Paperbark Campground, Lake Arragan, Yuraygir National Park, NSW.

Site with direct access to Lake Arragan.

While camped at Lake Arragan Campground we noticed that there is a nearby campground called Paperbark Campground which is right on the lake. The turn off to this campground is on Lake Arragan Road but it is not sign-posted and the last time we were camped at Lake Arragan we didn't notice that Paperbark Campground was there.

The turn off to Paperbark Campground.

Unfortunately, I took photos of the campground on a wet day so the photos are very dreary. However, there are several campsites positioned with direct access to Lake Arragan and these would be ideal for kayaking. As the name implies, the campground is set in a paperbark forest so I would expect that there could be a fair few mosquitoes at dawn and dusk but we didn't notice any while wandering around. The facilities are limited in the campground to a few tables and fire pits and the closest toilets are at Lake Arragan Campground.

Paperbark Campground.

Views across Lake Arragan to the entrance onto Plumbago Beach.

Fishing and camping information at Paperbark Campground.

We saw quite a few Superb Fairy-wrens in eclipse plumage. 

Superb Fairy-wren.

Details for Paperbark Campground:
Where: Between Ballina and Grafton. 290 km, 3.5 hours, south of Brisbane. 142 km, 1 hour 45 minutes, north of Coffs Harbour. Leave the M1 to take Brooms Head Road. Before Brooms Head, turn left into Lake Arragan Road. The entry road into Paperbark Campground is off Lake Arragan Road, on the left hand side, about 300 meters before Lake Arragan Picnic Area. The turn off is unmarked.
Access: Lake Arragan Road is a wide unsealed road that was in good condition when we visited in 2018 but had some corrugations when we visited in March 2019. The entry road and road in the campground itself is in poor condition and is signposted as not suitable for caravans.
Fees & Booking: No bookings. Vehicle entry fee: $8 or buy an annual pass. Camping Fees: During NSW and QLD school holidays and long weekends there is a minimum site fee of $24 for 1 or 2 adults. At other times it is $12 per adult, $6 per child from 5 to 15 years. Fees are collected by campground managers. Take correct cash.
Sites: This is a surprisingly large area with two main sections. Suitable for tents, camping beside your vehicle, camper trailers.
Facilities: A few picnic tables, some fire pits. No toilets; the non-flush toilets in Lake Arragan Campground are the closest. There is no water in the campground but there is a drinking water tap near the main entrance sign on the way in. Some sites have direct access to Lake Arragan suitable for kayaks.
Prohibited: no pets, no smoking.
Caution: mosquitoes.

Fungi, Border Ranges National Park, NSW.

It was raining when we visited the Border Ranges National Park so we saw quite a variety of fungi.

Tweed Range Scenic Drive, Wildlife and Walks in Border Ranges National Park, NSW. Part 2.

After leaving Antarctic Beech Picnic Area we drove south along Tweed Range Scenic Drive, stopping at The Pinnacle Lookout, Blackbutt Lookout and Picnic Area, and Bar Mountain Picnic Area.

The Pinnacle Lookout
There is a small parking area opposite a short uphill walk of 200 meters one way to the Pinnacle Lookout. I have added this lookout to my personal favourites. I didn't realise until we got there, that the name comes from walking out onto a pinnacle to look at the amazing view over Wollumbin-Mount Warning and the Tweed Valley. We went to the lookout twice to see the view in different light conditions.

Looking east to Wollumbin-Mount Warning.

Looking south to Mebbin National Park.

The Pinnacle Lookout early in the morning.

Blackbutt Lookout and Picnic Area

We liked Blackbutt Picnic Area so much that we had a picnic there twice. It's extra special to be able to park so close to the lookout and picnic tables.

Blackbutt Picnic Area and Lookout.

View of the Tweed Valley and Wollumbin-Mount Warning

Bar Mountain Picnic Area: 
Bar Mountain Picnic Area has plenty of parking and the great facilities include a sheltered wood barbecue, tables and toilets. Beech Glade is a very short walk at the picnic area. We did the Falcorostrum Loop as part of the Bar Mountain Circuit.

Bar Mountain Picnic Area

Falcorostrum Loop: 650 m, 15 to 30 minutes,Grade 3: 
This short loop is worth doing if you don't have the time or inclination for the longer and more difficult Bar Mountain Circuit.

2000 year old Antarctic Beech with secondary trunks.

Bar Mountain Circuit: 4 km loop, 2-3 hours, Grade 3:
This track descends the western escarpment of the Border Ranges to a small lookout with views out to Mount Lindsey and Mount Barney before climbing back out again to the picnic area. Some fitness is required. We found it a bit slippery in the wet conditions we encountered although, thankfully, we didn't encounter any leeches. We had to negotiate four trees down over the track which added to the challenge and believe me we were relieved when we encountered the fourth tree that we were able to get through it without having to return all the way back the way we had come.

Bar Mountain Lookout

There was a beautiful dripping rock-face towards the end of the walk.

Dripping Rock

We were pleased to see and photograph Beech Skink as they are confined to a fairly small area and are listed as rare. There were a few Marsh Snakes on the track and we saw the biggest Land Mullet we have ever seen towards the end of the walk.

Beech Skink Harrisoniascincus zia

Marsh Snake

Land Mullet

We were walking in wet conditions and it was fungi heaven. We particularly liked a coral fungus that we saw near the lookout.

Coral Fungus

Tweed Range Scenic Drive is signposted as not suitable for buses and caravans. Otherwise it is suitable for 2WD vehicles when dry but caution should be exercised in wet weather. We enjoyed the drive but did encounter forest debris down over half a section of road. 

Wildlife, Walks and Drives in Border Ranges National Park, NSW. Part 1.

Sheepstation Creek

There is so much to do in Border Ranges National Park. We had a good look around in wet conditions but will definitely be back to explore some more. This blog covers the highlights from Sheepstation Creek Campground then heading north-east along Brindle Creek Road to Antarctic Beech Picnic Area. The roads in the national park are unsealed and east of Sheepstation Creek are signposted as unsuitable for caravans and buses.

Booyong Walking Track: 9 km one way, 5-6 hours. Grade 3.
The Booyong Walk runs between Sheepstation Creek Campground and Forest Tops Campground. While camping at Sheepstation Creek we took the easy option and did the Palm Valley Walk which is a short section of the Booyang Track.

Booyong Track

Palm Valley Walk: 1 km one way. 30 minutes to 1 hour. Grade 3:
From Sheepstation Creek Campground we did the Palm Valley Walk and added on
Brushbox Falls Lookout before returning. This may seem like a short walk but we were there in the rain which made for slippery tree roots and mossy rocks, requiring some care with foot placement. The upside was that we saw lots of Shadeskinks, a group of skinks that relish wet rainforest habitat.

Palm Valley Walk

The walk follows an historic logging track to a sandstone rockface just north of Sheepstation Creek where you can see the carved names of cedar foresters preserved behind a fence.

Cedar forestry history.

Shadeskink

Due to the drought, we have become quite used to seeing dried up waterfalls and were pleasantly surprised when we arrived at Brushbox Falls Lookout to see Brushbox Falls with good flows.

Brushbox Falls

Heading east from Sheepstation Creek Campground along Tweed Range Scenic Drive is Forest Tops Campground; a tent only campground. From there we turned north into Brindle Creek Road, which is one way, parked at  Brindle Creek Picnic Area and went walking.

Brindle Creek Picnic Area

Red Cedar Loop: 750m loop, 20-40 minutes, Grade 2:
The entry for this walk is across the road from the picnic area. (Note that on Googgle Maps the Red Cedar Loop is incorrectly labeled Helmholtzia Loop.) 

Brindle Creek

Red Cedar

The Red Cedar above is over 48 meters tall and is estimated to be about 1000 years old.

Helmholtzia Walk: 1 km loop, 20-30 minutes, Grade 3:
A shorter section of the Brindle Creek Walking Track can be done by returning via the Helmholtzia Walk. We did this walk as part of the longer walk.

Brindle Creek Walking Track: 6 km one way, 3-4 hours, Grade 3:
This walk runs between Brindle Creek Picnic Area and Antarctic Beech Picnic Area. A shorter section can be done by returning via the Helmholtzia Walk. We set our sights on reaching Evans Falls and Selva Falls at a distance of about 3.3 km one way and then making a decision on how much further we would walk. Unfortunately, we encountered trees down over the track. We were able to get around the first blockage but were unable to negotiate the tree trunk over the path about 2.5 km in. It was very frustrating to have to turn back so close to Evans Falls because I had my heart set on photographing my namesake and we had gallantly pushed on through a continuous assault from leeches.

Brindle Creek Walking Track

Brindle Creek

Fungus, Brindle Creek Walking Track.

However, all was not lost as we came across the distinctive northern New South Wales freshwater crayfish, both alongside the path and in Brindle Creek. 

Red Spiny Freshwater Crayfish.

Antarctic Beech Picnic Area
Antarctic Beech Picnic Area is a pleasant stop on Brindle Creek Road. There are toilets, tables and wood barbecues; BYO wood. There is a limited view out over the NSW/QLD border from the northern end of the picnic area. The eastern trail-head for the Brindle Creek Walking Track is opposite the picnic area on Brindle Creek Road.

Antarctic Beech Picnic Area.