The last days of our 2012 Road Trip - Dubbo to Brisbane

Leaving Tocumwal early morning we continued our journey on the Newell Highway through the parched and potentially explosive land stopping at Narandera for morning tea at a very nice and busy bakery. 

Near Jeraldie

Returning to the highway we noticed the Tiger Moth Museum beside the Information Centre and decided to delay our departure to take a look. Our very dear friend, Joe, once told us that he had spent some time here training with the Air Force during the Second World War and, as he is no longer with us, we paid a heartfelt tribute to the lovely man he was and the great friendship we enjoyed with him.

Tiger Moth Museum, Naranderi, New South Wales

As we were keen to get to Dubbo as quickly as we could to have time with our family we stopped only briefly in a park at West Wyalong for lunch and arrived at Dubbo early in the afternoon. Dubbo has a great outdoor water complex so we took advantage of that to swim a little, play around a lot and to enjoy our reunion.

Family time over we separated and travelled in opposite directions - homeward for us. We chose to continue on the Newell Highway with plans to branch off to explore a different route further along the track. Approaching Coonabarabran we came across the Warumbungles again, this time the southern view. How lovely they looked!

Warrumbungle National Park

On previous trips up and down we had merely passed through Coonabarabran so, as we were in no hurry now, we decided to stop and take a walk around. There is actually a lot to do from this endearing small town and I noted a pleasant looking caravan park for future reference. There's not much walking needed to take in the main street, however we had an appetite and discovered a friendly cafe, Cardian's, where we enjoyed the best Big Brunch scrambled eggs I've had at any cafe. Scrambled eggs are a bit too fussy to make when camping so the choice was an easy one!

Main Street, Coonabarabran

Back on the road, we were soon passing through Narrabri looking for a small road that would eventually lead us to the most challenging and potentially disastrous experience of our trip, the road through Mt Kaputar National Park.

Road into Mt Kaputar National Park from Newell Highway

At first the road was wide and flat with a few cattle here and there but we were soon winding our way uphill on a narrower road. There were a few places where we could get off the road to stop and look around. The day was very still and there were butterflies all around in places and birds high in trees calling out. This was well worth deviating from our easiest route home!

Mt Kaputar

On the other side of the mountain we came into a wide, lush valley with a river wandering through. The greenness surprised us after the hundreds of kilometres of tinderbox yellow and brown. At the end of the valley we arrived at Bingara, a pretty place on the Gwyndir River. 

By this time we were in need of a rest stop and a cup of tea and thought that a spot on the riverbank would be great. I then spotted a sign indicating a lookout a kilometre along the river and, as that sounded a great place to enjoy our break, I pointed the van in the direction indicated and off we went, following the river. Another sign was spotted indicating a right turn up a slight slope. Below it was a small addition "Not suitable for caravans." 

Up I drove, around a bend, to discover that I was now driving UP the steepest road I could ever imagine, bar one. [ When I was a child my father drove us all down a stock route on Banks Peninsula, New Zealand. I have never forgotten that long tense ride with my terrified siblings huddled in the back of the Studebaker.]

To make the right turn I had changed down into third gear but I was soon down, very cautiously, into second. The road ahead seemed to be totally vertical and I had someone having a massive panic attack in the passenger seat. I remember feeling very calm and clear knowing that I needed to get that vehicle to the top or we would have no hope of avoiding a nasty and helpless situation. I shut  out everything going on around me, determined to coax the engine that really wanted to stall, to crawl excruciatingly up, up, up.

We made it. Just.

The problem now was, how were we to get down? I suggested that we have our cuppa and work out a plan.

Bingara from the Lookout

While we were having our tea we heard motorbikes below and three bikers on Harley Davidsons appeared on the road below. Only one of them made it to the top without completely stalling. That proves it really is steep, I thought.

Other side of Bingara from the Lookout

After our break I walked a few metres down to take a photo of the Lookout sign.

H.F Battersham Memorial Lookout, Bingara

Going down proved to be easy - in first gear all the way.
On we went, along the Gwyndir Highway stopping overnight at Inverell before joining the New England Highway to Tenterfield. A short stretch along the Bruxner Highway came next with a deviation along a road we had never travelled before through Benalbo, Urbanville and Woodenbong.

Near Urbanville, New South Wales

From Woodenbong we were on familiar territory as we have camped there several times. Today, however, the goal was to get home to welcome in the New Year.

New South Wales - Queensland Border

After a couple of stops to try to capture an image of the songful birds that always fascinate us along the Mt Lindsay Highway, we were soon back home after the longest road trip we had ever made - 5,378 kilometres.

As always, home looked luxurious, familiar and comfortable. We were soon sitting, wine glass in hand farewelling a very difficult and challenging year but one that had ended very happily.

Plans for another road trip were already being made!

[These last two posts have languished in the edit box awaiting photo selection from the 2000 pics taken. ]