We are staying a night in Apsley Falls NP before heading for Tamworth. We spent a few hours here the day before checking out the campsites and a view of the falls from near the carpark.

Allthego had also completed the 2.5 km return walk around the rim of the gorge. The Apsley Falls consist of a main upper fall cascading from the rim and an equally impressive lower fall further down the gorge.

The rim walk crosses the river via a suspension bridge above the top falls in a pretty setting, the calm waters unaware of the deep plunge ahead of them.

It would seem that the best time to do the walk, at least in early Spring, is mid morning when the sun shines directly onto the falls and the deep pools below them.

After setting up camp we took off in the truck for about 20km further east to the Tia Falls NP. This is another small park, like Apsley, centred on the gorge system down a 5km good gravel track off the highway through grazing pasture.

The falls are a 1.5 km return walk from the car park and campground, where Homealone had lurked in the sunshine.

Some great views from the final lookout. At the campground there is a longer walk. It meanders further up the gorge and across a small bridge near the top of the Tia Falls to the other side of the gorge. Allthego went the short distance to the bridge. Like at Apsley Falls, the waters were very calm and unaware of the deep plunge not far ahead of them!

Back in the camp at Apsley Falls we had a late lunch snack before feet up time in the sunshine.

As the afternoon wore on it started to chill and we were in for the coldest night so far, it went down to around 3C early the next morning.

We got a good fire going for the evening with some steak grilled over the open flames, hard to beat!

The next day we got away mid morning back through Walcha to the New England Hwy at Bendemeer, on the MacDonald River. Apart from the old hotel, a small convenience store and a neat camping ground overlooking the river there is not a lot here. Good place for an overnighter on the way south.

Back on the road we soon came to the steep descent down the Moonbi Ranges to the outskirts of the Tamworth area and somewhat warmer evenings and nights. The diesel heater has had some good workouts on this trip!