From Outback NSW to the Hunter Region

Sunday 28 July saw us packing up in Lightning Ridge and heading down to Narrabri. Breakfast first though, at The Busy Bee Cafe (highly recommended) in the Ridge before wandering through the Sunday morning market near the Visitors' Centre on our way out of town.

It was with quite fondness that we farewelled the Ridge; we will definitely be back though, making sure we do some fossicking for our own opals next time.

As we were driving, we noticed a chip in the windscreen had appeared. We suspect that the change of temperatures from almost freezing overnight, to sunny 18 degrees through the day might have led to a small chip starting to splinter into a 'spiderweb'. So, onto the internet we went looking for a windscreen repairer, or replacement, if we were not able to get it repaired. We found a repairer in Narrabri; our plan is to go there first thing Monday morning to ascertain next steps.

On the way, we drove through a few small towns; Wee Waa's roundabouts were quite quaint:

And there is an amazing 3D footpath art in Narrabri - hard to see in the photo, but the magpie really looks like it is flying above the path - there are better photos to show the 3D effects in the link above! I'm constantly in awe of street artists!!

Sunday night we spent in the showgrounds at Narrabri; $15 for the night for an unpowered spot: highly recommended. The amenities were dated but clean, showers were hot. Caretaker and cleaners were very friendly.

Monday morning in Narrabri and we were off to visit a windscreen repairer; 45 minutes later we were on our way to Tamworth - job done! Let's trust that the varying temperatures over the next few weeks are kind to the repair. Stunning scenery just south of Boggabri:

We stopped for a walk through the township of Gunnedah. Loved the poetry in the public toilets - each door featured a different poet, with the name of the poem and poet on the outside of the door, then behind the door, something to ponder while you rest awhile!

And then early to mid-afternoon, we arrived in Tamworth, home to the annual Country Music Festival each January. We settled into a lovely sunny spot in the Paceway (the trotting venue), and again the caretaker was friendly, as was the resident cat who clearly made itself at home.

Tuesday we wandered around Tamworth. First up to the Oxley Scenic Lookout at the top of White Street, and what a vista. A good place to take your bearings.

Once down to earth again, and after we walked around town, we rested in the local brewery, The Welder's Dog (read our review here), then headed home.

Wednesday, the last day of July and we packed up in Tamworth and headed south to Lake Liddell, just south of Muswellbrook - coal country! Huge long coal conveyor belts run across the countryside. The very long, slow coal trains chug along constantly back and forth between the mines and the huge power stations.

Camping at the Lake Liddell Recreation Reserve looked a bit tired and dated, yet the amenities had been recently updated, quite smart inside. Although the coal trains were a constant hum in the background, we definitely recommend the campground; imagine it might be very busy in summer, but it was a perfect overnight stop for us. Beware of the cranky geese.

Thursday, the first day of August and the last month of winter! we headed off from Lake Liddell to the Hunter Valley region of NSW to Cessnock. We diverted into Pokolbin on the way, to a couple of breweries among the vineyards: IronBark Hill Brewery and Hope Estate; you can read our reviews of the breweries here.

Thursday night we spent in the Hunter Valley Ingenia Holiday Park in Cessnock. They were really lovely hosts; it was a small but very neat and tidy park - amenities were amazing, even suppling a pile of freshly laundered bathmats in each shower cubicle - how cool is that!

Friday we headed back to the coast, leaving Cessnock for Stockton (Newcastle). We had booked a little caravan park at Stockton Beach, about 2km (as the crow flies over the shipping channel) from the Newcastle wharf and CBD area. After settling the van and trailer into the park, we hopped onto Katie and rode the 20km around to the other side, to the CBD. We walked all the way along the Newcastle Breakwater - watched a seal playing in the waves along with the surfers.

Then hopped back on the bike and visited a couple of breweries on our way home - first to the Foghorn Brewery, then to Method Brewing, where we grabbed a bite to eat for dinner, then headed back home.