I had the opportunity to get away road tripping again last weekend as the boy is away visiting his grand parents for a week so I spent hours last week researching places to go and see that I hadn't see before and decided on a route from home(Lismore) through to Tabulam and down to Ewingar state forest for the night then down to Lionsville down the Clarence way for some fossicking and exploring of old mines if I could find them before heading further down south before turning west at Carnham headed to the free camping area at Mann River at Hanging Rock, Cangai (pronounced Cang-ghee) near the Gwydir Highway just west of Jackadgery. I'd spend the night or two there before heading back east along the Gwydir highway then cutting up north east to the Clarence river and head north to a place called The Gorge to check it out before heading back home.
So, I did my research or so I thought, got myself all organised and packed the car and off I went after my boy (Dylan) left for his family visit around noon.
The trip out through Casino and west to Tabulam was uneventful, only a stop off at Casino for some food supplies.
I turned off about three kilometres past Tabulam to head for Ewingar, Tabulam would appear to be getting a new bridge from the amount of construction at the river beside the old bridge which is a shame because I rather like the old bridge but I guess that's progress for you I just hope they keep the old bridge if they can .
As I was saying, I headed for Ewingar state forest and drove and drove and then realised that I'd forgotten my GPS and oh lovely, I now have no signal which is another thing I hadn't considered so now I was travelling blind, WOOHOOO!....
Lucky for me I had thought to write some brief directions down which was a good thing because if I hadn't had them I probaly would have got lost as soon as I turned off onto Ewingar Rd and I only did that because I remembered it from my map research at home.
I drove Ewingar rd for awhile hoping that I had taken the right rd and drove for awhile before reaching a road juction that wasn't sing posted at all. All I had was the Ewingar hall on the corner so at least I was roughly in the right area. Um??? do I go straight or do I turn right up a road that has no sign posting (whats that about anyway!!!??) hmmm??? Bugger it I'll go up the un sign posted road and hope for the best. What can happen?I get lost and have to stop and some remote farm house to ask for directions back out, simple.
The road was sealed for quite a few kilometres before turning to dirt and there started to be signs now and then warning of being aware of forestry trucks using the road so I half decided I was on the right track...well, hoping I was.
The road was in good condition which was good and it was now starting to wind up into the mountain and after maybe half hour I came to a large brick gate entrance structure thingy that flanked each side of the road but no gate and no name or anything else to give away what it may have been for. As soon as I drove through this weird gatey thingy I drove straight down onto a cement causeway and was welcomed with a pretty little stream.
This is the creek, I stopped to take photos because you just have too when you're out road tripping. It looks like people may have been fossicking as there are circle areas in the foreground that looks like they could have been looking for gemstones. After I got some snaps i kept going because I really wasn't sure if i was headed the right way and I was now on a mission to find (hopefully) the old forestry camp before it got dark.I drove more and more and more and Lordy! am I ever going to get there!? and climbed up the mountain for a while and Tar Dar! what do I see?
It's the old forest camp. Not what I thought I was looking for as from my researching there were a few huts grouped together but now there is only one?? Anyway, I hoped that I had found it and decided to stop and set up camp for the night.
My camp set up near the hut. I love my tent I purchased from Aldi because it's an all in one easy to put up tent that goes up in five minutes by yourself. After I got set up I checked out the hut.
The inside of the hut was a bit of a mess but I loved the actual structure itself and I might have stayed in it for the night if it was cleaner. People obviously stay there regularly and the remnants of their stay is evident with bits of rubbish left laying around.
It was originally for forestry workers to stay in and would have been reasonably comfortable for it's purpose hence the old bed. You can see an old tent that looks like it died and was in pieces left propped against the wall. There were old chairs that had seen better days as well. Why can't people take their rubbish with them so others can enjoy the experience as well?
It was good to see this sign and it was also good to see people had left things for others to share as well as crystals and other rocks that people had fossicked for but left for others. There was peoples names painted on the walls marking their stay and dated as to when they had passed through.
I love the fireplace and looks like many a fire has been had there. The hut is looking worse for ware thought with the glass falling out of the windows and after researching when I got home I saw that it was the camp I was after but it looks like the other original huts and cabin are now gone. there was a big pile if rubble and charred remains so I'm thinking that the cabin may have burnt down which is a shame.
I headed down the road to see if I could find the Ewingar creek to do a bit of exploring but once again I was travelling blind and not sure of where I should be looking. Having come home and checking maps again, I was sooooo close to Ewingar creek and I have to admit I'm a little ticked off with myself for not taking the bloody GPS, GRRRR!. Oh well, can't be crying over my own mistake. I know where to go for next time.
So I turned around and headed back to camp to settle in for the night but I did get a couple of nice photos of dust angels through the rain forest trees lining the road.
I'll just add this one, don't wonna bore you with heaps of photos of dust angels LOL. This one is very pretty and almost looks like she has arms.
The sun has disappeared behind the mountain but what a view at my camp. Nothing to do now but get some food and pour me a wine and get comfy for the night.
Good morning world. Gotta love camping because I'm usually awake before the sun comes up so it's good to witness natures beauty unfolding for the day. The view is amazing and shame the photo doesn't show how vast it actually was.
It also go a bit fresh up the mountain which was a pleasant respite from the high humidity back home.
I got myself organised and packed up early as I was thinking I'd be spending the greater part of the day at Lionsville exploring the old town even though there is nothing left but I saw there was an old grave still near there that I wanted to check out as well as heading up the hill from the town to see if I could find the old gold and crystal mines.
You have to love the creativity of some people with their letter boxes. 
Bye Ewingar. Who knew there would be a large community hall in the middle of no where!? Hmmp!
I could be totally wrong but I think this was an old boiler for the mines up on the mountain but now rests at the Ewingar community hall.
This bridge was looooooong crossing the Clarence river so I stopped to take a picture as you do.
Then it all went to hell in a hand basket didn't it!
I drove for what seemed like ages (threw beautiful country I have to admit) to come to a screeching holt right at the last hurdle. It was a river crossing that I'd seen on the maps I was researching and thought, yeah, ok, it's right at the old town, all I have to do is drive across it and I'm in Lionsville YAY!
It's a river bed crossing with knee deep water about 20 mtrs wide that only a 4wd could cross!!!!!!
Bastard!
All I could do was turn around, grumble a little more and re plan for the day. What to do, what to do???
It just so happened that at least something good came of the circumstance because right at the river crossing was this abandoned little house with the river behind it. YAY! Get out of the car Michael and go take photos and get your mind of what had just happened.
I'm so glad I did. How good is this for abandoned original condition. This was around the back of the house and the bathroom door was open, good for me.
Love the old car seat on the back veranda.
It is a shame I couldn't get into the main house unless I tried to climb through a high window. I got this photo through the high window and couldn't really see what I was taking a picture of. I got lucky and bugger for me I couldn't explore more so I headed back
Mum and her calf looked so sweet I had to stop for a photo. It's a shame I can't pat them.
I like photos of cows you've been warned :)
I took the Carnham turn off and i'd just have to say OMG! If anyone reads this and has the chance to do the drive, do it . It has to be some of the prettiest scenery I've seen in a while.
I think this is a beautiful photo. Just look at that!
This was like the gateway into a gawjuss piece of country.
An event longer bridge across the Clarence river
I stopped in the middle to take the picture.
There are no fences down there and the cows are everywhere so it's a nice slow drive.
I saw these three cows and thought it would make a nice picture because they all look the same.
So I got a bit closer and they were happy to hang around being rather curious.
Get outta town!!!
It looked like they were starting to pose for me. I love this photo too
Photobombed!!!
There was another cow down a bit that that i could see being curious about what was going on and she wasn't having any of not being included so she photobombed my pic. I know she wasn't but it just seemed that way.
It almost looks like she's smizing for the camera lol.
Just look at this beautiful country!
I can't stop gushing about it as you are probably noticing.
Miles and miles of rolling green hills and no weeds and no fences and no people. Not one car went past while I was on this part of the road.
I want to be the postman that does this route and there is one because they houses I saw had letterboxes.
Cow pat on road.
Just more beautiful country.
The roads are great to drive on and shame I couldn't get a picture of the the part where the road was hugging the hills and one lane, no barriers and very steep drop which was a bit freaky. Thank lordy that no one was coming the other way.
More cows!
Love the contrast between mum and her calf.
The ones with floppy ears are so cute.
I want to just squeeze them.
I'm happy not eating beef any more.
I have a feeling this might be box camp?
Not sure, just a random sign on a tree beside the road.
Makes a nice picture though.
Yay! I got here.It was roughly three hour drive from my first camp.
The light line on the other side of the river is road I came in one.
Mann river free camping at Hanging rock, Cangai.
Found a great flat spot for the tent away from the hoards and quad bikes.
Yep!
I'm happy, checking out the river straight down from my tent down this cute winding little track that some one previously camping had mowed into the grass.
The water was so warm and I spend some time in there with and bevvy or two. Nice!
This is the same spot as the previous photo just to the left .
View up the river at my tent while I was enjoying a cold beer. Ahhh!
My tent is just behind those trees.
I nearly got myself stuck on this track checking out the track for a place to set up.
I just can't get enough of this place.
Three sixty view of where I was camping. Blisss!
I went for a drive down the road to check things out and about 5 minutes out from my camp I found another free camp but glad I didn't stay there. It was packed with campers and rv's and caravans and anything else they could cram in with their portable toilets right out front of their camp because it was so packed. MMmmmm! Nice!
The river there was nice though.
This was heading back to camp, up the hill from the packed camp.I just thought it was a pretty picture.
I love being awake before the sun and getting a coffee happening with fresh river water brewed in the billy. It can't taste any better. Hearing the world wake up is glorious and it was very mild weather so I could walk around with me coffee scratching my nuts because no one else was there and I didn't care.
So, this picture was to the left of the previous picture and this was facing north. The mist in the valley was nice.
This was looking to the left of the last picture with the mist. It was so different every where you looked.
I'd have to say that I was in a happy place with my coffee and and the cows and the peace and the cicardas rhythmic drone than pulsated louder and louder as the sun rose.
Does it sound like I'm enjoy myself yet?
The actual sunrise was a little boring compared to what was happening behind me.
Lots of vapour trails while I was getting organised for the day.
I took my time packing up because I was supposed to go up the "Gorge" along the Clarence river but changed my mind and instead headed up the Gibraltar range to go check out the bellbird camping area in the national park.
I had this cow come to see me off and provide me with a pretty photo .
Bye camping spot. See you again for sure.
Similar view I had at Ewingar camping at the forestry camp but I was on a busy highway.
The Gibraltar range look out. I'm getting closer to my destination. The plan was to commemorate the opening of the Gwydir highway in 1960. That surprised me because I thought it was a couple of years later than that.
Once I drove up the range and past the lookout maybe about 5 minutes I got to bellbird camping area in the Gibraltar range national park and I was pleasantly surprised at how nice it was and how well set up it was. I have driven past these places for years and never thought to stop and have a look probably because I've always been on a mission to get to or from somewhere else. I love the place and will definitely be back to do some camping.
The facilities are very good and very well maintained and clean. The camp kitchen was one of the best I've seen in a while. There were lots of nice camp spots nestled into the rainforest trees and it was really quite large. The toilets were well placed, almost hidden in the trees which is nice for privacy and a joy to use because normally drop toilets are awful and smell disgusting and I never want to use them because they look like something would crawl out and bite you on the arse or the smell is enough to make you wonna puke but that's enough of toilets.
Time for a walk.
I'd seen this walking track while researching areas to investigate for the week end as possible options so knew it was there. I only did the short walk as the one I had my interest was three hours and I'll leave that for another day. It was interesting seeing Coombadjha walk up here because I'd driven threw it when I was headed to my camp by the river. Ok, off I go, hi ho hi ho...............................
The trail through the rainforest is beautiful and the path was a joy to walk on and well constructed for the best part of the walk so would be easy access for wheel chairs. Maybe that was their intention. Walking through the forest was a refreshing break from the heat and was a cool easy walk.
It wasn't too long before I reached the Coombadjha creek and the place is just wonderful though the water was rather cold after swimming in the warm water of Mann river.
I added this photo of the walking trails because it's easier than explaining and you can see far clearer than me trying to explain it. I am coming back to do the big walk when I'm better prepared because as much as I like my thongs, they are not the best footwear to be wearing while hiking rugged bush trails and they did get quite rugged once I left the creek. No one wants a turned ankle or a snake bite half way through a walk with no phone signal and no people around to call for help.
The standard of the facilities is impressive. The viewing platform at Coachwood pool is a nice surprise and great for consideration of the environment people are coming to see so that they don't destroy everything beside the creek. I turn left at the top of the stairs and head towards Coombadjha camping area.
Thank you tree for framing this scene so nicely for me.
This is pretty much my experience while doing the walk before reaching Coombadjha camping ground then the walk wound around back through the forest along a disused logging road to where I started. Coombadjha camp is a walk in camp across the creek and I didn't really interest me, maybe because there were screaming kids squealing in the creek. Not that there is anything wrong with that. :)
This is just a photo of a tree stump at the end of the walk that I thought was interesting enough to take a picture of.
I left the Bellbird camp ground and headed back to the highway through stunning bush land that you just can't get tired of, well! I don't anyway.
Never pass a road that says "No through road" is my moto. So I didn't and this is what I found. Granite rock lookout was on my way out towards the highway. Not the rainforest I'd just come out of but just as impressive. Well done National parks for erecting this unexpected seat to take in the views over Gibraltar range looking west.
The tree fern forest heading back to the highway was beautiful so I snapped it.
Once I got back onto the highway I decided on checking out Mulligans hut which was a short drive from where I was. Well, the turn off anyway as the road was another 6 kilometres further from the turn off at a place I always thought was a paid camping area right on the highway. Who knew!? I amazed myself with so many places I'd never realised were actually there. I have to admit I was becoming sceptical as to whether there was actually a hut because it seemed like I was just driving a dry dusty road to no where for awhile spotted with random granite boulders and dry heath land.
I just liked to juxtaposition of the spear grass beside the termite mound and untouched tree stump.
I checked out the camping area at the end of the drive and once again was impressed with the standard of the facilities provided by National parks. I can't say I would camp there as it was a bit dry bush land for my liking but nice just the same. The sign still didn't satisfy me that there was a hut but off I went to explore and see what could be found.
Woohoo! I found the hut! It is a reproduction of the original hut once owned by William Mulligan 1862-1953. Very nice spot and it made me wonder how people found these remote places back in the day when it was probably only accessible on horse back. I could be wrong but I doubt a road would have been there in 1862
Inside the hut. Well set up for day trippers to spend the day.
Just beside the hut was Little Dandahra creek which wasn't so little. Great spot to cool down on a hot day.There was a walk that wound it's way from here but it was something like 6 hours walking and once again I wasn't prepared for such a walk especially on such a hot day as this day was but good to know for another visit.
From the hut I headed down a track to Burra Nulla cascades and the scenery just kept on going on with ever changing landscapes that seemed to change at every turn.
Natures own bonzai beside the cascades
This little stream was running into the cascades from an under ground course and the water was so clear it was crazy. You can't really tell from this photo but the water was a couple feet deep.
I was coming to the end of my explore around and it was starting to get a bit late as I had another three hours drive home so I headed back and got a much better photo of Mulligans hut and it's surrounds.
I took this photo of the blurb of the history of William Mulligan and was impressed by what his plan had been for the area. How different the place would have been if it had have all gone ahead.
Well, that is pretty much the end of my road trip worth writing about.
I hope you enjoyed coming alone with me and thank you if you actually made it this far and didn't get bored senseless.
The trip home was uneventful and just me travelling the Gwydir highway back to Grafton. I did stop off for some fish and chips at the Mann river caravan park. I got to sit under some shady trees while enjoying my crab claws and you just have to shake you head at some of the things you see sometimes. The van park seems to be a meeting place and stop off for 4wd's and a whole family got out of their car and because the van park and petrol station is also a bottle shop they all decided to buy a long neck of beer each and drank them out of brown paper bags ( mmmm noice!!!) just outside the shop while their young kids ran a muck . Great example for the children and extremely responsible behaviour considering they were about to drive off again . Shame there aren't police when you need them.
anyway, the rest of the drive was just standard and nothing to report so I guess that's it for this blog post until my next roadtrip away. Lots of abandoned houses were spotted but they were all right next to inhabited homes so exploring was an option unfortunately. That's for coming with me.
See you next post.
So, I did my research or so I thought, got myself all organised and packed the car and off I went after my boy (Dylan) left for his family visit around noon.
The trip out through Casino and west to Tabulam was uneventful, only a stop off at Casino for some food supplies.
I turned off about three kilometres past Tabulam to head for Ewingar, Tabulam would appear to be getting a new bridge from the amount of construction at the river beside the old bridge which is a shame because I rather like the old bridge but I guess that's progress for you I just hope they keep the old bridge if they can .
As I was saying, I headed for Ewingar state forest and drove and drove and then realised that I'd forgotten my GPS and oh lovely, I now have no signal which is another thing I hadn't considered so now I was travelling blind, WOOHOOO!....
Lucky for me I had thought to write some brief directions down which was a good thing because if I hadn't had them I probaly would have got lost as soon as I turned off onto Ewingar Rd and I only did that because I remembered it from my map research at home.
I drove Ewingar rd for awhile hoping that I had taken the right rd and drove for awhile before reaching a road juction that wasn't sing posted at all. All I had was the Ewingar hall on the corner so at least I was roughly in the right area. Um??? do I go straight or do I turn right up a road that has no sign posting (whats that about anyway!!!??) hmmm??? Bugger it I'll go up the un sign posted road and hope for the best. What can happen?I get lost and have to stop and some remote farm house to ask for directions back out, simple.
The road was sealed for quite a few kilometres before turning to dirt and there started to be signs now and then warning of being aware of forestry trucks using the road so I half decided I was on the right track...well, hoping I was.
The road was in good condition which was good and it was now starting to wind up into the mountain and after maybe half hour I came to a large brick gate entrance structure thingy that flanked each side of the road but no gate and no name or anything else to give away what it may have been for. As soon as I drove through this weird gatey thingy I drove straight down onto a cement causeway and was welcomed with a pretty little stream.
This is the creek, I stopped to take photos because you just have too when you're out road tripping. It looks like people may have been fossicking as there are circle areas in the foreground that looks like they could have been looking for gemstones. After I got some snaps i kept going because I really wasn't sure if i was headed the right way and I was now on a mission to find (hopefully) the old forestry camp before it got dark.I drove more and more and more and Lordy! am I ever going to get there!? and climbed up the mountain for a while and Tar Dar! what do I see?
It's the old forest camp. Not what I thought I was looking for as from my researching there were a few huts grouped together but now there is only one?? Anyway, I hoped that I had found it and decided to stop and set up camp for the night.
My camp set up near the hut. I love my tent I purchased from Aldi because it's an all in one easy to put up tent that goes up in five minutes by yourself. After I got set up I checked out the hut.
The inside of the hut was a bit of a mess but I loved the actual structure itself and I might have stayed in it for the night if it was cleaner. People obviously stay there regularly and the remnants of their stay is evident with bits of rubbish left laying around.
It was originally for forestry workers to stay in and would have been reasonably comfortable for it's purpose hence the old bed. You can see an old tent that looks like it died and was in pieces left propped against the wall. There were old chairs that had seen better days as well. Why can't people take their rubbish with them so others can enjoy the experience as well?
It was good to see this sign and it was also good to see people had left things for others to share as well as crystals and other rocks that people had fossicked for but left for others. There was peoples names painted on the walls marking their stay and dated as to when they had passed through.
I love the fireplace and looks like many a fire has been had there. The hut is looking worse for ware thought with the glass falling out of the windows and after researching when I got home I saw that it was the camp I was after but it looks like the other original huts and cabin are now gone. there was a big pile if rubble and charred remains so I'm thinking that the cabin may have burnt down which is a shame.So I turned around and headed back to camp to settle in for the night but I did get a couple of nice photos of dust angels through the rain forest trees lining the road.
I'll just add this one, don't wonna bore you with heaps of photos of dust angels LOL. This one is very pretty and almost looks like she has arms.
The sun has disappeared behind the mountain but what a view at my camp. Nothing to do now but get some food and pour me a wine and get comfy for the night.
Good morning world. Gotta love camping because I'm usually awake before the sun comes up so it's good to witness natures beauty unfolding for the day. The view is amazing and shame the photo doesn't show how vast it actually was.
It also go a bit fresh up the mountain which was a pleasant respite from the high humidity back home.
You have to love the creativity of some people with their letter boxes. 
Bye Ewingar. Who knew there would be a large community hall in the middle of no where!? Hmmp!
I could be totally wrong but I think this was an old boiler for the mines up on the mountain but now rests at the Ewingar community hall.
I drove for a while and joined back onto the road that would take me to Clarence way and found a nice free camping area not too far down the road by the Clarence river. Very nice and noted for another time.
I drove south for awhile before reaching the turn off to get to Lionsville and I have to say I was getting just a little excited about the opportunity to go fossicking and prospecting in them thar hills ha!.
This bridge was looooooong crossing the Clarence river so I stopped to take a picture as you do.I drove for what seemed like ages (threw beautiful country I have to admit) to come to a screeching holt right at the last hurdle. It was a river crossing that I'd seen on the maps I was researching and thought, yeah, ok, it's right at the old town, all I have to do is drive across it and I'm in Lionsville YAY!
NOOOO! Wrongo!
There is no bridge is there!It's a river bed crossing with knee deep water about 20 mtrs wide that only a 4wd could cross!!!!!!
Bastard!
I could have punched some one at that time and I was tempted to punch the hippy guy and his woman that just happened to randomly be down at the creek with their child and dog but no car or any sign of habitation and they disappeared into the bush just as randomly!? Anyway, I'm getting side tracked.
Was I happy? OHHHHHHHHH hell no, was I pissed OHHHHHH hell yes was I swearing audibly?You betcha.All I could do was turn around, grumble a little more and re plan for the day. What to do, what to do???
It just so happened that at least something good came of the circumstance because right at the river crossing was this abandoned little house with the river behind it. YAY! Get out of the car Michael and go take photos and get your mind of what had just happened. 
I'm so glad I did. How good is this for abandoned original condition. This was around the back of the house and the bathroom door was open, good for me.
Love the old car seat on the back veranda.
It is a shame I couldn't get into the main house unless I tried to climb through a high window. I got this photo through the high window and couldn't really see what I was taking a picture of. I got lucky and bugger for me I couldn't explore more so I headed back 
I like photos of cows you've been warned :)
I took the Carnham turn off and i'd just have to say OMG! If anyone reads this and has the chance to do the drive, do it . It has to be some of the prettiest scenery I've seen in a while.
This was like the gateway into a gawjuss piece of country.
I saw these three cows and thought it would make a nice picture because they all look the same.
It looked like they were starting to pose for me. I love this photo too
There was another cow down a bit that that i could see being curious about what was going on and she wasn't having any of not being included so she photobombed my pic. I know she wasn't but it just seemed that way.
I can't stop gushing about it as you are probably noticing.
Miles and miles of rolling green hills and no weeds and no fences and no people. Not one car went past while I was on this part of the road.
I want to be the postman that does this route and there is one because they houses I saw had letterboxes.
Just more beautiful country.
The roads are great to drive on and shame I couldn't get a picture of the the part where the road was hugging the hills and one lane, no barriers and very steep drop which was a bit freaky. Thank lordy that no one was coming the other way.
Love the contrast between mum and her calf.
The ones with floppy ears are so cute.
I want to just squeeze them.
I'm happy not eating beef any more.
Not sure, just a random sign on a tree beside the road.
Makes a nice picture though.
The light line on the other side of the river is road I came in one.
Mann river free camping at Hanging rock, Cangai.
Found a great flat spot for the tent away from the hoards and quad bikes.
I'm happy, checking out the river straight down from my tent down this cute winding little track that some one previously camping had mowed into the grass.
The water was so warm and I spend some time in there with and bevvy or two. Nice!
I nearly got myself stuck on this track checking out the track for a place to set up.
I just can't get enough of this place.
I went for a drive down the road to check things out and about 5 minutes out from my camp I found another free camp but glad I didn't stay there. It was packed with campers and rv's and caravans and anything else they could cram in with their portable toilets right out front of their camp because it was so packed. MMmmmm! Nice!
This was heading back to camp, up the hill from the packed camp.I just thought it was a pretty picture.
I love being awake before the sun and getting a coffee happening with fresh river water brewed in the billy. It can't taste any better. Hearing the world wake up is glorious and it was very mild weather so I could walk around with me coffee scratching my nuts because no one else was there and I didn't care.
So, this picture was to the left of the previous picture and this was facing north. The mist in the valley was nice.
This was looking to the left of the last picture with the mist. It was so different every where you looked.Does it sound like I'm enjoy myself yet?
Lots of vapour trails while I was getting organised for the day.
I took my time packing up because I was supposed to go up the "Gorge" along the Clarence river but changed my mind and instead headed up the Gibraltar range to go check out the bellbird camping area in the national park.
Bye camping spot. See you again for sure.
Similar view I had at Ewingar camping at the forestry camp but I was on a busy highway.
The Gibraltar range look out. I'm getting closer to my destination. The plan was to commemorate the opening of the Gwydir highway in 1960. That surprised me because I thought it was a couple of years later than that.
Once I drove up the range and past the lookout maybe about 5 minutes I got to bellbird camping area in the Gibraltar range national park and I was pleasantly surprised at how nice it was and how well set up it was. I have driven past these places for years and never thought to stop and have a look probably because I've always been on a mission to get to or from somewhere else. I love the place and will definitely be back to do some camping.
The facilities are very good and very well maintained and clean. The camp kitchen was one of the best I've seen in a while. There were lots of nice camp spots nestled into the rainforest trees and it was really quite large. The toilets were well placed, almost hidden in the trees which is nice for privacy and a joy to use because normally drop toilets are awful and smell disgusting and I never want to use them because they look like something would crawl out and bite you on the arse or the smell is enough to make you wonna puke but that's enough of toilets. 
Time for a walk.
The trail through the rainforest is beautiful and the path was a joy to walk on and well constructed for the best part of the walk so would be easy access for wheel chairs. Maybe that was their intention. Walking through the forest was a refreshing break from the heat and was a cool easy walk.
It wasn't too long before I reached the Coombadjha creek and the place is just wonderful though the water was rather cold after swimming in the warm water of Mann river.
I added this photo of the walking trails because it's easier than explaining and you can see far clearer than me trying to explain it. I am coming back to do the big walk when I'm better prepared because as much as I like my thongs, they are not the best footwear to be wearing while hiking rugged bush trails and they did get quite rugged once I left the creek. No one wants a turned ankle or a snake bite half way through a walk with no phone signal and no people around to call for help.
Here is a video of me reaching the viewing platform at Coachwood pool, a short distance from my last picture. This is wear the trail stopped being well formed and turned into just a dirt track winding around the creek and boulders. So pretty. There was a huge eel in the pool at the platform that would have been as thick as my arm. It must scare the crap out of people that are swimming in there when it swims past them ha!.
The standard of the facilities is impressive. The viewing platform at Coachwood pool is a nice surprise and great for consideration of the environment people are coming to see so that they don't destroy everything beside the creek. I turn left at the top of the stairs and head towards Coombadjha camping area.
Thank you tree for framing this scene so nicely for me.
This is pretty much my experience while doing the walk before reaching Coombadjha camping ground then the walk wound around back through the forest along a disused logging road to where I started. Coombadjha camp is a walk in camp across the creek and I didn't really interest me, maybe because there were screaming kids squealing in the creek. Not that there is anything wrong with that. :)
This is just a photo of a tree stump at the end of the walk that I thought was interesting enough to take a picture of.
Never pass a road that says "No through road" is my moto. So I didn't and this is what I found. Granite rock lookout was on my way out towards the highway. Not the rainforest I'd just come out of but just as impressive. Well done National parks for erecting this unexpected seat to take in the views over Gibraltar range looking west.
The tree fern forest heading back to the highway was beautiful so I snapped it.
Once I got back onto the highway I decided on checking out Mulligans hut which was a short drive from where I was. Well, the turn off anyway as the road was another 6 kilometres further from the turn off at a place I always thought was a paid camping area right on the highway. Who knew!? I amazed myself with so many places I'd never realised were actually there. I have to admit I was becoming sceptical as to whether there was actually a hut because it seemed like I was just driving a dry dusty road to no where for awhile spotted with random granite boulders and dry heath land.
I just liked to juxtaposition of the spear grass beside the termite mound and untouched tree stump.
I checked out the camping area at the end of the drive and once again was impressed with the standard of the facilities provided by National parks. I can't say I would camp there as it was a bit dry bush land for my liking but nice just the same. The sign still didn't satisfy me that there was a hut but off I went to explore and see what could be found.
Woohoo! I found the hut! It is a reproduction of the original hut once owned by William Mulligan 1862-1953. Very nice spot and it made me wonder how people found these remote places back in the day when it was probably only accessible on horse back. I could be wrong but I doubt a road would have been there in 1862
Inside the hut. Well set up for day trippers to spend the day.
Just beside the hut was Little Dandahra creek which wasn't so little. Great spot to cool down on a hot day.There was a walk that wound it's way from here but it was something like 6 hours walking and once again I wasn't prepared for such a walk especially on such a hot day as this day was but good to know for another visit.
From the hut I headed down a track to Burra Nulla cascades and the scenery just kept on going on with ever changing landscapes that seemed to change at every turn.
Natures own bonzai beside the cascades
This little stream was running into the cascades from an under ground course and the water was so clear it was crazy. You can't really tell from this photo but the water was a couple feet deep.
I was coming to the end of my explore around and it was starting to get a bit late as I had another three hours drive home so I headed back and got a much better photo of Mulligans hut and it's surrounds. 
I took this photo of the blurb of the history of William Mulligan and was impressed by what his plan had been for the area. How different the place would have been if it had have all gone ahead.I hope you enjoyed coming alone with me and thank you if you actually made it this far and didn't get bored senseless.
The trip home was uneventful and just me travelling the Gwydir highway back to Grafton. I did stop off for some fish and chips at the Mann river caravan park. I got to sit under some shady trees while enjoying my crab claws and you just have to shake you head at some of the things you see sometimes. The van park seems to be a meeting place and stop off for 4wd's and a whole family got out of their car and because the van park and petrol station is also a bottle shop they all decided to buy a long neck of beer each and drank them out of brown paper bags ( mmmm noice!!!) just outside the shop while their young kids ran a muck . Great example for the children and extremely responsible behaviour considering they were about to drive off again . Shame there aren't police when you need them.
anyway, the rest of the drive was just standard and nothing to report so I guess that's it for this blog post until my next roadtrip away. Lots of abandoned houses were spotted but they were all right next to inhabited homes so exploring was an option unfortunately. That's for coming with me.
See you next post.
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