The New England National Park sits at the top of the Great Divide above the Pacific Ocean west of Coffs Harbour.
The route south through the mountains was chosen to catch up with friends in the NSW borders and explore some beautiful rainforest.
Heading south from the Lockyer Valley in Queensland I take the backroads out through Peak Crossing toward Boonah. Then winding my way toward the border with NSW and down the wonderfully twisty Lions Road to Kyogle and the start of the Summerland Way.
A good place to stop overnight and for a swim. Although it comes with the risk of getting bombed by Patch the flying cattle dog.
The next day I headed along the Summerland Way to Grafton where I turned off and took the winding mountain road up to Ebor at the top of the Great Dividing Range.
Ebor is a good stop to top up the bikes fuel tank. Fusspots Cafe is also a good place for coffee and lunch. To refuel thy self.
The turn off to New England National Park is about halfway between Ebor and the Regional Centre of Armidale along the waterfall way.
There are campgrounds in the Park and lodges in and around.
The heavens had opened and luckily there was a local cabin vacant.
Clearing skies invited setting up camp in Thungutti campground the next day.
The damp weather and recent rains added an additional challenge to walking the steep rainforest tracks.
But there is something special to walking in a rainforest in the misty rain.
The fungus looks all fresh and shiny.
Frogs and toads have spawned in the puddles,
And the rains invited this orange Red Triangle Slug out to show itself. This slug was first identified less than two years ago.
The moisture caught in the moss, lychen and tree follage just beautiful.
With all the rain the waterfalls and small cascades were flowing strongly.
The walk and paths were tricky so it was good to do it in company.
Quite challenging for a piece meal adventurer
