Lake Macquarie State Conservation Area is a hidden gem on the shores of Lake Macquarie. Several tracks wind through this coastal rain forest and form a loop so that you can see both the ridgeline and lake shore. It is graded at level three making it a fairly easy walk. The tracks are easy to follow and generally well made with any creek crossings made with steel and wooden bridges.
The vegetation is generally eucalyptus with ferns with she oaks on the lake shore. Our walk was in autumn and there were a number of mushrooms in the leaf litter and at the base of the trees, which we found to be a good photo opportunity. At the northern end is a nice picnic area allowing you to have a relaxing stop with a view over the lake before or after the walk.
Walking TrailWhite Mushroom in Leaf LitterOrange Mushroom in Leaf LitterOld Foundation on the ShorelineLake Macquarie Shore LinePicnic Area Lake Macquarie
Scone is 280km north of Sydney in the Upper Hunter Valley. Famous for its horse breeding and agriculture, Scone has many historic buildings, making it s beautiful town to visit.
Scone Visitor Information and Elizabeth Park
Located on Kelly Street, the Visitor Information Centre and Elizabeth Park are a great place to start your visit to town. The park is shady, making it a nice place to relax after your drive. There is a statue of a mare and foal, representing the importance of the horse breeding industry to the area.
A bronze bust of Captain John Hunter, the former Governor of New South Wales sits in the park. The Hunter Valley was named after him in honour of his achievements in exploration around Australia.
Across Susan Street is the Visitor information Centre, where you can find out about any interesting events or places to see that are not generally known about or have just become available.
Mare and Foal SculptureScone Visitor Information CentreCaptain John Hunter
Kelly Street
Running through the centre of town, Kelly Street contains many old and important buildings. You will also find cafes, restaurants and pubs along this street, so if you are looking for something to eat, wander around here.
There are some great old buildings on Kingdon Street, including the first Catholic Church (now an arts centre) and the original court house (now a theatre).
Old Court House
Washpools Water Hole
Washpools Water Hole is 20 km north of Scone in the Towarri National Park. There are two area that you can stop in, the camp ground and picnic area. The picnic area is next to the wash pools and unless you plan an overnight stay is the best place to go. It has picnic areas and shaded seats to eat at, so is well set up.
The wash pools are a nice series of water holes in the local creek and are picturesque, being set amongst trees and bushes and reflecting the blue sky. We spend an hour wandering around them taking photos and admiring the bush setting.
While we were there a pair of kookaburras sat in a tree watching us, probably hoping we would drop some food for them.
Washpools Water HoleKookaburras at Washpools Water HoleWashpools Water Hole
Farming
Farming is important to the Scone district and you will see evidence of it as you drive around. The most obvious industry as seen from the New England Highway is horse breeding. You will pass many horse studs as you drive into and out of town. On the side roads you will some across other agriculture, ranging from cropping to cattle and sheep. In some fields you will see some old abandoned farm equipment, which makes for an interesting photo.
Burning Mountain is 25 km north of Scone. The walk begins in the Burning Mountain Rest Area, where you will find toilets and plenty of parking. For the full story of our Burning Mountain walk, please follow the link.
To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.
Our drive to the Barrington Tops started at Aberdeen in the NSW Hunter Valley. This is a small town, famous for its Scottish heritage and its annual Highland Games. Also of interest as you pass through the town is St Mark’s Church.
St Mark’s Anglican Church
Polblue Swamp Walk
Polblue Swamp Walk can be started in either the camping ground, or the nearby day parking area. The walk forms a loop that passes through both areas. This was a nice walk that took us 30 minutes to complete. The loop, skirts the swamp area and passes through wooded area, over several creeks (with bridges) and finishes with a board walk over part of the swamp.
We found the board walk to be the most interesting, as it had a variety of bird life and plants.
Polblue Swamp
Devil’s Hole Lookout
The track to Devils hole Lookout is very short (about 5 minutes) and paved. The view is amazing over the Barrington Tops, because the viewing platform is placed well.
Devil’s Hole Lookout
Devil’s Hole Lookout
Thunderbolt’s Lookout
Thunderbolt’s Lookout gives views similar to Devils hole, but also has a more interesting walk to the viewing area. You pass ferns, huge trees, and part of the path is enclosed overhead with tree branches forming a passageway.
Thunderbolt’s Lookout Track
Honeysuckle Walk
Honeysuckle Walk was our favourite in the Barrington Tops, because of its wonderful trees and undergrowth. The walk starts at the Honeysuckle Picnic Ground and then loops around through the forest before returning to the picnic area.
The walk passes through Antarctic beech forest with an undergrowth of tree ferns. Many of the trees have moss covered trunks are a spectacular sight. This walk took us 30 minutes, but could be quicker if you don’t stop to admire the surroundings.
Moss Covered Trunk
Honeysuckle Walk
Honeysuckle Walk
Fern Understory Honeysuckle Walk
Mountain Maid Gold Mine
Hidden Treasure track is an easy walk through dry rain forest following Copeland Creek beneath the rain forest canopy. This hike also takes you past remnants of the area’s mining history. Along the track you will pass mine adits that have been barred shut. Some are now home to micro bats and you can smell the guano from the entrance.
We took 90 minutes to complete this track. Be careful of the signage and take a map (or photograph the map at the start of the walk), because some signs are not obvious.
The Basin Loops track takes 3 1/2 to 4 1/2 hours and is an extension of the Hidden Treasure track. We didn’t have time to complete this one, so left it for another day.
Giant Fig Tree
Mountain Maid Gold Mine Entrance
Hidden Treasure Track
What Did We Think?
Our trip finished in Gloucester, where we had a late lunch at a cafe on the main street before the drive home. The Barrington Tops was a great day out with some lovely walks and scenery. There are many places to stop and admire the scenery as well as walks for beginners to the more adventurous.
To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.
