Day 7: Wollomombi Gorge

Wollomombi

Woke to drizzling rain and a bit chilly. By the time we’d finished breakfast it had stopped and we headed off to do the bushwalks from here. The gorges are amazing – it’s pretty impressive what water can do. The walks were all along the ridge of the gorge so we were constantly being rewarded with views of the gorge. The waterfalls were a bit short of water, but what we saw was impressive. These falls are the second highest in Australia.

Wollomombi Falls

Wollomombi Falls

Yes, I am perched right on the precipice.

Yes, I am perched right on the precipice.

On our return we lit the fire and after some relaxation sat around the fire chatting, BBQing a yummy meal and maybe doing a bit of dancing – there’s nothing quite like dancing in firelight! The Superb Lyrebird once again serenaded us – how brilliant is that! Steve recorded it and I hope I’ll be able to put it up here for you to hear. Trish, Bryan, Steve and I solved all the problems of the world, noted how blessed we are to have such wonderful lives and are now ready for bed.

campsite

How’s this for a perfect campsite?

campfire

The fire-meister has been here.

Day 6: Dangars to Wollomombi Gorge

Distance: 61K
Weather: cool, cloudy

After breakfast we headed back to Armidale, restocked, refilled water tanks and caught up on emails and news before heading the 40 or so K along The Waterfall Way to Wollomombi Gorge. This campsite is similar to last night’s but the sites are level with bitumen roads and really good fire pits – wood provided once more. $5 per adult per night here.

This evening we were delighted to see a Superb Lyrebird and be entertained for ages by his many different songs, then have the rare and endangered Brush Tail Wallaby grazing just near our campsite.

Quiet evening sitting around a great campfire chatting with Trish and Bryan.

Day 5: Dangars Gorge

salisbury waters

Early breakfast followed by bushwalking. We began with the idea we might go as far as Salisbury Waters which was the full walk – an out and back. We stopped at all the lookouts on the way, did the side trips (McDirty’s, Sarum Hill, The Falls, Dangar Falls – the gorges certainly are spectacular, the walking tracks taking us along the cliff edges all the way. However they’ve not had much rain here lately and most waterfalls were either dry, or just a trickle. The last 2K to Salisbury Waters involved a 400m descent, which means a 400m ascent to return, and by that time we knew we wouldn’t see too much water in the river anyway, and the track was in quite poor condition – no one minded not doing it.
Generally the track was OK, much of it was very stoney and difficult to walk on and, in some sections through the bush, particularly to the side gorges, the track was quite faint and difficult to discern. Signage could be improved too.
In total we walked 16.3K – pretty good!

gorge view

Spectacular views the whole walk.

mihi_gorge

At the brink – of Mihi Gorge

The campsite is fair – pretty good actually considering it’s free! Each site is cleared and has its own fire pit, with wood provided, and our site had a picnic table. The sites aren’t level. There’s a tap with ‘boil before consuming’ noted and a long-drop toilet which was clean. No phone/internet.

We had a pleasant evening resting our weary legs around a lovely campfire where we barbecued our dinner. The kangaroos, with joeys in pouch, came quite close to our camps – as did possums that had a dark tail – haven’t seen them before.

dangars gorge campsite

Sunset at Dangar’s Gorge campsite