Tag: Gulgong

Setting Off

Am going to visit my son in Darwin, yes, I could have flown there, cheaper and quicker but where’s the fun in that?

My original plan was to go via Quilpie, Stonehenge but the floods put paid to that idea. In fact for some time it looked like there was no route through Queensland. Eventually in the eastern part of the state a route started to appear, in a way it was a good thing because it brought a visit to Julia Creek into play. For some reason I have never been on the section of road between Hughenden and Julia Creek.  This trip became a change to rectify that omission.

Day One

28th April 2025

Distance: 372 km

Fuel: 36 L

Started out just after 9am, heading toward the Hume Highway M7 and the Blue Mountains, not my favourite drive. The traffic was intense

M7Blue Mountains

It was lovely to turn off the Great Western Highway after Lithgow toward Mudgee and Gulgong ad country roads.

Toward Gulgong

Arrived in Gulgong about 2pm and checked in.

Once set up went for a short drive into the town centre, it hasn’t changed at all over the years.

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Saw a sign for a town lookout, it is a pity the view is so limited but better than nothing.

Gulgong

Followed this up with a stop for fuel before returning to the caravan park and something to eat.

Day Two

29th April 2025

Distance: 436 km

Fuel: 46 L

A much longer drive today to get me close to the Queensland border. Normally try to limit a day’s drive to below 400km but there will be exceptions especially in remote areas.

Woke up to find the campsite blanketed in mist, not cold but definitely cool, out came the cardigan. After having an early shower waited until I had rung a caravan park in Lightning Ridge to ensure there was a site – to be honest I think it is a waste of time there is usually plenty of room this early in the season.

Hitched up the camper and started driving at about 8.30am, it was still quite misty in spots. I followed a ute as far as Dunedoo, travelling at the same speed as me.

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Later passed a few caravans and trucks, easy to pass out here. Stopped about three times as my sciatica is playing up, standing for a few minutes keeps it at bay.

Arrived in Lightning Ridge at about 2pm and checked in at the motel that runs the caravan park, unhitched the camper then went for a look at the town. I have been here a couple of times before, not much has changed. Bought a surprisingly good coffee at a local cafe/restaurant/supermarket. Also bought a postcard and a fridge magnet before returning to the caravan park for something to eat.

Lightning Ridge

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As the sun was going down there was a tremendous noise from a nearby tree, No idea of the types of birds but there were a lot of them. As the sun went down it was as if someone had thrown a switch and instant quiet.

Gulgong

14th September 2024

Distance: 376 Km
Fuel: 41L

No Plans

Have set off with no destination in mind other than a short visit to Queensland and warm weather. I just felt like a few days travelling away from home.

Set Off

Left Wollongong about 8.30, having decided that there shouldn’t be too much traffic on the F6 as it is a Saturday. Up Mount Ousley, Picton Road and headed north on the Hume Highway.

I think I have seen more police today than I have seen in my entire life. There was a gaggle of them on two occasions parked on the centre reservation. I say a gaggle there must have been a dozen cars at each. Further north I saw a similar crowd, perhaps not quite as many but by only a few. On both occasions they seemed more interested in the southbound lanes. Later I saw several police cars and a dozen police motor bikes escorting what could have been a motorcycle rally of  over a hundred bikes (that’s a guess)

Apart from that the journey was uneventful. Driving through the Blue Mountains was the usual hell on wheels but there were no delays just heavy traffic.

Blue Mountains TrafficBlue Mountains Traffic

At Lithgow I turned north and thereafter traffic was fine, just the occasional car or truck.

Between Lithgow and GulgongBetween Lithgow and Gulgong

Gulgong

Arrived in Gulgong about 2pm, fond the caravan park and soon had myself set up.

Gulgong Tourist Park

When I stayed here before the park was pretty run down and seemed to cater for local workers but now it is full of cabins and new facilities.

Drove into Gulgong town centre to see if anything had changed since my last visit. Nope, it looks exactly the same, the only difference was that the Chinese restaurant where I ate had changed into a Thai restaurant.

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It is pleasantly warm here 23/5° but I suspect it will be quite cool tonight, we shall see.

BTW it has taken me a while to remember some of  the things about the camper that were second nature to me, getting older I suppose.

21st June 2017–Hebel to Gulgong

Distance: 502 km
Fuel: 97 L

Set off early;  before 8am – hardly any packing up required because I left the camper coupled up last night so there was only the mat and power cord to put away.

Within minutes I was back in NSW.

170621 004 Hebel to Gulgong NSW Border

Filled up with fuel at Walgett and only made a couple of rest stops because I want to get as far south as was possible.  One rest stop commemorated John Qxley’s 1818 expedition.

170621 006 Hebel to Gulgong John Oxley Memorial170621 007 Hebel to Gulgong John Oxley Memorial

Originally I aimed to reach Dunedoo but made good progress and in the end settled on Gulgong an extra 65km toward home. I should be home tomorrow as I have less than 400km to cover (though admittedly through what will probably be the worst traffic of the trip).

Poor Gulgong is quite a nice little town but since the town was dropped from the ten dollar note I think it has suffered a bit. The Town that Used to be on the Ten Dollar Note doesn’t have the same ring to it as The Town on the Ten Dollar Note. The only caravan park in town has a slightly run down feel to it (though the owners are friendly)

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I had a look around town, it hasn’t changed much since I was last here – some shops have closed while new ones have opened, the Gulgong Opera House is still entertaining the locals but you can stand in the middle of the street with little fear of being run over.

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After wandering about the main streets I had a nice coffee and muffin in one coffee bar before filling up with fuel again ready for tomorrow.

When I returned to the caravan park at 4pm it was already feeling quite cool and I needed a jacket.

What Gulgong does have is an Indian and a Thai restaurant so I was spoilt for choice. In the event I went for Indian, resisted a Vindaloo and tried Shahi Korma Beef. The restaurant was nicely appointed and warm so I ate in – the meal was very nice indeed.

BTW I might be wrong about the local economy after eating I drove past several pubs which were surrounded by vehicles and seemed to be doing good trade.