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Coonabarabran New South Wales Australia

Coonabarabran Clock Tower

Coonabarabran

We used Coonabarabran as a base for exploring the local area.  You will need to be aware that on the way there, you will have to slow down in several sections of the road due to cattle grazing on the sides.  There are also lots of kangaroos.  We stayed one night in town and the days either side in the surrounding countryside.

Coonabarabran Location
Coonabarabran Location

On the drive there, we stopped for lunch at Coolah which is a great little town with very friendly residents. There are several cafes and pubs to choose from for lunch or quick snacks.

Coolah Valley Hotel
Coolah Valley Hotel

Once in Coonabarabran we visited the places listed below.  To read the full story for each, please click on the link.

Visitor Information Centre

In town  we looked at the visitor information centre. The staff there were very friendly and suggested some of the places we ended up visiting. In the centre there is a display of local aboriginal artifacts as well as a skeleton of a diprotodon; a type of giant extinct marsupial, and some great history of the fires that went through the town.  The town is busy with a lot of traffic going through it.

Diprotodon Skull at the Visitors' Centre Coonabarabran
Diprotodon Skull at the Visitors’ Centre

Coonabarabran

In town had a look at the town clock in the centre of the main street.

Coonabarabran Clock Tower
Coonabarabran Clock Tower

Nearby is a sundial, which is easy to get to, as parking is good.  The sundial was presented to the shire for the 35th anniversary of the Anglo Australian Telescope.

Sphere Sundial Coonabarabran
Sphere Sundial Coonabarabran

The scenery around the town is great, ranging from forests to grazing properties and mountains.

Scenic View Coonabarabran
Scenic View
Scenic View Near Coonabarabran
Scenic View

As you drive around, take a look at the post boxes on the side of the road.  They are very interesting, varying from astronomical themes to Science fiction.

Mailbox Coonabarabran
Mailbox

Baradine and the Pilliga Forest

Baradine in the Pilliga has the Pilliga Forest Discovery Centre where you can learn about the forest that surrounds the town. The staff were very helpful and gave us directions to the Sculptures in the Scrub, which are nearby. The road into Baradine and to the Sculptures was all dirt road and in places was very rough. When you travel be aware of this and travel to conditions and check the road condition beforehand.

Pilliga Forest Discovery Centre Baradine
Pilliga Forest Discovery Centre Baradine

We noticed this great building driving through Baradine. It is a memorial hall to the Servicemen of World War One. The inscription is latin – faithful unto death.

Baradine & District Soldiers Memorial Hall near Coonabarabran
Baradine & District Soldiers Memorial Hall

Drought

On the trip home, we were reminded of the impact from the drought when we came across cattle grazing on the side of the road, as this is the only feed left for them.

Cattle Grazing on the Road Coonabarabran
Cattle Grazing on the Road

To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.

Hunter Wetlands National Park

Birdlife Hunter Wetlands National Park

We have previously had a kayaking tour through the Hunter Wetlands National Park. This gave us a great perspective from the water. Walking through the wetlands was to give us a different one.

The road into the wetlands is a one lane bridge. Be careful when using it in case someone is coming the other way.

We parked at Riverside Park as this was centrally located and allowed us to do several of the walks as a loop.

There are toilet and picnic facilities available along with a small jetty. A great spot for a picnic.

The walk is flat and either gravel / bitumen roadway or metal walkway through water areas.

Board Walk over the Wetlands Hunter Wetlands National Park
Board Walk over the Wetlands

The walk takes you past the Hunter River and its mangroves and then turns and runs through swamp with reeds and bird life. This is a great opportunity to take some great photos of birds.

Mangroves and Hunter River Hunter Wetlands National Park
Mangroves and Hunter River
Hunter Wetlands National Park
Hunter Wetlands

Also in the Hunter Wetlands National Park is an old World War Two radar station. There are boards that describe its use and importance during the war. The old concrete structures are fairly intact despite being defaced with graffiti. Unfortunately access is not permitted and the entrances are barred.

Old Radar Station Hunter Wetlands National Park
Old Radar Station

To see what else there is to do in the Hunter Valley, please see some of our other stories.

Hornby Lighthouse Watsons Bay Sydney

Hornby Lighthouse www.destinationsjourney.com

The Hornby Lighthouse is located on Sydney Harbour with stunning views of the city and coastline. Parking is limited as the car park can become full but we were lucky and got a park. The start of the walk to the Hornby Lighthouse is at Camp Cove Beach. Camp Cove Kiosk serves nice snacks and drinks, so we had a relax on the beach before starting our walk.

Camp Cove Beach With Sydney in Background Hornby Lighthouse www.destinationsjourney.com
Camp Cove Beach With Sydney in Background

Southern Heritage Trail

The South Head Heritage Trail which leads to the lighthouse is all paved and although it goes uphill is not strenuous if you don’t rush. Along the path you will pass old fortifications used for the defense of Sydney in the 19th century.  You will also get great views over  Sydney Harbour and the city so admire the views and take some photos.

Old Gun Emplacement Hornby Lighthouse www.destinationsjourney.com
Old Gun Emplacement

Old Defensive Cannon Hornby Lighthouse www.destinationsjourney.com
Old Defensive Cannon

There are several beaches below the path but beware that one of them is a nudist beach so looking  down at them might cause some embarrassment.

HMAS Watson naval base is situated nearby and you will see warning signs about not entering and beware of low flying helicopters.

Light Keeper’s Cottage

Just before you reach the lighthouse you will come across the light keepers cottage a pretty and well maintained building.

Lighthouse Keeper's Cottage Hornby Lighthouse www.destinationsjourney.com
Lighthouse Keeper’s Cottage

Hornby Lighthouse

The main attraction  on the walk is  Hornby Lighthouse  which is in need of a fresh coat of paint. Up close its distinctive red and white stripes are weather worn. Even so it is a spectacular sight with the ocean behind it. Be careful of the surrounding cliffs.  There are warning signs and fences, but people were still crossing them to get that perfect photo.

It’s a beautiful location with fantastic views with a great walk on your way there.

Hornby Lighthouse www.destinationsjourney.com
Hornby Lighthouse