BARRINGTON TOPS NP - POLBLUE SWAMP TRACK AND POLBLUE FALLS MTBs - 16 JANUARY 2017

I left home this morning for a few days away. Four and a half hours later, I was at Polblue Camping Area at the Barrington Tops National Park.

I set up camp, which didn't take long as I have a campervan. After breakfast, I had my first ride.

The Polblue Swamp Track starts at the camping area. It was an easy 3.09 km ride along a track that was a bit sluggish as it was mainly grass based. There were some wild flowers growing along the side of the track along the way. The track circumnavigates a swamp area with a number of small bridges spanning the small creeks that fed the swamp.

I had lunch then a short sleep.

(As I was writing this, a blue winged kookaburra landed on the lower branch of a small tree just outside the van. looking in that sideways look that kookaburras do when looking for food.)

Well, I woke from my nap and felt refreshed enough to try a longer ride.

I followed the main dirt road in an easterly direction then turned left onto a smaller and rougher road. This had a some good and fast downhill runs along the way. The scenery was a bit monotonous with dried grasses and medium sized eucalypts.

Eventually, I turned left onto the Butcher Swamp Trail. This track was so much fun. It was a long, rough and fairly steep downhill run. It just kept going and going.

I reached a crossroad and turned right up a large steep hill looking for Polblue Falls. At the top of the hill, I felt that I had gone too far and should have reached the picnic area that leads to the falls. I had a great downhill ride back to the crossroads. I continued along and up the road a short distance and arrived at the Polblue Falls Picnic Area. My map was inaccurate! Annoying! A narrow track off the picnic area lead to a viewing platform of the falls which actually cascaded over the rocks. I backtracked a bit and took a very narrow track that lead to the falls themselves. I had a wander around the falls and the surrounding rocks. It was very pretty and the sound of the gurgling water was revitalizing.

I continued along the road then turned left onto the Polblue Creek Ridge Track. It started off good with a short fun and rough downhill but then turned into a very long and steep uphill climb walking the bike that went on and on. This track would be heaps of fun going in the opposite direction. Eventually, I reached the main dirt road and cycled back to the camp area.

It was a hard 17.52 km ride with great downhills and punishing uphills

Back at camp, I had an shower outside at the back of the van, then dinner and a relax.

In retrospect, I was surprised with the amount of wild life I had seen in the whole day. Basically, a kookaburra, a couple of skinks and one kangaroo.

ERINA CREEK KAYAK - 22 AUGUST 2016

At Erina Creek for a kayak.


The weather was looking changeable and it did get a little cold towards the end of the paddle.

The start of the kayak is a bit boring as it is a straight run and the highway runs beside it but there are a lot of birds and the water was glassy so it made up for it.

After a kilometre, or so the creek goes more natural.

I was so lucky today as I just noticed a eastern water dragon with it's head barely above water. As I looked for my camera, it disappeared. Once again, I was lucky and noticed it under the water. I attached my go pro camera to a selfie stick and got some pics and videos of it under the water.


I was pretty happy with the 6.16 km kayak after seeing the dragon.

AUSTRALIA - Crescent Head - SOD reunion - february 2011

We recently had a reunion of the guys i was first surfing with at Bondi at Crescent Head. This year only a few of us could make it but we still had a good time.

day 1 - i got there late due to last minute problems but just in time for a pub meal and a few beers. later, we continued with more beers.

day 2 - waking up refreshed and ready to wave it, we headed along the back beaches of crescent. at delicate nobby the waves were fun and protected from the NE wind. After the surf we continued on checking the other places. We had made a good surf choice.

After our journey we headed back for lunch and beers. Dick headed back home.

By the late afternoon we were ready to try some different type of videoing which kept us all amused.

 

In the evening we went down to the bowling club and ate and had a few beers. after that, we drove back home for a few more beers.

Day 3 - Paul headed home early while we headed north for some waves. we seemed to get a bit lost at hungry head which was a hard thing to do. the wildlife was everywhere and roads and paths lead to bridges, headlands, camp areas. eventually, one lead to a protected beach where we had good waves on the right shore break but no images of waves.

After the surf, we came across a sex scene ...On my board!

On the way back, we stopped at the gladstone hotel for lunch and a few beers. back home, we continued drinking through the afternoon but stopped in the evening to have a meal and a few beers at the pub.

day 4 - i dropped Robbo at Dicks and drove home and beacon drove home to a house full of relatives.

Overall. a great time... good surf, good wildlife, good drinking, good friends. it doesn't get any better.

AUSTRALIA - Dunn Swamp - HIKE/KAYAK - November 2010

 

I spent three days camping on own at Dunn Swamp near Rylstone, NSW.

The swamp is really a small dam. The water backs up between a narrow gorge of sandstone rocks that look pagoda-like.

 

There are two good kayak trips - up or down river. The up river trip becomes very narrow and in parts is difficult to make headway due to the reeds and overhanging brush. The kayak down river leads past tall reed areas and tall sandstone cliffs. The early morning sun reflects the golden hue of freshly broken slabs of sandstone plus the morning mist and stillness leads to mirror like reflections. The trip ends in the buoys protecting watercraft from venturing to close to the dam edge. It is a long way to the bottom of the dam wall.

 

There are two main walks with some side tracks. Both follow the river to a degree. The upriver walk passes through swampy areas and very dry bush. It eventually leads to a gauging station for the river. Side tracks lead to a picnic area and various rock formations. the second walk leads down river and passes through amazing rock formations and steep climbs to the top of the cliffs that line the river in parts. The track leads to the dam (weir) and thee long cave, which is really a long overhang of rock that can be walked under. At an earlier stage of the track, their is a side track to pagoda hill which is a fun steep rock scramble. the views at the top are excellent.

The camping was very quiet and the night silent. One needs to bring water and there are toilets only provided.

 

While here i saw heaps of wildlife - various birds, insects, goannas, kangaroos, possums, spiders and turtles.

The most noticeable aspect of the place is the sense of quietness and peacefulness.

AUSTRALIA - Myall Lakes NP - Mungo Brush - rainforest HIKE - january 2009

 

Travelling along the Mango Brush Road northwards takes one to Myall Lakes National Park. At Mango Brush camping area there is a rainforest walk that runs close and next to the lake. It is a short walk that leads to another camp area.

The track is a trail some of the time with dense rainforest, lizards and birdlife.

The lake is excellent for swimming or other water sports.

time: about 1 hour return

AUSTRALIA - Warrumbungles - Belougery and Split Rock Track - HIKE - september 2008

Belougery Split Rock – 2 hours

The track follows a gradual ascent until the turn off for Split Rock. The trail becomes steeper and steeper winding its way quickly to the top. An outcrop of rocks is reached and after a short distance a gate with warning signs and a series of 15 steps leads to the steep rock climb to the top of Split Rocks. The climb is indicated by yellow markers embedded into the rock. There are about three false spots where it appears that the top has been reached. The top which is covered in boulders and flowers is eventually reached. The view is excellent, taking in the camp area which seems a stones throw away, the western plains and rest of the Warrumbungle. Truly, the highlight of this walk, is sitting on this pinnacle, solitary, on the throne of the world with the sounds of insects and the wind while viewing the changing shadow of the world below as the sun rises higher over the eastern mountains. The return track was steep and rough, passing through a variety of different types of landscapes. At points, the track passed sheer rock walls, wind-hewned caves, shady areas of grass trees and open expanses of rocks.

CENTRAL COAST - Iron Ladder Beach - kayak - 12 november 2009

All my kayaking so far has been on still water. This was the first with swell movement.

Leaving Ettalong, all was well until the currents in the centre of the river caused fast flowing, very choppy water. No problems though. I paddled to Lobster Beach and used the outgoing tide to get out to Iron Ladder Beach.

The beach at Iron Ladder was exellent for a swim with a sandy bottom. The view across Broken Bay gave a feeling of isolation. I walked around and found the track which leads to the beach. So far, I haven't been able to find the other end.

There were plenty of birds and a pod of dolphins cruised out of Brisbane Waters while I was resting at Lobster Beach.

Time: 3 hours
Warnings: used the tides to help paddling, even so, it wasn't as hard paddling as I thought it would be when I was paddling against the tide.

AUSTRALIA - Wombeyan Caves - january 2008

 

 

Wombeyan Caves is in an area where there are a number of caves close by to each other. It is a long dusty drive to the caves which are located in a rugged bush area. The camping area is quiet and excellent. The caves are varied and a swimming hole is about 30 minutes walk into a gorge. We camped there for about three nights.

AUSTRALIA - Walcha - Apsley Falls - july 2007

 

The Apsley Falls are quite amazing. The countryside is undulating along the highway, then a turn off the road and after a short while there are the falls. A huge drop! It is so unexpected. A track follows around the top of the cliff affording different views of the falls.

AUSTRALIA - Kosciuszko NP - Three Mile Creek Dam - january 2006

 

We camped for two nights at this quiet and pretty place. The water in the dam was cold. There was a variety of birdlife and it was fun boating on the water.