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Published: December 30th 2022
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We had been planning to head further down the coast, however, due to expected windy weather on the coast, we decided to tackle Dorrigo Mountain, and head along the Waterfall Way. We were a bit unsure about towing a caravan up the steep mountain range, but we figured we had a new car and the caravan is not overly long or heavy, so off we went. It was a steep pull up the narrow mountain road, passing first through Bellingen again. It wasn’t long though before we arrived at Dorrigo Mountain Tourist Park, where we set up.
After lunch, we drove around the town and headed out to Dangars Falls, which were quite impressive from the lookout. We decided to walk down the gorge to the foot of the waterfall to get a better view, taking our swimmers in case we decided to cool off. Cool off was the appropriate description, with the water temperature being chilly. Still, icy water hadn’t stopped me before when I encountered a waterfall, and Dangars Falls was not going to win the battle. In I went (Kim declined) and swam up to and under the high falls. Leaving the falls, we drove to the
outskirts of Dorrigo, where we discovered a steam engine graveyard. A place intended to be a steam engine museum but going to rack and ruin.
The main point of interest in Dorrigo was their well known National Parks, and the next day we drove to the Dorrigo Rainforest Centre, and did the full Wonga Walk of 9.1 kms. We stopped off to view Crystal Shower Falls and Tristania Falls, and wowed at the giant rainforest trees clinging to the escarpment and the abundant bird life. We were able to walk in behind Crystal Shower Falls and look through to the foot bridge. One of the best maintained and interesting National Park walks on our holiday.
The next day we set off to conquer another walk, this time to Never Never Picnic Area. Sounds a little ominous, and it was quite remote. We were hoping it didn’t live up to its name. On the drive into the park we were able to see a Lyrebird crossing the road in front of the car. We elected to do the Rosewood Creek Walking Track, which is graded difficult. We hiked the track, stopping to see Coachwood Falls, before diverting off to
wind our way down the steep mountain gorge to see the mighty Red Cedar Falls, the largest waterfalls in Dorrigo National Park. The views from the escarpment out across towards Coffs Harbour were spectacular. It was a very steep walk back up to the car, with a total of 12.2 kms covered on the trail.
It was interesting, and a little sad, to see a number of giant Red Cedar Tree stumps that had been cut at around three metre high level in Never Never National Park. The chocks in the tree stumps from the planks holding the cedar cutters were still visible. It was a little sobering that my great great grandfather was the pioneer cedar cutter in the area. Still, good hardwood timber was viewed as an infinite resource in that era, and it brought wealth and provided furniture and building materials for a relatively young but growing colony. We enjoyed our walk on the wild side at Dorrigo.
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