Trip: Thursday, 23 Jan 2025
Participants:
- David Darke (Trip Leader) and granddaughter: Toyota 4Runner
- Danni Darke, Ann Darke and two grandchildren: Toyota Prado
- David Brown: Suzuki Jimny
- Hugh Howell: Land Rover Discovery 3
Trip leaders David & Ann, with family members Danii & grandkids in two Toyotas travelled to Williamsdale where David B (almost hidden behind two trucks transferring a load) was waiting in his Jimny. Apparently he was there early & first. So with our next party to join us on route we headed off immediately (no parking) joining the reasonably busy traffic to Bredbo where we stopped to greet and let the kids loose in the playground to let off steam. We were early so had a 20 Min break here. Departing Bredbo and turning left onto Braidwood St / Jerangle Rd we continued to the Peak View Rd turn where we met up with Hugh in his D3, Apparently he was early as well and had explored some of his local roads to burn time. It was a pleasant country drive through to Numeralla through rolling terrain a mix of farm & forest, across quiet, picturesque streams, the dirt road was in great condition, dust minimal due to light drizzle. The last 10 kms is tar.
At the Peak View emergency services building a few vehicles where assembling as we passed and a few more were seen enroute, a training day perhaps? Hugh being a local was planning to investigate later.
Arriving at Numeralla just on 11am we found the campgrounds overflowing by the river & on the hillside in preparation for the Folk Festival beginning the following day. Council workers were busy with last minute road works, sweeping etc. After crossing the bridge we turned right into the reserve at the tennis club, we found it all nicely mown in preparation (for us, lol). We set up here for morning T. Kids headed to the playground.
Departing east along Countegany Rd for 30 kms of tar turning right into Badja Forest Rd then following the signs to Cascades via Tuross Falls Rd.
We drove to the camping area first to check facilities, 6 free camps are in alcoves among tall trees, protective fencing promoting regeneration efforts restricts some use currently, camps have fire rings, with BBQ plate, picnic tables, a composting toilet clean & tidy.
After viewing the tannin stained Tuross River in the mizzle or smirr (u choose) we drove back up to the day use area, there’s parking here for 6-8 vehicles, only one table though.
We set off down to the viewing platform about 70 odd steps on a formed path.
Some ventured further down another 30 steps to the level of the cascade and pool. (inviting , but not today 9-14 deg forecast).
There is another trek out to Tuross Falls 4Kms / 2hr return which we left for another day. We set up for lunch at about 1pm and enjoyed with conversation and the clean fresh air.
Young Ethan explained his latest experiences with Roblox to Hugh so if you need info he’s your man.
The 12 kms of dirt back to Badja Rd is rough in places with exposed rocks, but reduced speed was the best fix. At Numeralla Hugh turned off to venture home via Peak View hoping to catch up with the emergency group.
PS: The RFS activity was a memorial service for the 4 airmen killed in the aircraft crash in the 19/20 fires. There’s a memorial on Feeney Rd, off Peake View Rd (2.3 km North of Peake View Hall). Travelling on, at Polo Flat David B turned north to head home on the highway. Then there were 2, we had another playground stop ,(to tire the kids out) just out of Cooma at the Lions Park for a while and then returned home via the Shannon’s Flat road works and Boboyan Rd (very rough) to Tharwa. A round trip of about 300kms on secondary & tar roads with a return option up the highway. Everyone had a great day. Certainly an area worth exploring further and for longer. Get out there!
Author: David Darke