With the unplanned social detours which had been a feature of our trip to date out of Far North Queensland, it was time to scurry south.
Out of Toowoomba we took the Gore Highway to Goondiwindi where we picked up the Newell. Although we have travelled the Newell Highway on many previous occasions, this presented our most expedient route back to Adelaide (and we knew that the road surface was much better than other alternatives), so despite the fact that we were not really about to see anything new for a day or so, we did take the decision to make camp in a town in which we've not previously tarried.
Our first overnight was in Moree, but we've been there, done that, so let's move right along, through Narrabrai and Coonabarabran and on to Gilgandra, a town through which we have driven on oodles of occasions (including our trip north a few months ago), but one in which we have never stayed.
Out of Toowoomba we took the Gore Highway to Goondiwindi where we picked up the Newell. Although we have travelled the Newell Highway on many previous occasions, this presented our most expedient route back to Adelaide (and we knew that the road surface was much better than other alternatives), so despite the fact that we were not really about to see anything new for a day or so, we did take the decision to make camp in a town in which we've not previously tarried.
Our first overnight was in Moree, but we've been there, done that, so let's move right along, through Narrabrai and Coonabarabran and on to Gilgandra, a town through which we have driven on oodles of occasions (including our trip north a few months ago), but one in which we have never stayed.
Our chosen park, the inventively titled Gilgandra Caravan Park, is impossible to miss for any driving into the town from the north. Its entrance lies just this side of the road bridge over the nearby Castlereagh River and we've often said as we drove past (in the past), "that looks promising".
So this time we turned off into the long entrance driveway,
made our way to the park office, paid our dues
and were escorted by the most welcoming park manager to the drive-thu, slab site we had booked. At this stage, as is obvious, we had the park virtually to ourselves, but this certainly changed as the day wore on.
For now, though, it was time to take advantage of the warmth of the afternoon sun whilst we could, because the nights were anything but. Max, however, the great black hunter that he is, was more interested in having a protective 'roof' over his head than basking in the sunlight.
As we had noted when driving past, this is a large park, and from our perspective, most accommodating. The park pool, opposite the office, is small but more than adequate for a summer splash
and in addition to the many sites on offer, either under the trees where we were or closer to the office area, a row of park cabins provides alternative accommodation for those interested.
The large expanse of central lawn, which as was explained to us, is usually much greener than it was (the entire area here has been afflicted by a very poor winter rainfall as we saw when driving past paddock after paddock of stunted crops) is home to the park fire pit and a small camp kitchen. As you would expect this was the site of afternoon happy hours, but we were otherwise occupied and (unusually) did not join in.
The ablution block most convenient to our site (that's us under the trees to the right of shot) was more than fit for purpose
and came with an unexpected bonus, a second, small camp kitchen area with its large hooded BBQ, spotlessly clean and ready for action.
As I mentioned at the outset of this 'tour', given that Gilgandra is at the cross roads of three major highways (as we shall see later) things were almost eerily quiet when we arrived,
but by mid-afternoon the caravan tide had turned. Our previously empty row was now well populated
and the earlier empty sites across the other side of the park were filling. During our two night stay, this was the common theme....empty by mid morning, full again by late afternoon.
With the town centre a mere five minute walk away across the Castlereagh bridge, we were more than happy with our choice of temporary residential area, which came with (for us....well your scribe in particular) a real treat of nature. This was parrot paradise and red was the colour of the day.
My first sighting was of a pair of appropriately named Red-rumped parrots. On the ground they do appear a little drab, but once they take flight their wings open to expose a flash of bright colour right along their backs.
The absolutely magnificent King parrots are far flashier. There is no hiding the bright red of these feathers.
"Who's a very handsome boy, then?"
And to complete the parrot parade, this pair of Eastern rosellas was not to be outdone in the colour competition.
Well, after all this ornithological ogling, it was time to take in the town, one which we found far more interesting than we had imagined it might be.....to be shared in my next missive.
So this time we turned off into the long entrance driveway,
made our way to the park office, paid our dues
and were escorted by the most welcoming park manager to the drive-thu, slab site we had booked. At this stage, as is obvious, we had the park virtually to ourselves, but this certainly changed as the day wore on.
For now, though, it was time to take advantage of the warmth of the afternoon sun whilst we could, because the nights were anything but. Max, however, the great black hunter that he is, was more interested in having a protective 'roof' over his head than basking in the sunlight.
As we had noted when driving past, this is a large park, and from our perspective, most accommodating. The park pool, opposite the office, is small but more than adequate for a summer splash
and in addition to the many sites on offer, either under the trees where we were or closer to the office area, a row of park cabins provides alternative accommodation for those interested.
The large expanse of central lawn, which as was explained to us, is usually much greener than it was (the entire area here has been afflicted by a very poor winter rainfall as we saw when driving past paddock after paddock of stunted crops) is home to the park fire pit and a small camp kitchen. As you would expect this was the site of afternoon happy hours, but we were otherwise occupied and (unusually) did not join in.
The ablution block most convenient to our site (that's us under the trees to the right of shot) was more than fit for purpose
and came with an unexpected bonus, a second, small camp kitchen area with its large hooded BBQ, spotlessly clean and ready for action.
As I mentioned at the outset of this 'tour', given that Gilgandra is at the cross roads of three major highways (as we shall see later) things were almost eerily quiet when we arrived,
but by mid-afternoon the caravan tide had turned. Our previously empty row was now well populated
and the earlier empty sites across the other side of the park were filling. During our two night stay, this was the common theme....empty by mid morning, full again by late afternoon.
With the town centre a mere five minute walk away across the Castlereagh bridge, we were more than happy with our choice of temporary residential area, which came with (for us....well your scribe in particular) a real treat of nature. This was parrot paradise and red was the colour of the day.
My first sighting was of a pair of appropriately named Red-rumped parrots. On the ground they do appear a little drab, but once they take flight their wings open to expose a flash of bright colour right along their backs.
The absolutely magnificent King parrots are far flashier. There is no hiding the bright red of these feathers.
"Who's a very handsome boy, then?"
And to complete the parrot parade, this pair of Eastern rosellas was not to be outdone in the colour competition.
Well, after all this ornithological ogling, it was time to take in the town, one which we found far more interesting than we had imagined it might be.....to be shared in my next missive.
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