Wandering Into The Warrumbungles

Friday morning was a nice crisp morning as we awoke to the quietness of the Yeoval Showground.  A nice easy beginning as we headed north to Dubbo.  A couple of more sculptures at the local school....

It's a Tortoise

Running late for School

There were a few more before Dubbo - once more very imaginative but you came across them far too quickly to stop!

Stopped for morning tea and lunch with The Captain's friend and seeing how it was so late, decided to stop for the night halfway between Gilgandra and Coonabarabran at a little spot called Hickey's Falls.

Early Morning At The Falls

Our original plans to travel back to Coffs Harbour did not entail too much deviation but, after a little bit of research, Team Turtle thought that it would be nice to go and check out the rocks in The Warrumbungle National Park.  We backtracked from Hickeys Falls for about 18 klms so that we could go into the Park from Tooraweenah and then do the full circuit to Coonabarabran when we had had enough of rocks.

There are some wonderful facilities here at the Park and after setting up camp and having some lunch we headed out.  Our first stop was The Siding Spring Observatory.  

The Main Part of The Observatory

As it was then getting a bit late, we explored the White Gum Lookout and stayed there for the sunset.  It wasn't the greatest sunset but still, very enjoyable.

Whitegum Trees at The Lookout

The Western Skyline

Yesterday (Sunday) was our big walking day.  The decision was for a 12.5 klm round trip to "The Grand High Tops".  This walk would eventually take us right up to The Breadknife - one of the magnificent geological landforms that are part of The Warrumbungles.

First stop (after 2 klms) was Spirey View Lookout

On the Rocks

Our ultimate destination would be the sharp pointy bits in the top left hand corner (The Breadknife).  The pathway itself was well paved but very steep and then there were the stairs as we got closer to the top.  We didn't count them as we were concentrating on just getting up them.  Finally made it and all very worthwhile.  The Breadknife itself is between 2 and 4 metres wide and has a very decided lean to it - much like the Leaning Tower of Pisa. It was with much consternation that we sat near it to finally have our lunch.  As The Captain mentioned "hope we don't get an earth tremor whilst we are up here as it may not be very pretty!"  Fortunately it didn't happen and we did make it back down safely.

The Breadknife from further Up In The World.

The Valley to the South West

That's How Thin It Is!!

There are, of course, several other remnant volcanic landforms in the Park but the walks to, and around, them were a lot longer and of a greater degree of difficulty so we didn't try and do them.  We both slept very well last night all ready for another day in the rocks.  Unfortunately, it is raining quite steadily this morning (Monday) and it would be silly to do any sort of a walk (phew) and so with much regret we are breaking camp and hitting the road once more :-((