Date: Sunday 17th May 2015
Description/Location: Coolah Tops National Park
Leaders: Peter & Annette Bruce
Report: Jane Munro
Pictures: Joby Mitchell & Jane Munro
Sunday 17th May was a lovely clear autumn day. A good number of walkers set out from Mudgee at 7.45am and arrived at our destination at Coolah Tops National Park about 2 hours later. The drive up onto the plateau was really interesting, and the tops themselves opened out into lovely cattle grazing land. We drove across the plateau and then entered the National Park, and were immediately surrounded by a dense ribbon gum and stringybark forest which showed some traces of past logging. We all met at the Barracks Camping Ground for morning tea. Berni had camped overnight. Altogether we were Peter, Annette, Joby, John, Monique, Geoff, Sof, Lorraine, Ellie, Berni, Michael, Andrea, Amy, Hans and myself. The many kangaroos were very relaxed and obviously used to getting attention from campers.
From the camping ground we made a short walk to find a stand of grass trees (Xanthorrhea) which displayed fascinating forms of growth, probably many decades old. Signs told us that the resin from these trees was commercially harvested in the early 20th century and used for lacquer, to relieve digestive problems and as a component of explosives.
We then drove to another location and then walked to The Pinnacle, where we saw marvellous views of the countryside below and surrounding the plateau, and where we could also see the cliff faces formed by the mighty columns of basalt which make up the plateau. The distinctive landforms of the Warrumbungles were visible in the distance. Some walkers then tried to negotiate a track down the cliff line, over loose basalt scree, in hopes of finding the Lava Cave, but had to turn back as the track became extremely difficult.
Lunch was enjoyed in a delightful flat open area of lichen-covered rock, dotted with little blue native daisies, surrounded by the forest, with more spectacular views over the edge of the plateau. I saw a gorgeous Scarlet Robin, and many Silvereyes, in the trees near our lunch spot.
After lunch we headed off to Norfolk Falls, which involved a fairly steep descent to the edge of the plateau, where a small amount of water flowed over to the base of the plateau about 50m below. After rain this could be quite a spectacular waterfall.
After climbing back up to the cars we ended a really enjoyable day of walking and discovery. It was my first visit to the Coolah Tops and it was very rewarding. There’s plenty of scope for future visits for walking and bike riding, or just enjoying the really pleasant scenery and wildlife, easy walking and picnicking.
