Mudgee Dec 2014-Jan 2015

MUDGEE NOTES FROM 27TH DECEMBER 2014 TO 7^TH JANUARY 2015

Today Saturday 27^th December Gil and I started on our short trip to Mudgee, although only 3.25hrs from home we had not ventured into this area before, we had passed the turn off many times to other locations and always said we must go to Mudgee and now here we are.   We are not here for the many Wineries in the area although we may visit at least one.  We have checked out the area and this region has a lot more to offer.

We left home at 8.30am and arrived at 12.00pm, we had two stops along the way, one for petrol and one for a cuppa, just took our time.  After reading many reviews on the Riverside Caravan Park Mudgee with many various people having good and not so good opinions.  As soon as we drove in the driveway we were very happy with our decision, the beautiful trees, green grass and large caravan sites with slabs.  Yes the amenities are old but very clean we don’t look for a palace if you only want to pay minimum price, as long as the park is clean and tidy this is all that matters. This Caravan Park in within walking distance to the main Mudgee town centre, this is excellent. It did not[JF1]  take us long to set up the caravan but the annex was another matter, we have put this up a couple of times and still have our L plates this would have to be the most trouble we have had putting this up, in the end a neighbour came over and gave us a hand and mentioned the holes along our awning roller were in the incorrect place and this is why we were having so much trouble.   He showed us where we could fix our problem and we were very happy, 2hrs later!!!!

Around 3pm we went into Mudgee for some lunch and being a rather large country town most of the shops were closed except Big W and the main supermarkets, Coles and Woolworths and Hotels.  We returned to the caravan park and did our usual walk around to discover the amenities etc.  We discovered a walkway behind the park which has a wonderful foot bridge over the Cudgegong River and goes around in a loop next to a farm then back into Mudgee at this stage we have not completed the whole walk which we will do another day.  We are very excited about our stay here.
Sunday 28^th December 2014.  Today we went for a drive around Mudgee, first to the Mudgee Railway Station, a beautiful old station which is not used by the railway, the line is now closed to rail traffic.  On one end of the station is an Arts and Crafts shop, this has some wonderful paintings, wood work, ceramics, clothing, quilting, beadings and more very well made items displayed, a credit to the arty people of the Mudgee area.  We did notice a tourist bus with a bus load of passengers who were excited to have a look at this craft shop well worth it.  After the railway we decided to find a lookout called Flirtation Hill Lookout which is not far from the Mudgee showground, it took us a little while to find our way around as the little map we had was not exactly clear enough the view and the area was excellent looking over Mudgee.  Back to the caravan park to have lunch then more walking around.
Monday 29^th December 2014.  This was a rest day for us one of our daughter’s and two grandchildren were arriving with their tent and we helped to set this up and get them settled as they had not been to Mudgee either.  We met some really great people in the park, two couples with rather large caravans who sold their homes to travel around.  It is always great to speak to these people as they have some very useful information on travelling and caravan problems and are all ready to lend a hand.

 Tuesday 30^th December 2014.  Today we visited historic Gulgong

it is just amazing with the narrow streets no wider than the horse and cart days.  All the buildings are in their original state, the shop fronts are truly worth a look.  The most impressive place would have to be the Gulgong Pioneers Museum, there is a charge to get in, there are pensioner, adult, children and family rates but not expensive.  This would have to be one of the best museums we have seen, very well laid out and every item in order. A whole day is needed to completely enjoy this wonderful place you can leave to have lunch and come back by just showing your original receipt, it is certainly a journey through Australian time.  We returned to Mudgee via Home Rule road.  We decided after this trip to go to the local pool located in the beautiful Lawson Park, this is an Olympic size, there is also baby pool and toddler pool all in excellent condition with room to swim laps and have fun, amenities modern and clean, the grandchildren had great fun in the water.

Wednesday 31^st December 2014.  New Year’s Eve and how 2014 just seemed to disappear it seems the older we get the faster old man time flies.  We set off to a place called Munghorn Gap Nature Reserve, heading out to Buckaroo, Budgee Budgee, Cooyal these places were just areas there were no towns, then onto Munghorn Gap.  We pulled into the Moolarben Picnic Area which had a wooden table and long drop toilet and a short bush walk this was very interesting there was a beautiful gum trees in blossom.  Some time ago it looked like this area could have been farmed as there were the remnants of old wooden fence posts and further in the bush a concrete dam or via duct that had been in for some time.
  
We left the picnic area and drove onto a small place called Wollar which had a few houses, General store with a petrol bowsers and a fenced off park with children’s play equipment.  It was obvious this area was bigger in the earlier years as coalmining is in the area.  There was a wooden table under a tree at which we had lunch this was obviously made for a family as the long seat was normal on one side but much closer to the table top on the other with extra adults it made sitting at the table a little challenging but this was a lovely park.   Not far from the park over a concrete bridge, which seemed reasonably new, was a beautiful magnificent Anglican sandstone church, completed in 1914 but now left alone and silent, the grass very over grown and around the back a cemetery with a headstone dating back to the 1876 so this church would not be the very first to this site.  It was very hot in Wollar but we walked around trying to absorb the atmosphere and wonder why people move away from what would have once been a very busy area. Back to our beautiful caravan park have dinner and watch the fireworks.  A large estate (Parklands) not far from the caravan park did the fireworks for New Year’s Eve and all we had to do is walk a few metres just outside our area and we had a clear view of the fireworks, it was a wonderful display and the children were very excited.

Thursday 1^st January 2015.  This was a rest day with a late night before and the weather being hot although no humidity like Sydney it was more tolerable and time to get chores done.

Friday 2^nd January 2015.  We thought while we were in Mudgee we would visit a winery knowing we would have our grandchildren we asked at the information centre if they could suggest a winery which is children friendly.  It was suggested Lowes Winery of which we were given a map showing a track where children could take their bikes and go through a fruit orchard and other various orchards and the back of the vineyard and see animals, we would have to say this was partly true but there was no track for bikes, this was the biggest disappointment it was a rough ride over thick grass and when you have little ones it is hard going and not all the mentioned orchards on the map were there, up a hill next to the wine cellars was a paddock with three very friendly donkeys and a chook yard.  The information centre should review the details on this winery not what it was made out to be, did not get to the wine tasting maybe this was what it was all about and the other well????  Back to Mudgee and another swim in the pool to cool off.

Saturday 3rd January 2015   We did the drive to Hill End via Grattai and Hargreaves this was a very interesting drive, history everywhere, old buildings, rustic homes a great reminder of yesteryears.  On the approach to Hill End is Golden Gully 

with the ever present scenes of mine diggings we were very fortunate to see one of our most interesting fauna crossing the road taking his/her time, a beautiful echidna by the time it reached the other side it had to have a rest and looked like it was ready to go into its normal defensive digging down. Onto Hill End a wonderful old town with magnificent trees on the approach on both sides of the road making a beautiful approach to one of the most historical mining towns in NSW.  Unfortunately a lot of the old commercial buildings have disappeared but it is really worth a walk around to see the remaining buildings still standing and absorb the history of this once bustling town.  At the camping shop we booked a tour of the Bald Hill tourist mine this was very interesting as our tour guide gave us a real insight into the mining of Hill End, how the quartz was extracted, and how it was done without the machinery we have today.  We thoroughly enjoyed our tour and would recommend this to everyone, we took our grandchildren aged 3 and 7.  
We returned to Mudgee via Sofala, Ilford and Lake Windamere.  We called into Lake Windamere  
on the return journey, from the road it is really magnificent from a distance although up close very disappointing, we paid $6 for a visit and really not many trees, no good for caravans and very open, quite hilly no real facilities.  Further up the road is the dam and this is quite magnificent worth a visit has picnic grounds and a walk onto the dam itself.

Sunday 4^th January 2015.  We had quite a large storm overnight and decided to clean up a bit and have another rest day and going for a swim later in the day.

Monday 5^th January 2015.  As this was a cooler day Gil and I decided to go for a walk to a place called “The Drip” picnic area and walking track along the edges of the upper Goulburn River this took us around 60 minutes one way taking lots of photos and thoroughly enjoying the scenery.  The water is shallow and can be walked through as well as the track.  We have been to a lot of places and walked along some great bush tracks this would have to be one of the most beautiful places we have ever seen.
 
Cliff faces, creeks, ferns, blossoming gum trees, rock arch and more, the water is running crystal clear and fresh a very pristine area.  We are not fast walkers and we did this walk easily good walking shoes and/or aqua shoes, water bottles and if need be walking sticks but the latter not necessary.  Would definitely come back here again.

On the way back and about 500m from the car I had the misfortune to step in a hole and twisted my ankle, it hurt and Gil went down to the river which has cold water and used his water bottle to pour it over the ankle. I had to slowly walk back to the car and then we returned to the Caravan Park. I was in pain so Gil went to the chemist and got a crepe bandage and with ice, compression and elevation I soon felt a bit easy. But to cut a story short I went to the hospital a couple of days after getting home and after xrays etc found I had broken the small ankle bone so moon boot and 8 weeks of care.

Tuesday 6^th January. Packing up ready for home the next day.  Another swim at the Mudgee pool.

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