We have just completed a 10 day trip through some of the national parks in the west of NSW., winter is a good time to make the journey if you have the right camping gear and don't mind a few sub zero nights. Our trip was made a few days after the state experienced two very cold weather systems and heavy rain. The roads were open when we were there but had been closed a week earlier. The camping areas in these parks, some of them quite remote are very good, only basic facilities and in many parks no water but all were well maintained. If you enjoy solitude and driving on empty roads you won't be disappointed.
We did a 14km. hike around the Grand High Tops loop, I found it almost impossible to find a GPS file for this hike, a huge contrast to hiking or riding in Europe where the National Parks and tourist organisations provide GPS files for free download for all of the major hike and bike routes, you can find a copy of our GPS file here. The outward part of this loop is on paved paths for the most part, the return is on rocky tracks with quite a few creek crossings, the water was icy when we did it and there was snow on the track at the highest points. When we arrived at the highest point cloud and fog rolled in and we missed seeing the spectacular views on this trip.
Gundabooka N.P. near Bourke.
Paroo Darling N.P.
The Darling River is a national disgrace, Australians regardless of their political views should be appalled at what has been allowed by numerous state and federal governments. Cotton farming in Queensland and now around Bourke, one of the countries hottest and driest towns has taken most of the water. Wharves and boat ramps show just how much has been stolen, often sitting 10 to 15 metres above the current levels, in many places the water depth is less than one metre. There is an excellent documentary called Two Men in a Tinnie by John Doyle and Tim Flannery [Flannery's position with the Climate Change Authority was terminated by our current government of fools] which shows it much better than these photos. The ABC Shop has sold out but I found a copy through my local library, DVD details here.
Mutawintji N.P.
Menindee Lakes N.P.
Another victim of the criminal decisions made by our elected representatives in state and federal governments. Menindee Lakes have vanished, the town and most of the local businesses that relied on the lakes have vanished with the water. I cannot understand why the hundreds of towns, cities, farms and small businesses and the people who live along the river have not organised themselves into one bloc, vote out the idiots who are supposed to represent them and get the water flowing again.
We grow rice and cotton on the Earths driest continent, we burn coal for electricity when every day 80% of the continent has either sun or wind power that is not harnessed and now we want to allow overseas mining interests to wreck our prime agricultural land to dig up more coal. Our federal government has been bought 100% by the mining industry and selected farming groups.
In Europe you see solar power on the roofs of farm buildings, warehouses and private homes but out here thousands of kilometres from the coal fired power stations they are almost all connected to the grid.
Coal is good for humanity, yeah right, in the same way that rabbits, foxes, cane toads and politicians are good for the country.
Mungo N.P.
A beautiful place, remote but well worth the effort of getting there. The 70km. self guided drive should not be missed, there is also a 35km. bike track if you can figure out how to get your bikes there without destroying them on the way. A superb camping area and free hot showers at the visitor centre. No phone or wifi signal that we could find using Telstra or Optus and the public phone is broken, has been for a while according to the ranger but that actually adds to the appeal of the place for me.
And one final photo a hand held image of the Milky Way taken with my Sony A6000, next time I will use a tripod but I am quite pleased with the result as it is, lots more settings to play with the next time I get a clear sky and no moon.
