Combined LROC Sydney & LROC Vic Trip To Paxina
Easter/Anzac day 2006

At various times the following members were present -

Barry Elliott Classic RR Sydney
Dennis Clarke Defender Sydney
Terry and Rhonda Boyce Defender Sydney
Nick Eichhorn Defender Sydney
Barry & Bev Keogh Defender Sydney
Ralph Radovan 38A RR Sydney
Tony Corke, Sue-Anne Stuart
Aden & Riley 110 S/W Sydney and Victoria
John & Kylie Godden Defender Sydney
Gerry & Dianne Gablek Nissan Patrol Victoria
Don & Pat Knowles Discovery Victoria
Peter & Joyce Horne Discovery Victoria
Bob O’Brien & Denise Long Discovery Victoria
Peter Harris & Fay Barton hired Mitsubishi Magna* Victoria
Fred & Ros Mayer Defender Sydney
Michael, Anne & Jane Thorpe Discovery Sydney
David & Ian Forster & Joan
Meehan 110 Crew Cab Sydney
Don Harris 130 Tray Victoria
John, Jennie, Camille & Hamish Whittaker County Sydney
Jim Parker Toyota Landcruiser Tray Victoria
Patrick & Margaret Sutcliffe L322 RR Sydney & Victoria

* Started out with a County, but it broke down in Bendigo!!

Written by Patrick and Margaret Sutcliffe

Due to an oversight caused by the infrequency with which we run trips, I forgot to ask anyone to write trip reports, so I have to do them myself!!

This was the third bi-annual combined Sydney and Victoria Land Rover Owners’ Clubs get together at Paxina, and the most well-attended so far. It was also notable for the great way that the members of the two Clubs mixed and enjoyed each other’s company. In fact it was so successful that the Victoria mob have agreed to search for a suitable location in order for them to play host to the Sydney mob over Easter next year. Here’s hoping!

Thursday/Friday

The first people arrived on the Thursday afternoon and early evening and by the time came on Friday morning to collect the huge quantity of firewood that was to be needed, there were 5 willing helpers. That achieved, we led a small group of people into Airley Ruins. The track in has become all but impassable now – overgrown, fallen trees and a nasty rock ledge that has deteriorated markedly over the last few months. As a consequence, nature has achieved what the greenies want and we now have to walk in (although trail bikes can obviously still get in!). This is no big deal, as most of the interesting stuff is within the first one and a half kilometres. What we do miss out on are the industrial ruins – the boiler, winch cables, chimneys, etc – and the view from the end of the escarpment. But everyone enjoyed the walk in great weather through the bush inspecting the remains that have stayed untouched for nearly 100 years.

Shortly after arriving back at the camp, the first Victorians started to arrive and so the first of many great combined campfires was enjoyed.

Saturday

Another beautiful day and so a trip through the Capertee Valley and to the Glen Davis ruins was organised. The Victorians were all very impressed with the Capertee Valley escarpment, as were those Sydney folk who had not seen it before, and there were many stops for photographs. After a visit to Glen Davis to view the history boards and a toilet stop, lunch was had at a newly-opened campsite in the Wollemi National Park. Being Easter, this was very popular and we sat in the warm sun watching a couple of people climbing the escarpment. Following lunch we went and explored the old shale mining ruins which are very impressive.

Easter Sunday

Another great day. In fact the weather was perfect for the whole time. Turon Gates was packed solid, with tents covering every inch of spare ground, as we made our way along the river to Hill End, stopping along the way to allow the Easter Bunny to give us all chocolates.

There was also quite a bit of traffic on the narrow dirt road, and it was shortly after leaving morning tea on the banks of the Turon that we found a very lost VW Golf on the roughest stretch of the track. Poor guy was quite distraught, as was his girlfriend! There were also the remains of a caravan that had come to grief on this section, showing that, when towing, you have to know where you’re going. Caution was called for, as 14 vehicles negotiated the dust and traffic, but we all made it to Hill End safely and in time for lunch. Some of us ate in the pub, some had takeaways and others ate in the park, before setting off to explore the town. On the way back, we stopped briefly at Sofala so that people could explore a bit, before heading off back to camp and another great campfire. As always with both these places, we could not see everything, and so return visits are in order.

Monday

For the morning we had organised a local helicopter to land in the paddock and take people on joy flights around the valley. We were a little unsure about the reaction of the visitors, but everyone took to it most enthusiastically and I was very happy to ring the pilot up on Saturday and tell him that he’d have at least 20 passengers.

In the event, there were 24 people who took up the offer of 15 or 30 minute flights over the valley and the escarpment. It was absolutely fantastic from the air – looking at recent rockfalls, the extraordinary sandstone pillars that give the Gardens of Stone National Park its name and the old settlement of Newnes, gave a whole new perspective on the area.

After lunch a lot of the Sydney folk left, but for most of those remaining, we led a trip onto Airley Mountain via Col Ribaux’s place (Don Harris stayed behind to erect the shower tent and set the hot water system up). Col now charges a modest $5 for access on his tracks that he has maintained for 40 years, and allowed so many 4Wders to use, and I for one don’t begrudge him one cent.

The usual stops were made at the Grotto, the abandoned diamond mine and the lookout over the old township of Airley. All these areas are under threat of closure from the Colong Foundation’s proposal to make them a National Park.

Another great campfire that evening, but this time with a difference – the Victorian contingent provided us with beautiful roast dinner from the camp oven and some local wine, which was very much appreciated.

Thank you Bob, Denise, Gerry, Diane, Don, Pat, Peter and Joyce.

Tuesday

This was a ‘free’ day and most people took the opportunity to visit Mudgee and Gulgong. Unfortunately, I had to go to Lithgow to get a puncture repaired that I had acquired in Hill End on the Sunday. As luck would have it, it was picked up by Ralph just after it happened and we were able to save the tyre this time (and I was unable to test the fancy new Sensatyre system that I’ve just installed!).

Wednesday

We led half a dozen vehicles to Newnes. Morning tea was had at Blackfellows Hand Cave before setting off down into the Wolgan Valley. Although the country is extremely dry, it is still a very beautiful valley and one can understand why Emirates want to build a 6-star resort there. After a couple of hours exploring the ruins and eating lunch, we set off for home. We’d only gone 500 metres when we came across lots of puddles and a very wet road.

We’d seen the big black clouds and heard a bit of thunder, but hadn’t realised how close we were to having had a very wet lunch! But within a couple of kilometres, the road was its usual dry self again and we were able to turn off confidently onto the track along the escarpment.

We stopped at the lookout over the Wolgan Valley for the obligatory photos and to gaze in awe at the majesty of the escarpment. It’s not difficult to imagine why it was so hard for the early explorers to penetrate this country. We also peered over the edge (with extreme care!) to see someone’s pride and joy 4WD that had been pushed over. There’s a great rescue challenge for the next Clean Up Australia day!!

Dropping down the very badly-eroded track into the beautiful little fern-filled gully elicited much comment on the hope that we wouldn’t have to return that way! But once there, there was considerable discussion over the UHF radio between Aden, 5, and Denise on whether or not they had seen fairies and gnomes. Consensus seemed to be that they were around. We arrived back in camp a little later than planned, just on sunset, but still time for a great Happy ‘Hour”.

Following a couple of days of intense driving, a request was made for just a short trip on the Thursday to allow for some time at the campfire to relax and so we led a convoy into the Turon National Park with morning tea at Woolshed Flat.

On exiting at Cullen Bullen, some people went shopping in Portland and others in Lithgow. In the afternoon Bob and Tony set to to repair one of our bush toilets that had rusted away and nearly precipitated someone into the pit below! It doesn’t bear thinking about, does it?! Another great campfire, but this time we were treated to a spontaneous dinner at the campfire courtesy of Bob, Denise, Gerry and Diane because we got stuck into the grog so much, we couldn’t make it back up the hill to home!

Friday

The last day for the remaining Victorian contingent and it was spent going to places that they had missed out on earlier in the week. In the morning we returned to Col Ribaux’s place, where he updated us all at length on the recent Lithgow Council meeting which had strongly rejected the proposal by The Colong Foundation to extend the Gardens of Stone National Park, which would incorporate most of the areas that we have visited over the last few days. There were no problems as we visited the lookout over Airley, the old diamond mine and The Grotto.

This time, though we walked back along a section of the track that leads to Genowlan Point and witnessed what had obviously been the demise of at least one vehicle on a rock – several large puddles of engine oil! We all hoped they made it home! After lunch at the old Airley townsite, we walked into the ruins in perfect walking weather.

Saturday

All the Victorians left left (if you see what I mean!). That just left David and Ian and so we went off through the Capertee Valley once again and had a very pleasant lunch in beautiful weather by the Capertee River before exploring the old Glen Davis ruins. As we were running early, we decided to go up to the lookout over Pantoneys Crown. This track has a very nasty steep, loose-stoned climb and somehow or other, I ended up getting very close to the edge! It got the heart beating for a moment, but no worries. David, meanwhile, had been caught a bit unawares and had not had time to engage the centre diff lock, but he still made it up without any dramas. One more evening at the campfire, and that was it for another two years.

Sunday

It was once again bright and sunny. David and Ian tried out our 4WD track around the back of the property and then took their time packing up, before leaving about lunchtime to go home via Blackfellows Hand Cave. All that remained was for us to remove the direction signs to the campsite and dismantle the shower and hot water system and store it ready for next time.

We really had a very enjoyable time and it was great to be able to show so many people around the part of the country we love so much. We hope to see everyone (and more) again.