Forster Indulgence

After coming out of the Barrington Tops I had planned to spend the night in a pub at Gloucester, but arriving in town mid afternoon it was too early to hole up in a pub. I drove down to Forster and found a cheap motel, which was cheap in all senses of the word. However, I could walk down to the pub on the inlet and catch a great sunset over the lake as storms went through. Heavy rain and strong winds with hail in places so a good night not to be camping.

A great steak and mushroom dinner at the Lakes and Ocean Hotel. Blackboard special $15- including a schooner of pale ale. 

Next morning I rode along the lake and out to the breakwater then over the bridge to Tuncurry to the northern breakwater and a big breakie at the Rockpool Cafe.  

Not something I normally do and I felt like the idle rich. 

Tuncurry Rock Pool 

Then off to Hawke Head to climb the tower with views up and down the coast and over the lake behind. 

I then drove down to The Ruins campground in Booti Booti National Park where I walked the Booti Hill and lake loop.

Seven Mile Beach 

Views from Booti Hill to Shelley Beach 

Elizabeth Beach 

From Elizabeth Beach you can cut across and join the lake track. Nice easy walking and a few picnic areas where I stopped and ate a late lunch.

Palm jungle on the lake edge 

The forecast was for more thunderstorms, large hail and destructive winds so I bailed on camping again and got a cabin in the caravan park at Elizabeth Beach. The storms did come through and i was glad to be in the cabin. The forcast was the same for the next few days so I ended up staying 3 night here with the pattern being sunny but windy days with storms in the late afternoons and into the night.

Gloucester Tops

Leaving Barrington Tops I drove down the mountains and around to Gloucester River. Very pretty country. As you drive back up to the National Park the road crosses back a forth over the Gloucester River 5 or 6 times.

Highland cattle on the road.

River crossings

I camped the night at Gloucester River which was a lot warmer than the Tops. The next morning I drove up to Gloucester Tops and walked the Falls/ Beech Forest and River Loop. I was a little disappointed by the falls with limited views from the track and no real access ( without a lot of work on a steep climb off track) to the more picteresque falls. More os a series of falls/cascades.

Andrew Laurie Lookout

In the green. Magnificent Beech Forests.

Then back in snow gum forest and swamp country along the Gloucester River

Tiger Snake

After the 9klm loop I drove back down to the camping area on the Gloucester River for lunch and to just  sit a read for a while.

Nice country.

Careys Peak

A blue sky day and perfect weather for my walk to Careys Peak. Walking from Junction Pools to Careys Peak  via the Aeroplane Hill Trail and then back along the Edwards Swamp track. Easy walking for the 13.8klm loop.

Lots of Scotch Broom infestation on the Aeroplane Hill track as you walk through snow gum forest.

Black Swamp. These peat swamps reminded me of the frost hollows in Kosciuszko except that if you stepped off the forest edge it was only a step or two before you started to sink and get wet.

Carey's Hut

The views from Carey's Peak

Mount Royal in the distance.

Edwards Swamp

The Barrington River

And a bit further on where I sat and had lunch. Only about 20 minutes from here back to Junction Pools. I watched trout in the water here.