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Great North Road Convict Trail

Convict Trail Marker Great North Road Convict Trail

Built between 1826 and 1834 by convict labour the Great North Road was one of the first great projects undertaken by the colony of New South Wales. It was built to connect Sydney with Newcastle and the Upper Hunter Valley. Some of the stonework for culverts, buttresses and bridges can still be seen today.

Getting To the Great North Road

We drove down part of the northern section from Singleton as far as the Circuit Flat Walking Track Bridge. The total driving time, one way was about 90 minutes, but took much longer with stops to examine remnants of the road.

As well as the road, the scenery is great, and you drive through some historic towns, such as Wollombi.

Great North Road Map Convict Trail
Great North Road Map

Thompson’s Bridge

Flanked by a stone retaining wall, Thompson’s Bridge is about 15 km south of Laguna. The stone walls on each side are course rubble work which is not like the other stonework in this area, which is mostly close fitting dry stone construction. This has led to debate as to whether this is original or later work.

Murray’s Run Culvert

Murray’s Run Culvert is one kilometre south of Thompson’s Bridge. This culvert has an elaborate decorative arch that supports the retaining wall above. A sign post helps you find this culvert, but the obvious old road off to the side is easy to spot.

Fernances Culvert

Fernances Crossing culvert is just beside the present road and located about seven kilometres north of the original Buckety intersection. We found it to be well sign posted and easy to find. Parking off the road is available. Constructed in 1830 by Road Party 27 it consists of a curved stone retaining wall with a rectangular culvert that carried the road across a small gully.

Buckety Precinct

The Buckety Precinct was the largest of the Great North Road relics that we visited.  Situated at the intersection of the Great North Road and George Downes Drive, the area is approximately 400m long. The Buckety Wall is a very nice preserved section of dry stone retaining wall and is the first thing you see when entering the area.  Walking up hill from here, is a large section of the original road surface, as constructed by the convicts.

St. Alban’s Road Ramp

This large retaining wall was the tallest that we saw on our trip.  Still used to support the current roadway the road ramp is worth the stop to admire.  There is a signpost marking the spot, but the wall is on the opposite side of the road, over the embankment.

Circuit Flat Bridge

The turn-off to get to Circuit Flat Bridge is sign posted as Mt Manning Intersection.  If you follow this track for about 3 kilometers in your car,  you will arrive at the remains of the bridge. We chose to drive further down Wollombi Road to the Mogo Camp Ground.  From here there is a nice three kilometer walk to the bridge, which took us about 45 minutes, with a further 30 minutes to walk back via the road.

Wollombi

We stopped at Wollombi on our way home for afternoon tea.  There are several cafes and restaurants in the village as well as the famous Wollomi Tavern.

After a refuelling stop, we walked around the village and admired the old buildings, notably St Michael’s Church and the buildings along the main street.

Sights Along the Road

As you drive along there are some great sights on the side of the road.  One of the best was this rhinoceros sculpture just outside Wollombi.

We really enjoyed our day out along the Great North Road, following the Convict Trail.  As well as doing some bush walking and learning some convict history, we were able to see some historical buildings all in a very picturesque setting.

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

Boarding House Dam Walk

Moss Wall Boarding House Dam Walk Watagans

Getting There

The Boarding House Dam Walk is in the Watagans National Park west of Newcastle. We drove in via Cessnock and found most of the drive to be easy. However, the last section of road into the Watagans is dirt and very rough in places. Take care because of the corrugations and holes in the road.

Apart from the road the scenery as you drive into the National Park is very nice with beautiful trees along the road. There are several lookouts that provide views over the surrounding countryside and the forrest.

Road into the Watagans Boarding House Dam Walk
Road into the Watagans

Boarding House Dam Walk 

The walk starts at the Boarding House Dam picnic area which is nicely set up with covered picnic areas and bar-b-q sites. There are seats near the creek, so you can sit and relax by the water while in the shade.

Creek Near Boarding House Dam Picnic Area Boarding House Dam Walk
Creek Near Boarding House Dam Picnic Area

The Boarding House Dam Walk is very easy and only takes about 15 minutes. The walk forms a loop so that you leave on one side of the creek and return on the other. The scenery along the way is nice and the walk culminates at the moss wall which is the highlight.

Moss Wall Boarding House Dam Walk Watagans
Moss Wall

When we went there had been little rainfall resulting in only a small flow in the creek. This was a pity as there is a weir that would have looked amazing with water spilling over it.

Creek on the Walk Boarding House Dam Walk Watagans
Creek on the Walk

Even with the poor road condition we were very pleased that we did this walk. It was quiet and shady with A very nice moss wall at the end.

Kitchener

On our way home we stopped at Kitchener to look at the preserved
poppet head structure from the Aberdare Central Colliery. Coal mining is still important for the Hunter Valley but historically was located around Cessnock. As these mines were exhausted, mining operations moved further up the valley. To maintain a link with their past a residents’ group organised the preservation of this structure. If you are passing through it is a great place to stop for a break, let kids run around and read about the poppet head preservation on the signs placed there.

Aberdare Poppet Head Kitchener New South Wales
Aberdare Poppet Head Kitchener

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.