We have decided to head off on a trip that has long been in the plan, but deferred pending the arrival of the new van. It has now arrived and we are going to start on the New England Hwy from where we left off at the Celtic Festival in Glen Innes back in May.

The route to Glen Innes is from Grafton travelling along the Gwydir Hwy and through the Gibraltar Range NP. We are spending three nights camped in the Mulligans campground about 10kms into the NP. Might be a bit chilly at night.

Getting to Grafton is the first step though and we took the Mt Lindesay Hwy down through Beaudesert and Rathdowney. Got away from Brisbane at 8am, early for us! The plan had involved journeying along the Lions Road from near Rathdowney across the Border Ranges and down towards Kyogle.

This route tracks the Sydney to Brisbane train line with the main feature being a view of the unique (as far as Australia at least) spiral train track route through tunnels in the main range. Unfortunately, there have been some land slips and the road is in parts narrow and one lane. Caravans are not wanted! We travelled along it for a short distance before taking a detour back to the Mt Lindesay Hwy and joined the Summerland Way.

This road provides great views of Mt Lindesay, with its ‘cake top’ appearance, from various perspectives before descending into the Richmond River and later the Clarence River valleys.

Very green pastures in these parts with many beef cattle munching away.

Stopped off in Casino for a late snack lunch of pies at Country Crumbs Bakery. Now these were pretty good pies, perhaps a bit mushy and could have been hotter. But a pies a pie! Maybe we will try a few more pies on this trip and give readers a few tips as to the best pie!

A pleasant drive through to Grafton and on to Mulligans camp ground, arrived at about 5pm with dusk setting in. A long day 448 km. No dramas setting up for the nights ahead here.