Cranky Rock Nature Reserve to Home

Finally, the last instalment on our recent travels.

Once we left Cranky Rock Nature Reserve we had to return to Warialda, before heading south the Bingara.  Everything was looking so green after the recent rains.

We visited Bingara last year, on our way home from Baradine in September, and were interested to see if the redevelopment of the former RSL site had been completed.  Yes, it had.  This is now the head office of the Gwydir Council and Visitor Information Centre.  It only opened a couple of months ago.  They really did a good job of preserving the facade of the previous building.  

Bingara has a nice streetscape.

We were happy to see that the cafe at the Roxy Theatre is once again trading.  Of course we had morning tea.  As it turned out, we were there on their opening day.  I hope they make a good success of it.

It was nice to see all the orange trees in the streets loaded with oranges.  These trees are a war memorial and on one weekend each year they have a festival.  Several shops had orange related window displays.  A part of the festival is the local school children picking the oranges.  The trees all had notices attached to them stating that it is an offence for members of the public to pick to oranges.

It would be a fun weekend to attend.

From Bingara, we just headed down the road through Barraba and Manilla to Gunnedah.  All places we visit fairly regularly.

At Gunnedah we had afternoon tea (yes, morning and afternoon tea in one day) with Lianne.  Of course we forgot to take a photo.  Too busy yacking away.

Our camp for the night was at the Gunnedah Showground.

The following day was just a leisurely one, travelling through Coonabarabran, Gilgandra and on to Eugumgerie, just north of Dubbo.  

We couldn’t get over how green everything was.  Such a contrast to when we drove this route on our way north. (I may have mentioned this once or twice before, but we continued to be amazed.) 

There is a camp ground at the local recreation grounds, just off the highway.  We have often seen the sign and thought this was a good opportunity to try it out.

We went for a bit of a wander around in the late afternoon.

Dinner was had at the Drover’s Dog Hotel, which has just had new owners take over.  We enjoyed one final pub tea. (Yes, morning tea, afternoon tea and a pub tea all in one day.  We were allowed.  It was our last day away.)

And, the following day, our last morning on the road.

We arrived home in time for lunch and to start unpacking the van.

That was on the 17th June.  Yes, it has taken me two whole months to get this written down.

Our holiday was for just on five weeks and we had a fabulous time.  We visited places we wanted to see, spent time with special friends and travelled on many roads that were new to us, despite heading north most years.  All in all, a very successful and enjoyable holiday.

Now to get ready to head off again.