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Main > New South Wales > EXPLORING OLD GROWTH FORESTS ALONG THE GREAT DIVIDE
 The Outback
State: New South Wales
Operator: Australian Eco Adventures Minimum Price: AUD $ 3,095 The Great Dividing Range is a fascinating combination of cultivated areas and wild natural places, creating along its length a variety of interests and contrasts without equal anywhere in Australia. DAY 1 Wednesday 13 September An early start from Sydney should find us in “The Old Brush”, a privately owned remnant of forest in the Sugarloaf Ranges just west of Newcastle. Time for a walk and morning tea break before continuing north through Stroud and Gloucester to Wingham Brush where we can walk and experience the only substantial remnant of riverine rainforest left on this section of the East Coast. We then climb the escarpment along the Comboyne Road to the Boorganna Nature Reserve with remnant subtropical and warm temperate rainforests. Then it is back down to the coast to our overnight stay at the Falls Forest Retreat – now owned by Dr Mary White (author of “The Greening of Gondwana”, “After the Greening” and most recently “Our Land is Crying”) – and Mary would love to talk to us. Overnight: The Falls Forest Retreat DAY 2 Thursday 14 September Some exploration time around the Forest Retreat including a visit to the “Benaroon” – the largest known living tree in NSW, then it’s off to Port Macquarie and its hidden forest treasures before climbing the escarpment again at Kempsey and Bellbrook, along the Styx River Forest Way. This road brings us out on the Waterfall Way near Wollomombi Falls and Point Lookout, in the northern section of Oxley Wild Rivers National Park. There should also be time to visit Cathedral Rock National Park and Ebor Falls on our way to Dorrigo, our overnight stay on the edge of the escarpment looking east to Bellingen and the coast. Overnight: Lookout Motor Inn, Dorrigo DAY 3 Friday 15 September After visiting the Dorrigo Rainforest Centre and the 600 year old Tallowwood trees at the Norm Jolly Memorial Grove, we head off along a little known road which winds through Chaelundi State Forest and Guy Fawkes River National Park joining the Old Grafton-Glen Innes Road at Dalmorton. This road was constructed in the late 1800’s to carry goods from the New England area to the coastal/river port of Grafton. The road follows the Mann River and passes through a convict-built tunnel alongside the river. Back to the New England, through Tenterfield and on to our overnight stay at Girraween National Park. Enjoy the hot spa and pool in a bushland setting with only kangaroos for company. Next two nights: Girraween Environmental Lodge DAY 4 Saturday 16 September A break from driving today while we explore Girraween and Bald Rock National Parks and enjoy the granite country spring wildflowers. DAY 5 Sunday 17 September The Great Dividing Range runs between the NSW national park of Bald Rock and Queensland’s Girraween National Park. Our route takes back roads through Girraween NP to the Mt Lindsay Highway and on to Queen Mary Falls for lunch and a walk. As we head north east towards Boonah we cross the Great Dividing Range as it swings inland in a north west direction. We gain spectacular views of the peaks of the Main Range as we cross and recross the Range now heading west to our overnight farmstay in the Darling Downs. Overnight: Adora Downs DAY 6 Monday 18 September A relaxed day today enjoying the rainforest walks and views in Bunya Mountains. After lunch we’ll head west (as does the Great Divide) stopping at historic Jimbour house where Leichardt set off on his explorations north to Port Essington and west to his demise. Our overnight stay is in Chinchilla – famous for its zebra rocks and Cactoblastis moth. Overnight: Great Western Motor Inn Chinchilla DAY 7 Tuesday 19 September Continuing west we stop for morning tea and a town tour at the interesting and historic township of Roma. North from Roma we pass through Injune, stopping for lunch within Lonesome National Park on our way to Oasis Lodge in Carnarvon National Park. Next two nights Carnarvon Gorge Wilderness Lodge DAY 8 Wednesday 20 September A day of walking enabling us to enjoy this fascinating part of the Great Dividing Range – prolific flora and fauna, spectacular geological formations and a wonderful collection of Aboriginal Rock Art. DAY 9 Thursday 21 September Leaving Carnarvon we take back roads through to Rolleston and then head north to the Blackdown Tablelands. This National Park is part of the Central Highlands Sandstone belt and it has some beautiful walks, waterfalls and spectacular views. After morning tea and lunch in the park, we continue east through Duaringa to our overnight farm stay. Overnight: Myella Farm Stay DAY 10 Friday 22 September We are heading for the coast today for the last leg of our journey. We will stop at Cania Gorge National Park for a walk and break then continue southeast through Gin Gin and Childers to our overnight stay at Hervey Bay. Overnight: Kondari Resort DAY 11 Saturday 23 September An early morning whale watching cruise can be an unforgettable experience as the mothers and their calves interact with each other and the human onlookers. This afternoon we relax and prepare for Fraser Island. Overnight: Kondari Resort DAY 12 Sunday 24 September We depart Hervey Bay on the morning ferry to Fraser Island. On arrival we meet our local 4WD tour operator and start our 2-day tour of the island. We travel across the Great Sandy Strait by barge to the western shore of Fraser Island. We then follow inland tracks to the Yidney Scrub, a virgin stand of Kauri Pine. After lunch and checking into the Happy Valley Resort, we will spend the afternoon visiting some of the highlights of the eastern beach – the wreck of the “Maheno”, the Coloured Sands, Indian Head and the Champagne Pools. Overnight: Happy Valley Resort DAY 13 Monday 25 September Our day starts with a visit to remote Lake Allum, home of freshwater turtles. We return to the beach “highway” to visit beautiful Eli Creek (swim and stroll), the largest freshwater stream on the island. After lunch we visit spectacular Rainbow Gorge and return to Happy Valley via Lake Garawongera (swim). Overnight: Happy Valley Resort DAY 13 Tuesday 26 March After breakfast we leave Happy Valley and 4WD to Lake Wabby, walking over the shifting dunes, which are engulfing the rare perched lake. We continue to Pile Valley and Central Station, the major picnic and camping area on the island. The clear water of Wanggoolba Creek and its rainforest makes this a delightful lunch stop. After a visit to Lake Birrabeen, we catch the barge back to Hervey Bay. Taking the scenic route, we visit the Glasshouse Mountain, stopping for a short walk around the Mary Cairncross Park with its lush rainforests and beautiful vistas. We arrive in Brisbane in the early evening, where we drop off at your accommodation or the airport for the late shuttle to Sydney and beyond. Notes:Tour Code: A10 Special Departure Dates: 13 - 26 September 2006 Trip Duration: 14 days Departs from: Central Station Sydney Tour Ends: Brisbane Departure Time: 8.00 a.m Return Time: 6.30 p.m All Prices: $3095.00 pp twin $470.00 single supplement Send enquiry / Check Availability
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