Tenterfield, New South Wales, Australia
Monday, September 12, 2011
Hi again from the travellers as we make our way south. We have left Goondi and went via Texas as promised. We can report all looked the same, nothing was bigger in Texas. The coffee was good and the people friendly. Along the road to Tenterfield we find bridges washed away, roads damaged and lots of debris around. We find out it was the rain that caused floods in Brisbane, also hit right through here too causing extensive damage. We found huge concrete bridges washed away, roads ripped and buckled. Slow going for us with a van but a great experience and we see lots of farm stuff the kids haven't seen before. It’s a beautiful drive and we arrive around 12 o’clock into Tenterfield. We have picked a little park called The Lodge, which we think was a pub many years ago. Tenterfield is steeped in history and we enjoy all the sights as we make our way there past the railway station museum and farm areas. We set up and enjoy an easy night as it seems to be getting quite cold. Stewie wakes in the night and puts on his track pants he is so cold
. Tuesday starts with the usual school work and Julie goes for the shopping and gets the boys some warm PJ’s. We found frost outside on the ground and on our surfboards as it was -2 last night. By 8.30 it has warmed up and you turn heaters off and move into your day. We have some lunch before heading to the info centre. The lady there was very helpful and ends up telling us about her move into town from the farm. It’s quite a funny story about her husband taking up bowls and things. Our first stop is the Sir Henry Parkes Museum. It is located in the School of Arts building which actually has a play on tonight with John Jarrat. Parkes was a Premier of NSW and he made a provocative speech here that started the ball rolling towards Australia’s Federation in 1901. It has heaps of local history in the museum and we love the experience of sitting at this famous table. We move then to the famous cork tree in the older section of the town. It was bought out from England and planted back in 1861. It is the largest of its type in Australia. We stop to get bread and milk and actually run into John Jarrat but he is on the phone so we don’t say hi. Back at the van we rug up for another cold night. Wednesday and we awake to -3 this morning-Bloody hell! After school we make lunch and drive out to Boonoo Boonoo Falls. We walk down to the viewing platform and it’s a very pretty place. We then drive a bit further on and arrive at the Bald Rock National Park. It is a huge granite rock that is surrounded by more rocks but has fantastic views we are told
. We decide to take the short, hard walk up and the long walk down. It is a 30 degree walk up the rock and is 1.5klms long. After a short distance we were beginning to wonder about our choice. It’s a hard walk, but very rewarding as you have some brilliant views all the way. We climb over rocks as we get closer and Julie spots a big gecko lizard which is carrying babies on its back. That is something I don’t think we have ever seen/heard of before. Once you reach the summit of the rock, it’s spectacular. You can see for miles. The walk down is just as good but about 2.5klms long. We walk through huge piles of granite rocks, archways, and beautiful bush sights. We finally arrive at the car park and settle in for lunch. Almost immediately we are inundated by magpies, crows, currawongs and kookaburras all looking for a feed. We actually have to fend off a kookaburra as he dives for a sandwich. This is a fantastic place to visit and would do this park again if we had the chance. We drive back to town and stop in at the Tenterfield Saddler for a visit. It was built in 1860 and was immortalised in the song by Peter Allen as a tribute to his Grandfather the Tenterfield Saddler. It is a touching place to visit when you follow the words of the song and we all enjoy the experience. Next we drive to the local lookout- Mt Mackenzie. To get there you drive through private property and climb way up the hills to a brilliant view over the town and surrounds, along the way we see kangaroos and lots of sheep and lambs
. What a day it has been and we arrive home weary and tired. Thursday comes and starts with another freezing morning. As the morning warms up, we complete some school and then walk around to the old railway station museum. The station was opened back in 1886 and was known as The Great Northern Terminus and described as one of the most handsome buildings around. The last passenger train left in 1988 and the station closed a year later. Most of the stuff remained after it closed and has now been used to start this museum. It has been well done by this band of volunteers. Back at camp we pack up and get ready to leave Tenterfield in the morning. It has been very enjoyable to stay here and we recommend it to all. We are heading to Tamworth next to catch up on some country music. So join us next time. Cheers Aussie Stewies.
Comments
REALLY ENJOYED YOUR STORY ON TENTERFIELD.
BOUGHT BACK MEMORIES, WE LOVED THE PLACE, IT WAS COLD WHEN WE WERE THERE, BUT NOT AS COLD AS IT WAS WHEN YOU WERE THERE.