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 Grafton
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Barcoongere State Forest - Station Creek - Tucabia - Tyndale
Distance: approx. 121kms (incl.
to Station Creek & back)
Grade: Medium to Hard (4WD
required for one section)
Map:
click
Facilities: Fuel and food available at Tyndale.
* Please be sure to get fuel, food and
check your tyres before starting this scenic drive.
Travel south along the Pacific Highway from Grafton about half way
to Coffs Harbour. As you approach the Dirty Creek Range cutting on
the highway, take the left hand turn onto the Barcoongere Way and
Yuraygir National Park.
This road takes you into the Barcoongere State Forest pine
plantations. To get to Station Creek camping and picnic grounds
follow the signs into the national park. Here you will find a
peaceful freshwater lagoon only moments away from the ocean where
canoeing and surfing are popular summer activities.
Good four wheel driving in the area is a big attraction for locals
and a 4WD track heads onto the beach and further beach camping
sites.
If Station Creek is not your destination, take the Barcoongere Road
for about 7km until you turn left at Pigeon Gully Road. Follow this
forest road for another 6km before turning right onto Yellow Cutting
Road. This section of road is hard and compact but 4WD terrain only
as ground clearance over rocks and through gullies is needed.
Yellow Cutting road takes you up and onto the Coast Range with
occasional glimpses of the ocean through the trees. Further along,
the road becomes Coast Range Road and has many diversions left and
right but these are primarily for forestry purposes and
side-tracking is not recommended. There are no facilities or fresh
water in this area so be self-sufficient.
Continue along this medium grade road for about 15 km before coming
out on to the Wooli to Grafton Road. Turn left onto the bitumen for
about 4km and follow the Wooli Road. At a sweeping left hand turn is
the turn off to Firth Heinz Road.
Travel this well made gravel road through Pillar Valley before
coming out on the tar at Tucabia. From here you can take the road
west into Ulmarra and the Pacific Highway
or continue north following the Coldstream River through fertile
farm lands and emerge onto the highway closer to
Tyndale.
Credit: John Warden of the
Clarence Valley Review |
