BORDER RANGES NATIONAL PARK AND RAINFOREST GATEWAY CAMP
9 SEPTEMBER 2020
We left Nimbin for Lismore. My bike chain snapped a few days ago. I bought some chain links at Harris Cycles. The guy was very helpful. We picked up a coffee and bakery delights and headed off to Border Ranges National Park.
We entered the park via Creegan Road. It was easy to find but the road was rough until we reached the national park where it improved.
Our first stop was the Falcorostrum Loop. It was a very pretty walk through the mossy and green rainforest. It was silent except for occasional bird call. We walked cautiously due to the buttress roots and the slippery leaves and rocks. The track was a magical land of green – I expected to see fairies in the tree hollows and curving roots at the base of the trees. We saw two large colourful parrots up close and even their nest high in the hollow of a tree.
We had another shorter walk when we returned to the van ‘The Beech Glades’. This was also green and magical. It ended in a large wooden picnic table with seats covered in moss beneath the Beech trees.
The next stop was the Blackbutt Lookout. The lookout was right at the carpark and picnic area. There was a great view towards Mount Warning and the forest below.
The next call was the Pinnacle Walk. This was a short uphill walk to a viewing platform which jutted out over the edge of the old volcanic rim wall. This whole area was the remains of an ancient volcano. There was an awesome view towards Mount Warning and along the Tweed Valley. It was a long way to the bottom.
Driving onwards, we reached the start of the Helmholtsin Loop. This was an amazing hike along a narrow track through the mossy rainforest. The track crossed a creek on a low and narrow wooden planked bridge. It was so pretty. A short while later, we came to a fig tree that was clear and wide enough at the base to form a tunnel by which we could walk through. It was next to and at a height above the creek. The view over the creek was beautiful and serene.
It was getting late, so we drove out of the park and towards Kyogle. At the Summerland Way we turned right towards Rainforest Gateway Camp. It took awhile to get there but it was worth it. The camp was a converted farm on the curve of Grady’s Creek. We settled in and later, I walked to the creek edge at dusk and saw a number of platypuses. We lit a fire and relaxed as darkness enveloped us.
10 SEPTEMBER 2020
A rainy day.
We woke to a light rain but it increased as the day progressed. The wind increased as well. We spent the day relaxing and keeping warm and dry.
We journeyed into Kyogal for supplies.
I try to light a fire with not much luck and just when I was about the give up it flamed up. Skill or luck ... luck I think!
11 SEPTEMBER 2020
A light rain in the morning but it soon cleared enough to adventure around the area.
We followed the road to edge of the Queensland border. We were back into the BRNP again. There was a picnic area and a lookout we views down the valley. The railway line from NSW to Qld passed here and because of the steepness of the terrain the line looped twice and tunneled under the hill below where we stood.
Next, we had a hike on the forest loop track. It started off in more open forest and then into the shadowy and green world of the rainforest. There were some massive trees and lots of bird calls.
On the way back, we detoured on the Old Grady Road. It was pretty and we had to cross a number of weirs with water flowing shallowly over them.
Later, I borrowed the owners kayak and had a fun time kayaking Grady’s Creek. There were a number of deep water holes followed by shallow pebble runs which were fun to navigate. It was a hard walk through the shallows but worth it.
In the evening, we lit a fire, relaxed and had a few drinks
12 SEPTEMBER 2020
I woke early and walked down to the creek. There were a couple of platypuses. It was enjoyable watching them surface and then dive for food.
After breakfast, we packed, said our goodbyes and hit the road.
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