BUSHTRACKER MINI RALLY - CUNDLE FLAT FARM 2008
Wednesday 5 March to Sunday 16 March
We packed the van and were ready to leave Sydney just after 3pm and headed north in Sydney traffic stopping for the night at Raymond Terrace, just north of Newcastle.
We had all 4 water tanks full and the batteries fully charged ready for our 8 day camp at Cundle Park Farm with no power or drinking water.
We took the Bucketts Highway turn off from the Princess Highway, drove through Gloucestor and then followed the Cundle Flat Farm signs. The dirt road section was pretty bad but the scenery was beautiful.
The owners, Kristina and Oliver who have had the farm for 4 years, were very friendly and being the 2nd bushtracker to arrive we had the luxury of selecting a beautiful spot overlooking the rapids of the Manning River.
After setting up we had time to get acquainted with the other campers and enjoy the campfire and the bright Milky Way.
Other caravans started to arrive and in all 26 bushtracker caravans camped at Cundle Flat Farm over the weekend with people staying from 1 night to the whole week. We all chatted with each other about our caravans and trips, our problems and handy hints. It was a great week; we met some great new people, learnt some new tricks and had a chance to enjoy the beautiful Manning River and surrounding countryside.
Bob and Judy Pollack who organised the get together also organised a beef spit roast for all on the Sunday night. It was the only time when the 50 of us there were all together. It was a great night and after dinner most people then continued the night in separate groups that really depended on relative van positions.
Tuesday afternoon we had a bake off and I attempted to make a beer damper which was OK once the butter and jam were added. Others made scones, savoury damper and biscuits and everyone had good fun.
With the help of Kristina, Mike organised a tag-a-long tour to Barrington Tops with one of the locals, called Goldie as his property was on the site of an old gold mine. There were 4 cars from our group and 1 car from his B&B. It was a long day with 3 hours travel time there and back plus the 9.30am to 4.30pm explore of Barrington Tops, but it was definitely worth it.
Goldie took us to lookouts, a rain forest with Antarctic beech trees, explained the ancient volcanic geology and fauna of the area, lunch at Moonan Pub, Cock Rock and Son of Cock Rock, Ellerston the property of the Packer Family and where Kerry Packer is buried, waterfalls on the Manning River and the start of the Hunter River.
We had a day to recover and pack up the van in the warm afternoon sun rather than in the dew of the morning. Mike drove the car into the river and washed off the dirt from our 4WD trek and we enjoyed our last evening with friends around the camp fire.
After leaving Cundle Park Farm early, we took a road untravelled to Wingham where we stopped for a look around, headed to Taree and then down to Tuncurry and Forster on the coast, off the highway, where we stopped for lunch. The area is beautiful and as usual we enjoyed the smell of the ocean. We drove to Wangi Wangi which is right on Lake Macquarie and about half way along the length of the lake. The caravan park was right on the lake and adjoining the state forest and of course we had to walk over to the lake to say hello to the pelicans, ducks and sea gulls
We visited Dobell House in Wangi Wangi which was the weekend house of his parents and where he spent much of his life living and painting. The history of his life is fascinating and sad to some extent. Mike enjoyed sitting in his chair in the studio.
We were ready to head back home after a great 10 days away.
Wednesday 5 March to Sunday 16 March
We packed the van and were ready to leave Sydney just after 3pm and headed north in Sydney traffic stopping for the night at Raymond Terrace, just north of Newcastle.
We had all 4 water tanks full and the batteries fully charged ready for our 8 day camp at Cundle Park Farm with no power or drinking water.
We took the Bucketts Highway turn off from the Princess Highway, drove through Gloucestor and then followed the Cundle Flat Farm signs. The dirt road section was pretty bad but the scenery was beautiful.
The owners, Kristina and Oliver who have had the farm for 4 years, were very friendly and being the 2nd bushtracker to arrive we had the luxury of selecting a beautiful spot overlooking the rapids of the Manning River.
After setting up we had time to get acquainted with the other campers and enjoy the campfire and the bright Milky Way.
Other caravans started to arrive and in all 26 bushtracker caravans camped at Cundle Flat Farm over the weekend with people staying from 1 night to the whole week. We all chatted with each other about our caravans and trips, our problems and handy hints. It was a great week; we met some great new people, learnt some new tricks and had a chance to enjoy the beautiful Manning River and surrounding countryside.
Bob and Judy Pollack who organised the get together also organised a beef spit roast for all on the Sunday night. It was the only time when the 50 of us there were all together. It was a great night and after dinner most people then continued the night in separate groups that really depended on relative van positions.
Tuesday afternoon we had a bake off and I attempted to make a beer damper which was OK once the butter and jam were added. Others made scones, savoury damper and biscuits and everyone had good fun.
With the help of Kristina, Mike organised a tag-a-long tour to Barrington Tops with one of the locals, called Goldie as his property was on the site of an old gold mine. There were 4 cars from our group and 1 car from his B&B. It was a long day with 3 hours travel time there and back plus the 9.30am to 4.30pm explore of Barrington Tops, but it was definitely worth it.
Goldie took us to lookouts, a rain forest with Antarctic beech trees, explained the ancient volcanic geology and fauna of the area, lunch at Moonan Pub, Cock Rock and Son of Cock Rock, Ellerston the property of the Packer Family and where Kerry Packer is buried, waterfalls on the Manning River and the start of the Hunter River.
We had a day to recover and pack up the van in the warm afternoon sun rather than in the dew of the morning. Mike drove the car into the river and washed off the dirt from our 4WD trek and we enjoyed our last evening with friends around the camp fire.
After leaving Cundle Park Farm early, we took a road untravelled to Wingham where we stopped for a look around, headed to Taree and then down to Tuncurry and Forster on the coast, off the highway, where we stopped for lunch. The area is beautiful and as usual we enjoyed the smell of the ocean. We drove to Wangi Wangi which is right on Lake Macquarie and about half way along the length of the lake. The caravan park was right on the lake and adjoining the state forest and of course we had to walk over to the lake to say hello to the pelicans, ducks and sea gulls
We visited Dobell House in Wangi Wangi which was the weekend house of his parents and where he spent much of his life living and painting. The history of his life is fascinating and sad to some extent. Mike enjoyed sitting in his chair in the studio.
We were ready to head back home after a great 10 days away.
