Sandstone Caves, Pilliga National Park, NSW.

Where: Pilliga National Park, Dandry NSW. 87 km (56 mins) south of Narrabri or 175 km north of Dubbo (2 hours). Turn east off the Newell HWY onto Yaminba Trail. 
Access: Yaminba Trail is unsealed but was in good condition when we visited. There is a large car park.
Prohibited: pets, smoking.
Caution: Take water as it can get very hot and dry here.
Note: This is a special place for the Gamilaroi people. You are requested not to use flash photography and to refrain from touching the rock art and engravings.

Car Park at the Sandstone Caves.

Trailhead for the Sandstone Caves Walk.

Sandstone Caves Walking Track: 1.7 km loop, Grade 3.

You can do a self guided walk or a tour with an Aboriginal Discovery Ranger can be booked at Pilliga Forest Discovery Centre in Baradine, phone  02 6843 4011. The sandstone caves are very spectacular so I will simply let the photos tell the story.

Cranky Rock Reserve, near Warialda, NSW.

Cranky Rock

On this road trip in October 2018, our first stop was at Texas near the Queensland - New South Wales border for an obligatory photo as I have long found it amusing that there is a Texas in Queensland.

Texas, Queensland.

We arrived at Cranky Rock mid-afternoon on a weekday without a booking as we were expecting the campground to be quiet. We could see straight away that the place was packed and when I went to the office I was told that there were two caravaning  groups in the lower area and a major motorhome club in the main area. I explained that we had a tent and didn't need power, the lady hesitated so long I thought she was going to turn us away but to my relief she said there was a spot on the fence line right in the far corner. These days they advertise that bookings are required.

Peacock at the campground office.

Eastern Grey Kangaroo at the campground office.

Nicely tucked away at Cranky Rock Campground.

Amenities at Cranky Rock: toilets and showers.

There is also a car park and a nice picnic area for day trippers.

Cranky Rock Nature Reserve Picnic Area

The walk to the base of Cranky Rock is only a short, easy walk from the camping area or picnic area. 

Cranky Rock walking track.

At the base of Cranky Rock. Lookout top left.

After checking out the base of Cranky Rock we walked round to the lookout. There used to be an animal enclosure at Cranky Rock. The enclosure fence is still there but the gates are left open. We encountered an Emu walking ahead of us on the track.

Emu.

Ascending to Cranky Rock Lookout.

The top of Cranky Rock Lookout.

Looking down from Cranky Rock Lookout.

View to the right from Cranky Rock Lookout.

After descending from the lookout we decided to explore the enclosure. We saw some Cicadabirds skulking in the brush and spotted an Emu, probably the same one that we had seen earlier, sitting down deep in the scrub.

Exploring the abandoned enclosure at Cranky Rock.

Cicadabird

Seated Emu.

Cranky Rock Nature Reserve Campground

Where: Cranky Rock Nature Reserve, 296 Cranky Rock Road, Warialda NSW. 9 km east of Warialda on the Gwydir HWY. From QLD: 437 km south-west of Brisbane (5 hours). From NSW: 200 km north of Tamworth.
Sites: Powered and unpowered sites.
Facilities: Limited number of toilets, one shower with key code. Adjacent picnic area. Walks.
Bookings & Fees: Bookings required. Phone the caretakers on 02 6729 1402 
Per Site:  Powered $20 (pensioner $15) per week $120 (pensioners $90). Unpowered $15 (pensioners $12) per week $90 (pensioner $72). These prices may have risen since our stay.

Wildlife in October 2018: Eastern Grey Kangaroo. Birds: Grey Butcherbird, Cicadabird, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Galah, Pied Currawong, Pacific Black Duck, Australian Wood Duck, Peaceful Dove, Emu, Superb Fairy-wren, Australian King Parrot, Red-rumped Parrot, Eastern Yellow Robin, Pale-headed Rosella, Rufous Whistler, Willie Wagtail. Domestic: Peacocks, Chickens, Quail and a hand raised Eastern Grey Kangaroo.

Tamborine Mountain, Tamborine National Park, QLD.

In June 2019 we spent a pleasant morning exploring three areas in Tamborine Mountain, QLD.

Cedar Creek Falls section of Tamborine National Park.

Cedar Creek Falls Track: 500 meters return to lookout, 900 meters return to rock pools, Easy Grade.

Swimming is allowed in some of the pools. 

Cedar Creek Falls.

Swimming is not allowed in the top pools.

Of the three areas we visited, this was the busiest. We parked in the last available car park. There are quite a few picnic tables so we were still able to indulge in one of our favourite pastimes. 

One of the picnic areas at the Cedar Grove section of Tamborine National Park.

A couple of Laughing Kookaburras keeping an eye on the picnic area.

The Knoll section of Tamborine National Park.

The Knoll Lookout and Picnic Area:

Picnic Area at The Knoll section

View from The Knoll Lookout

Sandy Creek Circuit: 2.6 km circuit, Easy Grade.

The walking track.

Top of Cameron Falls

There is only a limited view of Cameron Falls.

Mount Tamborine Rainforest Walk, Tamborine National Park, MacDonald Section.

The car park and walk trailhead is opposite the Tamborine Mountain Heritage Centre on Wongawallan Road. There is a covered picnic table a few meters along the walk from the car park.

Tamborine Mountain Heritage Centre.

Picnic shelter at the MacDonald section of Tamborine National Park.

MacDonald Rainforest Circuit: 1.4 km circuit. Easy Grade.

Male Satin Bowerbird.

Female Satin Bowerbird.

Wildlife: Red-necked Pademelon, Monarch Butterfly. Birds: Satin Bowerbird, Sulphur Crested Cockatoo, Australian Brush Turkey, Grey Fantail,  Wompoo Fruit-Dove, Blue-faced Honeyeater, Laughing Kookaburra, Masked Lapwing, Logrunner, Noisy Miner, Australian King Parrot, Eastern Yellow Robin, Eastern Whipbird, Golden Whistler, Heard: Albert's Lyrebird.