Our Doorway To Camping OZ

Well we are here at Ponto Falls Reserve, the trip from Copeton Dam to here had some challenges by the way of the back roads and shortcuts. It was definitely an adventure in a truck and camper trailer. The weather is fining up cold night but beautiful days. The Macquarie River which we are camped on, the river bank the river water is like glass, hardly a ripple. We have decided to stay a couple of weeks, night time campfires are great. Lots of birds, galahs, major Mitchell's, sulphur crested cockatoos, kookaburras and many other birds including ducks. Cattle grazing around the area keeping the grass mowed. We have booked the mighty Isuzu in for its 45,00klms service for next week. It is very green at Ponto Falls Reserve. There is three levels to camp on, we are camped at the second level as the third level is almost the river bed and has lots of rock boulders which stops tent pegs going in. The second level no such problems. The toilet block is on the second level, lots of rubbish b

Now packed up it was time to go heading south from Copeton Dam we took the back roads heading to Bundarra where we took a secondary road Woodsreef road that cuts diagonal across country to the town of Barraba. What I did not know was it was an unsealed road, an earth road, that leads up in the mountains and down in the valleys where water lapping both sides of the roads, this went on for about 70klms going passed mining mountains with warning signs about asbestos fibers, then coming up to a bridge with a load limit of 4.5 tons the truck and camper trailer 7.0 tons, so we had to detour to get around the bridge. This was a very tense drive with winding bends steep ascents, steep descent, and a very loose surface to drive on. This is all part of the adventure exploring Australia. We went to the town of Manilla and turned off to Gunnedah, now starting to get late so looking for our next campsite. The wind is howling and freezing cold needed to find a windbreak. Well we ended up at Ox

We have travelled to the Eastern side foreshore of the Copeton Dam where freedom camping is available. and what a lovely place to camp. The water level of the dam is a bit low but there is still a lot of water in the dam. The campsite we chose would be under water if the dam was full. On driving down the road to the dam entrance, evidence of recent bush fires having burnt a lot of the bush. Trees have fallen but new green growth can be seen. The road very steep and winding in parts down to the water level and no signs of bushfires from the campground. Very green and hilly all around the dam. Mobile reception in this area is good another plus, vista views with beautiful sunsets.  Rain is on the way we erected the gazebo for shelter. Second time up very quick and easy. It has been very windy and cloudy so the wind generator is being used with excellent results. Rain has arrived Friday night and Saturday. It has been very heavy overnight and rain water running down the side of the hil