The great thing about living on the Coffs coast is the variety of drives and locations where you can head at the drop of a hat. Considering that summer has finally hit- I thought it was time that a quick drive was in order.
One of my favourite drives is into Bindarri National Park near Dairyville, 20km west of Coffs Harbour, was declared in 1999 for its stunning natural, cultural and recreational values. It protects the escarpment between the Dorrigo Plateau and the Coffs Coast and links with other parks, state forest and private land to form a significant wildlife link from the mountains to the sea.
Heading west from Coffs it is an easy drive up through the Orara Valley. The tar soon ends just past Dairyville where you need to jump onto Pine Road. This well maintained trail is generally in good condition, you will need 4wd to make the drive a little easier, as the road has some steep sections, but nothing that a soft roader couldn’t handle. The Turn to Bangalore Falls is sign posted so finding the Bangalore picnic area is a breeze. Walking to the falls is also marked with several signs.
Several streams cut deep gorges in the park creating a dramatic landscape. One of those streams is the Urumbilum River, which flows past the recently opened Bindarray picnic area. This is a great place to enjoy a picnic and take a swim in the crystal-clear river.
After visiting the falls a great option is to keep heading further up the hill to Ulong. Here at this sleepy town you can get a great feed, home made cake and some of the best coffee- all found at the Ulong post office Cafe.
Kicking back here for an hour you can either sit outside in the cool breeze, yet in summer the owners have a log fire burning inside to keep you warm.
Catching your breath here you realise that the tourist rat race is only 35 km away, so with a 40 min drive back down the mountain back on the bitumen you soon realise that civilisation isn’t too far away.
No comments:
Post a Comment