Trip Report – Follow the Turon
1-2 April 2023
Who attended the trip?
Eric & Dianne — Toyota Prado (Trip Leader)
Shane, Joel & Jarrod — GU Patrol
Ralph – Range Rover
Rob – Landcruiser 200 Series
Phillip & Linda — GU Patrol (Tail End Charlie)
We met at Capertee Rest area at 9.15am on a fine Saturday morning. Dianne & Eric discussed what the plan was for the day. Joel and Jarrod were off, looking for and found a geocache at Capertee and wrote in the logbook. We left Capertee at 9.45am and turned left onto Castlereagh HWY and then left into Upper Turon Road and left again into Lochaber Rd. A short distance down the road, we turned left into Turon National Park. The weather was cool and sunny and looked like it would be a beautiful day. When we first turned into the national park, we saw lots of kangaroos on our left. We turned right into Steep Hill Road and stopped at the tower to air down our tyres. The track is true to its name.
We proceeded down the hill and at the bottom Rob we went straight ahead and lost sight of the others. We needed directions on which way to go. Ralph was saying he could see us (that’s good) but we couldn’t see him. After some chatter on the CB and checking maps we went back a few meters, turned left and then over the creek crossing. We were back behind Ralph again. Then we drove easily over a few creek crossings and finally we crossed the Turon River and arrived at the Diggings camping ground at 10.30am where we stopped for morning tea.
At 11.00am we left the campsite stopping for a quick bathroom stop. Eric turned left onto Turon River Road and the first of our river crossings. The water in the Turon was about axle height. After crossing the Turon twice, we came to Fiddlers Creek and proceeded on.
On the other side of the river Eric noticed a track and went to investigate. The sign said Swimming Hole Track. We were called across and went up to a flat area, good for camping. There was another track going up the hill. We drove up the steep hill through the narrow openings between the trees to see a perfect view from the top of the hill. We now had to turn around and go back down again and cross back over the river.
We turned right after crossing the river and were now back on the Turon River Road and travelling beside the river. This led to a steep section and at Stockyard Gully, Eric advised us to watch out for the washout on the low side. I was enjoying the very pretty drive so close to the Turon River. The water looked so inviting and clear.
We crossed the Turon River once more and come to the sign saying private property ahead. There were a few muddy sections after the road barrier on the side of the track. As Eric had reached a locked gate, he advised us to turn around where we could. Now for the journey back. Eric, pointed out, that he noticed evidence of a lot of gold fossicking in the area. The trip back was similar as going there. When we reached Diggings Campground Eric advised us not to kick up any dust and disturb the campers. We headed out to Woolshed Flat camping ground for lunch at 12.40pm. On our way after crossing the river we came across a Redneck wallaby on our right immediately after we crossed. He must have been used to visitors as he didn’t hop away from us as we stopped only a metre away from him to snap photos. We went through Woolshed Flat camping ground looking for a table and chairs in a nice spot but ended up on the other side and came to Coolamigal Creek Trail where we turned back. Eric took the track near the river where there were table and chairs where we enjoyed our lunch together.
On the way out we passed a sign to River Ron’s Hut which is no longer there. The hut was pulled down by National Parks as it was deemed unsafe. We left the Turon NP along Lochaber Link Road and out onto Lochaber Road. At the end of the road, we turned left onto Upper Turon Road toward Turon Gates. Our destination was Sofala and a night of camping.
We were now in the Turon Gates area. Along the way, Eric turned onto a small side track up a hill to admire the view and take photos. Rob with the help of Phillip’s tripod took a group photo, the first of a few. It was now time to continue our journey.
When we reached Palmers Oakey Road we turned right. This was after going across the causeway on the Turon River. We spotted a Pajero NA two door on the right and Eric said it had been there for years. Further on, we passed a couple of cows grazing. Rob stopped to take some pictures. Came to our first locked gate and Eric has spotted some feral goats. Down by the river was a private camping set up. Eric warned us about some sheep on the side of the track and one of the sheep decided to run in front of Phillip’s car.
We finally went over our last causeway for the day, across the Turon. We had reached our destination, Greenpoint camping ground near Sofala. A quick drive around looking for the best camping spot, and after a while looking at several possibilities, we were back where we started. Time to set up our tents for the night and have dinner. One of the fire bugs started a fire and we all sat around the fire eating chocolate. Thank you, Ralph and Dianne.
Daylight saving finished and we all got an extra hour of sleep (or time to snore according to some!). We had no rain overnight and it was sunny and partly cloudy in the morning. It was now time to get moving, have breakfast and pack up and we left the campsite at 9.30am. Before hitting the black-top Eric took us up a steep hill requiring some ‘right foot’, low range and careful wheel placement. Ralph suffered a few hard thumps to his undercarriage and Rob pushed a few buttons and crawled up in comfort. Everyone successfully conquered Eric’s little test, so we turned right on Turon River Road then right onto Denison Street. Denison Street went straight onto Hill End Road. Phillip took his time as we were still running low pressures in our tyres. When we reached Hill End we needed directions to find the others. Just keep going and veer left at the monument. There they are! We continued through Hill End and turned left onto The Bridle Track. The track had been graded since last time we were there last year on the October long weekend. The road was like an express way with whoop-de-doos. Mind you don’t get to close to the edge, it’s a long way down and they will never find you.
We stopped at Turon Crossing Reserve for morning tea at 11.00am and left at 11.30am. Back in October the place was full. There was a big screen TV and even a hot tub. Today we were there alone. Eric knocked down a couple of wasps nest from the shelter before we left. After leaving the reserve, we proceeded across another Turon River cause way on our trip to Bathurst. Bathurst was 59km from here.
Our next stop was Mary Flynn Reserve. We went in as far as we could go and then turned around and stopped down by the river. Rob wanted a group photo. What a sight, seeing Rob get back in time for the picture. We used the lower track as the other track had a tree across the track. Back at the top of the hill we had to do a sharp right onto the bridle track. Rob made the turn in one go. Down the track, we stopping to view and take photos of a ute in the river. Possibly went over the edge or drifted from somewhere down the river.
We were now at Mulligans Bluff. This is where the rock had closed the road. The old road is now closed off and you go up, over and around the hill and down the other side. What were they thinking? It just started to rain a little as we were going over the top, but it did not last long. Down the bottom of the track, we were warned to watch out for the cattle as they were very close to the track.
It was now 12.50pm and a good time to stop for lunch. Black Gate Reserve had a shelter and picnic table & chairs. There was even a loo. We left the reserve at 1.40pm and proceeding onwards. We turned left onto Box Ridge Road and started climbing a hill. Coming to our first locked gate. Second locked gate and more sheep ?another 1or 2 locked gates. We congregated at the corner of Box Hill Road and Turondale Road to pump up our tyres, have a chat and say our goodbyes. The Lineys were turning left and we were turning right onto Turondale Road and heading to Bathurst/Kelso on our way home after a great weekend.
Thank you, Dianne and Eric, for organising the trip.
Linda and Phillip