Mount Nardi Section of Nightcap National Park, New South Wales.

We woke to a morning of heavy mist which delayed out start to the Mount Nardi section of Nightcap National Park. The parking area at Mount Nardi is only about 19 km from The Channon Village Campground along Tuntable Creek Road and Newton Drive. Allow extra time for this scenic but narrow winding road. After one and a half days of glorious sunshine the rain set in again. The higher we climbed into the range the wetter it became. We noticed that the sealed sections of the road were green with moss except for the tracks worn away by cars.

Not to be deterred, we donned our jackets, covered our backpacks with rain covers, popped our cameras into drybags and set off into the rainforest. There are two short walks leading from the carpark: Pholis Gap Walking Track, a 4 km, Class 3 medium walk and Mount Matheson Loop, a 3 km, Class 3 medium loop walk that can be combined with the Pholis Gap Walk for a longer walk. The Nightcap Track, 19 km Class 4, can also be accessed from here.

The trailhead at Mount Nardi.

We started out in light rain with the hope that under the protection of the tree canopy it would be a little drier. We entered a beautiful forest of Yellow Carabeen and Fern Trees with a vivid understory of bracken. The track was a little muddy and slippery but we continued on for a while. Unfortunately, the rain got heavier and heavier and the visibility reduced so much that we decided to head back. Our passage through the forest caused a chorus of bird alarm calls. We heard Noisy Pittas but despite pausing on the track for a while and peering into the gloom we could not see them. I held an umbrella over my camera for a few quick photos.

Fungi and Cordylines were thriving in the wet conditions.

When we returned to the carpark it was raining lightly just as it was when we set out. So our theory of being protected by the tree canopy didn't work this time. We can only assume that we were walking along the side of the mountain that was catching all the rain.

Protesters Falls, Nightcap National Park, NSW.

The Protesters Falls section of Nightcap National Park is at the end of Terania Creek Road, about 16 km north of The Channon Village Campground. There is a Day Use Area with toilets and picnic tables and a walk to Protesters Falls. 

The rain seemed to be following us about everywhere we went on this trip but we were determined to see this section of the National Park due to the rich history of protest that led to the protection of this magnificent area. I was delighted to discover that Nan, our host at The Channon Village Campground, was one of the original protesters. 

The drive to the picnic area is narrow and windy and seems much longer than 16 km so allow more time than you might otherwise for such a short trip. There is a small causeway to cross before arriving at the car park. Then we discovered that you need to walk back over the causeway to start the walk to the falls. 

No swimming is allowed in the creeks here because this area is habitat for a range of endangered frogs.

Protesters Falls Walking Track: 1.4 km return, easy.

Of course it started raining as soon as we started walking and we found the boardwalk at the start of the walk to be extremely slippery. 

The walk through Bangalow Palms followed by lush rainforest of native Tamarind, Yellow Carabeen and Strangler Figs is very pretty. The Cunjevoi Lilies were flowering and were gleaming in the wet.

We saw several Orange-tailed Shadeskinks along the track.

Orange-tailed Shadeskink Saproscincus challengeri

The track starts to climb towards the base of the falls. Although this track is listed as easy, after the boardwalk it becomes rougher and it is necessary to step over roots and up some slippery rocks, so it may not be easy for everyone. The walk crosses the creek via a double plank and then runs alongside the creek past several cascades before arriving at the base of the falls.

The upside of all the rain we experienced on this trip is that all the waterfalls are flowing at full strength. When we arrived at Protesters Falls it was pounding down with great swirls of mist drenching us as we approached. It was so wet that I was concerned about our camera gear and only manged a few quick photos before retreating. These photos simply don't do the falls justice; they were truly magnificent to behold. The lip of the falls plunged down a series of steps before dropping straight down to a pool at the base.

We love an outdoor picnic but it was too wet even for us and we made our way back to The Channon Village Campground.

Minyon Falls, Nightcap National Park, New South Wales.

Minyon Falls Lookout

We drove to the Minyon Falls Lookout carpark from Rummery Campground early in the morning. There are gas BBq's, picnic tables and information signs. 

It was a short stroll to the lookout platform at the top of Minyon Falls. There were magnificent views of the morning mist just lifting off the mountains and the falls were spectacular after all the recent rain. The scale of the falls falling 100 meters over stunning rhyolite cliffs is hard to convey in a photo.

Minyon Falls Walking Track, 7.5 km loop, hard. This walk can be started from Minyon Falls Picnic Area or Minyon Grass Picnic Area. The loop can also be accessed from Rummery Park Campground via Boggy Creek Walk; an additional 4 km return. 

We had been looking forward to hiking the Minyon Falls Walk from the lookout but there had been heavy rain during the night, and over the preceding few days, making a walk already designated hard even more challenging so we made the difficult decision not to do the walk.

Minyon Grass Picnic Area

We drove to Minyon Grass Picnic Area where there are picnic tables, gas BBQ's and toilets. A lookout platform offers excellent views of Minyon Falls in the distance. We noticed a large collection of snail shells at the base of a tree but were unable to find the bird responsible; perhaps a Noisy Pitta.

Minyon Grass to the Base of Minyon Falls Walk, moderate, 4 km return.

We had already decided not to walk the Minyon Falls Walking Track from the top of Minyon Falls because of the wet and slippery conditions but decided we would try to walk to the base of the falls from Minyon Grass. The first 500 m of the walk drops 70 m before leveling off. It was slippery going but we enjoyed the walk through Scribbly Gums, wet rainforest and Bangalow Palms. The track was covered in the red fruit of the palm trees. On a side note, Bangalow Palms are known as Piccabeen Palms in Queensland.

Fungi was flourishing in the wet conditions. 

We saw Eastern Water Skinks and Blue-speckled Forest Skinks. Only a few birds were out in the wet.

Brown Cuckoo Dove and Eastern Yellow Robin.

After walking 2 km we were very disappointed to arrive at a sign stating that we had reached the base of the falls. Personally, I don't feel that arriving at a place with no view of the falls qualifies as arriving at the base of the falls! Somewhat stunned and incredulous at this turn of events we made our way to the creek in the hope of perhaps glimpsing the falls from there but there was no sight of the falls to be had. We could see where the Minyon Falls Track crossed the creek to where we stood and there was a track marker indicating a continuation of that track. We scrambled down the first set of rocks but the next set went straight up and were too wet and slippery for us so we returned to the carpark without seeing the falls.

We managed to get up and down this section of the "track".

 There is a track marker on the palm, top center. End of the walk for us.

Boggy Creek Walk, Whian Whian Conservation Area/Nightcap National Park, NSW.

Boggy Creek Walk is a 4 km return walk from Rummery Park Campground to Minyon Falls. The walk meanders beside beautiful Boggy Creek and swimming is allowed. 

There had been heavy rain around the time of our visit and one section of the walk was flowing like a boggy creek! 

There were majestic Brush Box, Turpentines and Blackbutts beside the track.

Brush Box Lophostemon confertus and Turpentine Syncarpia glomulifera

We saw a few Eastern Water Skinks and one Blue-speckled Forest Skink. The highlight of the walk was seeing a Rough-scaled Snake dashing across the path. Rough-scaled Snakes, also known as Clarence River Snakes, are listed as dangerous and their bite can be lethal but we always treat snakes with respect. We stood back and watched it proceed to the creek, no doubt, for a nice nighttime feed of frogs. The snake had quite a large tick attached but appeared to be in good health.  

Rough-scaled Snake Tropidechis carinatus

We came to Minyon Falls Road, just below the causeway, and saw a sign across the road for the Minyon Loop Walk, which is a hard, 7.5 km, walk that keen hikers could add to the Boggy Creek Walk but as we were intending to do Minyon Loop the next day we turned around and went back to Rummery Park Campground.

Rummery Park Campground, Whian Whian Conservation Area and Nightcap National Park, NSW.

Rummery Park Campground, in Whian Whian Conservation Area, adjoins Nightcap National Park. There is a small (sloping) area for camper trailers in front of the camp kitchen, a few tent sites scattered about and a walk-in tent camping area across a small bridge. There is a group camping area across the road.

The trailer camping area at Rummery Park.

Electric BBQ outside the camp kitchen and wood BBQ's inside.

The walk-in tent camping area.

Goanna Campground for groups. Magnificent Kauri tree in the front. 

The first thing we noticed at Rummery Park was a couple of large goannas patrolling the campground.

Kookaburras were keeping an eye on things and Satin Bowerbirds foraged in the grass in the early morning.

Satin Bowerbird (male) and Pale-yellow Robin.

There were crows nests and Stag-horns growing Hoop Pines around the campground.

Walks:
Two walks leave from the campground, Boggy Creek Track (2 km one way) and Peates Mountain Walk (3.5 km one way). It is possible to add the Minyon Loop Walking Track to the Boggy Creek Track. I will cover Boggy Creek Track in the next blog.

There are more walks in Nightcap National Park. Minyon Falls Lookout is a few kilometers from the campground and a walk leaves from the lookout carpark. Another walk leaves from Minyon Grass Picnic Area. We will explore Nightcap National Park in the coming days.

We planned on doing Peates Mountain Walk on our last morning at Rummery Park but it was too wet and we ended up packing in the pouring rain.

This Magpie was as wet as we were.

Driving out of Rummery Park.

Bird List: 
Topknot Pigeon, White-headed Pigeon, Brown Cuckoo-Dove, Laughing Kookaburra, White-throated Treecreeper, Noisy Miner, Logrunner, Eastern Whipbird, Eastern Yellow Robin, Pale-yellow Robin, Satin Bowerbird, Australian Magpie, Pied Currawong, Torresian Crow, Red-browed Finch.

Details for Rummery Park Campground:
Directions: In Whian Whian Conservation Area, North Coast Region.The campground can be approached via Rosebank, Dunoon, or if coming from QLD, from Ewingsdale via Coolamon Scenic Drive. Then drive north along Minyon Falls Road, past Minyon Falls and turn into Peates Mountain Road. 
Types Of Camping: tent, camper trailer site, camping beside vehicles.
Camping Fees: Minimum daily rate of $23 for 1 to 2 people plus 2.5% booking fee.
Vehicle Fee: No vehicle fee.
Bookings: Book online: http://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/bookings
Book by phone: 13000 PARKS (13000 72757). There is no phone reception at the campground. There is phone reception at Minyon Grass Picnic Area and 2 km south on Nightcap Range Road.
Facilities: Non-flush toilets, Electric BBQs, wood BBQ's, camp kitchen, some tables, tank water, walks. No phone reception.
Prohibitions: No smoking, no pets.
Contacts: Alstonville: 02 6627 0200 8.30 am - 4.30 pm Monday to Friday.
Website: http://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/camping-and-accommodation/campgrounds/Rummery-Park-campground
http://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/visit-a-park/parks/Nightcap-National-Park/Visitor-Info
Cautions: leeches, narrow roads.