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We have just returned from our trip away to the Clarence River and what a fantastic break it was. A little while ago I was scouting out for winter cabin in a great location to take the family, and via word of mouth I was put onto this place. It didn’t come up in our searches, so a quick phone call to the owners Steve and Sharon to discuss was in order, all sounded good, so we booked in.
We haven’t yet succumbed to a camper trailer, so I am now a grand master of Tetris packing, as five and all the gear can be a struggle in the Prado. With the back of the Prado taken up with the drawers, fridge, water tank, cooking gear and family clothes, the ARB roof rack is perfect for us to put up the sleeping gear, mats, chairs, food, toys, beer etc all wrapped up in a tarp and a spacecase to keep it dry and dust free. It has me wishing just for a few more inches of space here and there. Mmm 200 series….
Clarence River Wilderness lodge is a nature reserve on headwaters of the Clarence river in the great dividing range in Mid Northern NSW. It is about a solid 3 hour trip down south from Brisbane. It’s 4000 hectares of river country , with tall timber and steep gorges
The property is run be Steve and Sharon who provide Tent / camper camping on the river, Bushman’s huts and a couple of lovely little cabins. We took the whole family down in the mid of winter and knew it would be cold. So we opted for the cabin made out of bush sawn timber. There is a 4 and 8 berth cabin available.
The Cabins are solar powered as no mains electricity here, which worked surprisingly well , It had a gas stove, running water, slow combustion heater, a full size fridge, instantaneous gas hot water gravity fed from a large tank, shower and unique composting toilets. All in all enough to keep every body happy . Outside is a large outdoor dining table and fire. This was a godsend on the cold evenings, kicking back with a beer watching the billion star view. It has been set up as a low key sustainable operation and Sharon and Steve have done a stellar job.
The campground and river. Notice how dry the grass is due to lack of rain.
Camp kitchen
The nearest decent town is really Urbanville, and be aware the road is a rough rocky road, then when you enter the property high up on the ridge you descend into the gorge. You could get in with a 2wd, but the steep entry is more suited to a 4wd. They provide minimal items like gas cylinder, and firewood to purchase at a modest fee, but basically you need to bring all your food and gear with you.
In the afternoons the temperature was mild but as soon as the sun went down behind the gorge, the temperature started to drop quickly as we were in the bottom of the gorge, so we fired up the slow combustion heater and lit the outdoor fire. Also the wind really rips through the gorge valley and it can feel a lot colder than what it reads. On my boys I counted 5 layers , singlet’s, t-shirt, long sleeve shirt, fleece and puffer jackets. The parents were well insulted with red wine and a beer quilt but :-)
The temperature dropped to about -1 but with the roaring wind though the gorge it felt a lot colder with some frosts , so it was a chilly night. But after a great BBQ, with the fire raging outside in the evenings with the kids roasting marshmallows and watching the stars, who cares about the cold.
Cont 2
We haven’t yet succumbed to a camper trailer, so I am now a grand master of Tetris packing, as five and all the gear can be a struggle in the Prado. With the back of the Prado taken up with the drawers, fridge, water tank, cooking gear and family clothes, the ARB roof rack is perfect for us to put up the sleeping gear, mats, chairs, food, toys, beer etc all wrapped up in a tarp and a spacecase to keep it dry and dust free. It has me wishing just for a few more inches of space here and there. Mmm 200 series….
Clarence River Wilderness lodge is a nature reserve on headwaters of the Clarence river in the great dividing range in Mid Northern NSW. It is about a solid 3 hour trip down south from Brisbane. It’s 4000 hectares of river country , with tall timber and steep gorges
The property is run be Steve and Sharon who provide Tent / camper camping on the river, Bushman’s huts and a couple of lovely little cabins. We took the whole family down in the mid of winter and knew it would be cold. So we opted for the cabin made out of bush sawn timber. There is a 4 and 8 berth cabin available.
The Cabins are solar powered as no mains electricity here, which worked surprisingly well , It had a gas stove, running water, slow combustion heater, a full size fridge, instantaneous gas hot water gravity fed from a large tank, shower and unique composting toilets. All in all enough to keep every body happy . Outside is a large outdoor dining table and fire. This was a godsend on the cold evenings, kicking back with a beer watching the billion star view. It has been set up as a low key sustainable operation and Sharon and Steve have done a stellar job.
The campground and river. Notice how dry the grass is due to lack of rain.
Camp kitchen
The nearest decent town is really Urbanville, and be aware the road is a rough rocky road, then when you enter the property high up on the ridge you descend into the gorge. You could get in with a 2wd, but the steep entry is more suited to a 4wd. They provide minimal items like gas cylinder, and firewood to purchase at a modest fee, but basically you need to bring all your food and gear with you.
In the afternoons the temperature was mild but as soon as the sun went down behind the gorge, the temperature started to drop quickly as we were in the bottom of the gorge, so we fired up the slow combustion heater and lit the outdoor fire. Also the wind really rips through the gorge valley and it can feel a lot colder than what it reads. On my boys I counted 5 layers , singlet’s, t-shirt, long sleeve shirt, fleece and puffer jackets. The parents were well insulted with red wine and a beer quilt but :-)
The temperature dropped to about -1 but with the roaring wind though the gorge it felt a lot colder with some frosts , so it was a chilly night. But after a great BBQ, with the fire raging outside in the evenings with the kids roasting marshmallows and watching the stars, who cares about the cold.
Cont 2
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