Sydney to Brisbane Via the Gibraltar Range.

The secret is to take a different route each time - and so we did heading out to Central Coast which we thought might be interesting but sadly was rather built up. Onto our first stop which was at Wyrrabalong National Park where we walked the Lily Pily circuit - there are a lot of eucalypt forests in Oz but each one is different and here there were so many spectacular red gums. 

Lunch was at Shake and Bean in Swansea complete with motorbikes, cars and aeroplanes in the cafe. We had hot dogs with tomato ketchup and mustard like teenagers enjoying Friday night out. 

Overnight found us at Absolute Beachfront Opal Cove Resort in Coff's Harbour which was a big resort by the Ocean. We enjoyed a walk and ocean views in the morning. This was the entrance of wonderful fig trees. 

We turned inland travelling through some other very tall eucalypt forests of Orana State Forest. Beautiful rolling hills, many homesteads and paddocks, horses and cows. We headed in the direction of Nana Glen towards Grafton an old and established town on the Clarence River rich from the timber trade. Notice the magnificent tree in front of the Court house and the original site of the Police station dating back to the 1870s. Grafton is famous for its flowering Jacarandas and has a Festival to celebrate them in Oct - Nov when they are in blooming. It is also the place where the first hand glider was invented. 

 

The Clarence River with some little islands in the middle of it - yes it is that wide. 

From there we started climbing into the Great Dividing Range - oh it was so beautiful. The Gibraltar National Park is one of the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia. The forests are lush, rich and the views extend as far as your eye can take you. We snaked up the road next to the Mann river which flowed below. 

We pick-nicked in the warm sunshine over looking the mountain range and stopped at Raspberry Lookout which is a magnificent place to take it all in. There is even a stump of one of the cedars they cut down with axes in those days.

Descending from the mountain range we headed towards Wallangara on the border of the two states, famous for its steam railway trains and railway station  and from there to Stanthorpe to buy fruit and veg before our final stretch home to Brisbane enjoying yet another stunning sunset. And this is just a shortened version of the beauty and history this area holds. 

We are back and rested and raring to do it all over again, just in another direction.