We left there early and drove to Glen Innes, where ... surprise surprise ... there was a Maccas for breakfast! We all know how important it is for BGWLBH to have her Maccas start to the day!
There were some excellent photo opportunities, but nowhere to stop on the highway. Why don't the engineers who build the roads make allowances for photographers who want to stop along the way???
We spent some time in Glenn Innes taking photos of all the old buildings, which I will post on here another time ... too many to edit tonight and there are others that I want to share.
After Glen Innes, we continued on the highway to Tenterfield ... singing 'Tenterfield Saddler' loudly, the whole way! We did have to google the lyrics at one point because we got a bit confused about one line.
We stopped at the Cumquat Cafe for lunch, but they had no gluten free, so I left to search for a nice lunch.
BGWLBH ordered her lunch from Cumquat and was told by the owner about his Heritage House called 'Delorain' which was near a park where we could eat lunch. He also told her the way to Boonoo Boonoo Falls (pronounced Bunna Banoo).
I got a delicious gluten free lunch at another cafe and we headed to the park. I got some photos of the lovely Heritage House across the road and whilst eating lunch, BGWLBH studied the map in the park and memorised all the features along the road to the falls.
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| 'Delorain' surrounded by Autumn leaves. |
Unfortunately it was barely visible because it flowed 'under' the giant boulders. She then had to scramble back up the mountainside. She used muscles that she hasn't used for a while!
From there, we drove on. I saw a wallaby on the side of the road and said to BGWLBH "LOOK AT THAT!!" She immediately looked up (because I have trained her to look for birds) so she completely missed the wallaby!
We agreed that while she was driving, she should look 'up' for birds and I would look 'down' for other wildlife. We like to live on the wild side!
We found the turn off to the falls which was 14 kilometres of dirt track with a bit of corrugation - but being the adventurers that we are, we pushed on and travelled through hill and dale, dangerously dodging the vicious wildlife (wallabies), while I sang "Skippy the Bush Kangaroo". BGWLBH told me to stop because I was scaring them. How rude!
Platypus Hole was our first stop for photos. A beautiful little spot, but there was strong evidence of the floods that had been through with so many trees knocked over and we could follow the flow of the floods by the fallen trees. There was also only one concrete post left of a jetty that was once there.
Five more kilometres over the track and we found the picnic area where the 'walk' begins, to find the falls.
It was a steep decent but the sound of the falls kept us going until we found the lookout at the end. BGWLBH couldn't cope with the height, so I had to take the photos!
We walked most of the way back up, until we found the fork in the path that led to the rock pools. It was even steeper! We tried to find a spot on the rocks for a good photo, but all the action was happening behind the rocks and out of sight.
Wilbur Herbert struggled to get up the final part of the hill, but proved that he had more stamina and willpower than both of us ... he was still as fresh as a daisy (compared to us) by the time we reached the top of the path again.
A kookaburra was waiting for us near the car, so we got a couple of photos of him too, which I will share another time.
After we left there, we had to stop the car to watch two Wedge Tailed Eagles soaring high above us. These were younger than the one we saw yesterday ... apparently the older they get, the darker their feathers ... these had a lot of lighter coloured feathers in their wings.
When we got back on to the main road, we decided to continue our adventurous ways and take the unsealed road, which was the back way to Stanthorpe. It was a beautiful drive with very little traffic and we came across a wallaby and a crimson rosella, both of which had their photos taken by me.
Bald Rock was 5 kilometres down another track, so, because the man had told BGWLBH that it was spectacular, we decided to check it out.
There was lots of wildlife along the road - apparently.
I didn't see any of it!
I saw the rock through a gap in the trees!
BGWLBH didn't see any of it!
It was a 3 km trek to the rock and since it was already after 4pm, we decided against seeing the rock and turned back to the main road.
We found the border of Queensland as we meandered along the dirt track. There were lots of little properties hidden behind the trees and finally we found Stanthorpe.
We discovered a little deli to get some coffee which would help us travel the next 60kms to Warwick.
The deli had the most delicious little bits and pieces. BGWLBH bought a pack of different flavoured fudges with which she has fallen passionately in love. I bought a couple of gifts in there too. Their coffee was absolutely delicious!!
Stanthorpe didn't appear to have suitable accommodation, so we continued on to Warwick. We discovered upon arrival, a little motel that we stayed in, on another road trip, about 16 yrs ago. We think Bubbles was with us on that occasion.
So we've booked into that motel. Unfortunately, the main road is a lot busier than we remember, so the trucks are speeding past and making a LOT of noise as they go by. This could be a big mistake!
I shall now attempt to sleep through the traffic noise ... wish me luck.
Nite all.
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