Fortunately there was no traffic so we weren’t holding anyone up. Stopped for tea at the top where there was a lookout to the valley very far below. It was there that we discussed the possibility that NSW actually has the prettiest countryside out of all the Australian states. We had chosen the Highlander caravan park in Armidale in which to spend Easter hoping to avoid the holiday crowds and we certainly succeeded as most sites were and remained vacant.
Drove down the Waterfall Road which goes to Dorrigo and Coffs which has the most falls and gorges in the area.. First stop was Metz Gorge, then Bakers Falls followed by Hillgrove west lookouts. The Metz township although thriving during the gold rush is almost a non existent site but the gorge, largely ignored by tourists is quite stunning. Hillgrove township still exists and is kept very nicely by residents who are obviously proud of their heritage and look after what is left. The mine is digging gold but mostly Antimony. Our final destination that day was Wollomombi Falls where we had our picnic lunch. We visited Checks Lookout and set off for Chandler lookout. However, it was very steep and long and Cindy wisely decided to turn back half way down. Another cup of tea and on round the corner to Edgars lookout before returning to Armidale
David had a wonderful morning at Bunnings and went on to completely renovate and reorganise and rebuild the caravan boot resulting in far more room and an ability for us both to actually find what we need instead of digging about and hoping.
Back in the car that afternoon saw us at Gara Gorge in the Oxley Wild Rivers National Park where we went on yet another long walk to find a gorge lookout. Gara Gorge is where the first hydro-electric system was created in 1894.There is not a lot left of this historic system except that part of the path was the concrete waterway from the dam.That evening we had drinks with some neighbours who had arrived the day after us, a lovely couple named Frank and Glenda. They had just bought their van at an auction and so we were able to compare notes.Other neighbours who came and went at that park were a lady on her own with the tiniest tent and who was very friendly but disappeared as suddenly as she had
arrived; she was followed by a very tall young man who was returning home to Adelaide after spending time on the east coast with friends. He had a swag! One night a large brand new motor home swept in and disgorged a lovely couple with a fluffy dog who stayed one night and left early (was it something we said) and Cindy was left thinking she was lacking in the glam department as said lady had a beautiful hair style, superb clothes plus very long patterned finger nails. The park obviously made its money from the cabins which were all occupied during the long weekend.
Took a drive to yet another gorge - Dangers Gorge. Very spectacularly high falls but with very little water falling into an enormous rock basin and away into the gorge. Just about gorged out by now, we took a detour past the airport and ended up on a guided tour of Saumarez Homestead. This property was a squatter run held by Henry Dumaresq then as a pastoral license to H.Thomas in 1856. He sold it to Francis White in 1874. The property was in the hands of the White family until donated to the National Trust in 1984. Our guide was a very serious and dedicated man and did not want to put up with any nonsense from his charges. One or two of the ladies liked a bit of a chat and he eventually told them that he was the one to listen to and not to interrupt and disrupt the group. Whoops! (And no, it wasn’t Cindy who was obediently hanging on to said guide’s every word!) The family history was actually worth listening to ending with the family disintegrating in recent years through the older relatives dying with no progeny and leaving the house to the National Trust. They were immensely rich and supported the local area generously including a blank cheque for a large project in the area which required government support if a certain amount of money was raised by the locals
Saumarez Homestead
We did the free bus tour arranged by the Information Centre driven by Werner and hosted by Jennifer, a lady of quite advanced age with a very dry sense of humour. Very entertaining. Drove up to the mansion on the hill that was an Orphanage home and later became the training college for nurses before being taken over by the Uni. Now it’s up for sale
The first main stop was the Anglican Cathedral which is obviously much loved and cared for. As it was the day after Easter Sunday we were treated to all the flowers that were placed there for the Easter service and they were spectacular, their perfume pervading the entire building. A lady called Shirley gave us a talk about it’s architect, John Horbury Hunt, and it’s construction of Armidale Blue Bricks. Very impressive roof beams and beautiful stained glass windows.
We stopped for tea at the Railway station and museum and then on to to the University of New England in whose grounds sits Booloominbah house, the grand home of the White family (very famous in this area and a branch of which family used to occupy Saumarez Homestead) and which is now the main admin building of the New England University. The house is very large and grandiose but we could not go in as we were outside opening hours. We could see part of the famous stained window half way up the staircase and into a couple of the rooms which are all now in use by UNE