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 Grafton - Buccarumbi - Dalmorton -
Historic Tunnel - Jackadgery - Grafton
Distance: approx. 244kms (loop trip)
Grade: Easy to Medium
Map:
click
Facilities: Fuel available at Grafton and Jackadgery
Food available at Grafton and Jackadgery
* Please be sure to get fuel, food and
check your tyres as there are few services available along this
drive.
Heading west out of South Grafton finds you on the Gwydir
Highway. Travel about 7km along until you reach the top of the hill
and take the left hand turn onto the Old Glen Innes Road.
Follow this good quality sealed road for 40km until it turns to
gravel at the locality of Buccurumbi. Cross the low level bridge
that sits beside the remains of its flood stricken predecessor at
the picturesque junction of Nymboida and Boyd Rivers.
The road is not wide so beware of oncoming cars and logging
trucks. 7km from the bridge on the right is the remains of an old
graveyard, worth a look for history buffs.
 Continue along the road a few kilometres to the old township of
Dalmorton, the heart of an abandoned gold mining area. In its
heyday, there were reportedly 5,000 inhabitants in this area and 13
pubs! Many of the surrounding hills are studded with abandoned gold
mine shafts dating back to the 1860's. The remains of the old
butcher shop are still standing on the left as you enter the town.
8km further on is the unique historic tunnel bored through solid
rock. Spend some time marvelling at this historic piece of
workmanship before proceeding further west through spectacular
scenic farmlands to the locality of Newton Boyd at the base of the
Great Dividing Range.
 There
are plenty of opportunities for picnics and swimming, none better
that at the Mann River Nature Reserve where fire places, tables and
toilets make for a pleasant stop.
The road now takes a turn straight up the range onto a sealed
section and past the alternative lifestyle settlement of Wytaliba.
At the top of the range, turn east towards Grafton and follow the
Gwydir Highway through World Heritage listed National Parks of
Washpool and
Gibraltar Range. There are numerous scenic opportunities inside
and outside these parks and well worth a look if time permits,
especially Raspberry Lookout with views over the Mann Valley (on the
right before reaching Gibraltar Range NP) and Heffron Lookout (on
right after passing Washpool NP).
 As
you are coming down the range there is a good vantage spot to view
across the Mann River at Mulligan's Bluff (left hand side of the
road). Please use caution as there is very limited space for
parking and be careful of other motorists.
45km out of Grafton is the roadside locality of
Jackadgery where fuel and supplies can
be obtained at the Mann River Caravan Park.
Half an hour along finds you back in Grafton.
Credit: John Warden of the
Clarence Valley Review |
