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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