Visituing Port Macquarie next week, Any 4wding suggestions?

[gphcald Member Find all posts View Profile Close gphcald]

I will be in Port Macquarie next week fort the week, looking for some suggestions on some fairly easy tracks to drive.
Any suggestions would be appreciated

Regards

Gerry

[kav Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close kav]

Re: Visituing Port Macquarie next week, Any 4wding suggestions?

hi gerry i was up there a couple of months back . theres lots of tracks and state forests , all basically dirt roads ie very easy , out the back of wauchope which is 16ks inland from port . we found an interesting scenic dirt road/ drive thats about 20-30ks long , called pipeclay rd . you go to a little town called beechwood and ask at the local shop or pub . the rd will eventually take you back to the oxley highway just after you go over this rickety old suspension bridge that is 50 metres above the river. this rd is an easy drive but if its been raining you will definitely need 4wd , some very steep sections ! you go from creek beds to mountain top ridgelines with some great scenery. i bought a couple of topo maps at the newsagents in wauchope after doing this rd .map is wauchope 9435-3s there is also the cartoscope touring map free from the nrma . on this map it appears this rd is called brombin kindee rd . my old man says the wilson river picnic area is also very nice . theres a lot of rds between comboyne and kew through the state forests , we found a great camping area at a place called swans crossing . theres also a couple in hema's 4wd top 50 guide but they look a bit lengthy for day trips . we have a hobby farm on the hastings river between wauchope and port and im looking forward getting back there to do some more tracks ...cheers

[Prado887 Member Find all posts View Profile Close Prado887]

Re: Visituing Port Macquarie next week, Any 4wding suggestions?

Gday mate ;

I used to frequent Port Macq every few weeks not so much for the 4wding but there are a few places you can look nfor an easy drive.

On the way into Port . Middle Brother State forest has a few happy trails
Broken Bago on the way to wauchope has a few nice tracks and hill climbs.
for a quick run as you head out of port toward Taree take the Lake Cathie turnoff on the left
This is all considered the Queens lake state conservation area. on the right hand side look for spring creek track and it leads off to the left. There is a little sign saying Jolly nose taking a track to the left . this leads up to a fantastic lookout and trigpoint under the powerlines. all easy going as it is usually maintained.
also instead of turning into spring creek rd go all the way to the T intersection and turn right away from lake Cathie, you will see a sign next to a road Jolly Nose Electrical (I think) turn down here and follow to a T intersection (gravel).
right follows a track but left is the other side of the lookout and trigpoint and used to be quite a challenging climb up the powerlines. I have not been there for a quite a few years so please take 5 and have a look first . as i dont know how far you can go up still (if its even possible now) or even if there is still enough place to turn around, it would be fairly washed out on the hillside.
Someone from Port Macquarie might be able to help further with this one as its been a while for me

we found a great camping area at a place called swans crossing . theres also a couple in hema's 4wd top 50 guide but they look a bit lengthy for day trips . we have a hobby farm on the hastings river between wauchope and port and im looking forward getting back there to do some more tracks ...cheers

Wow I didnt know Swans crossing was still used, I'll have to have a squiz next time up that way thanks Kav
your farm isn't near Rawdon is it ???? its a really beautiful spot.

If you have the time head up the Highway to Coffs .......... This is a happy place :lol:

Ryan

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Re: Visituing Port Macquarie next week, Any 4wding suggestions?

Love that part of the coast.
I enjoy the Management trail from Port up to Point Plommer (Limeburners Creek Nature Reserve) and then on to Crescent..... and then from there (if you have time) do a beach run to Hat Head approx 20klms, and back on the beach all the way to Smokey Cape (South West Rocks) another 25 or so klms.

For a half day outing take the Settlement Point car ferry accross the river and turn right onto the Limburners Reserve Management Trail. If there has been a bit of rain some of the puddles will be deep, but it is an easy drive. Lots of secluded side trials and 30+ klms of empty beach. Lunch at Crescent, then come back to Port via Maria River Road, a good half day outing.

We will be in that neck of the woods for 2 weeks from the 18th Dec.

[gphcald Member Find all posts View Profile Close gphcald]

Re: Visituing Port Macquarie next week, Any 4wding suggestions?

Guys
Thanks for the suggestions and info, leaving Syd tomorrow to head up there
regards

Gerry

[kav Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close kav]

Re: Visituing Port Macquarie next week, Any 4wding suggestions?

ryan . our farm is off rawdon island rd its now postcoded and called sancrox . the camping area at swans crossing has toilets , fire pits and looks to be well maintained, nice spot !

[Prado887 Member Find all posts View Profile Close Prado887]

Re: Visituing Port Macquarie next week, Any 4wding suggestions?

ryan . our farm is off rawdon island rd its now postcoded and called sancrox . the camping area at swans crossing has toilets , fire pits and looks to be well maintained, nice spot !

Yep I know the spot :lol:
I have friends parents from Newcastle Uni on Rawdon Island and Wauchope so used to stay up there a fair bit :mrgreen:
Cheers

Ryan