Port Maquarie

Paul,for an easy trip head to BellangrySF/WilsonRiver area. Also there are some good tracks north of the lookout in Queens lake nature rserve. West of Port up the oxley hwy is the Cells River area.Old walk in Gold mines, Stamper battery,Swimming hole, small waterfall and accomadation at the cells Hilton!!?!! Medium hardness in the dry difficult if it`s wet. For a real challenge you have to go to Georges Juntion 100k`s west of Kempsey. From there keep going on the Armidale Rd and turn left into Raspberry Rd. Head for Halls Peak-it`s the highest Pt in the area.It looks down on the Chandler River. Theres old tin mines all over the place.The track down to the Chandler River is very steep-Low Range 1st and 2nd gear but it `s not as bad as it used to be-it was graded 6months ago. I was there October long weekend-It`s a great spot.Hope this gives you some ideas! Nick G.

Paul

Wauchope an intersting old timber town and the Oxley highway is interesting. also the coast south of Port. Lake Cathie and Laurieton. There is Crowley Bay NP down there right on a beach. Good for a day visit but probably packed. The best run in the area is Barrington tops and Gloucester on Thunderbolts Way but probably a little too far.

You can get to the the Hasting River via Wauchope on the Oxley Highway andturn off to follow a northerly route into Kempsey. Nearly all State forest, some nice views, camping at Wild Bull or the Bluff plus some great lookouts. Probably 120k plus your 45km trip back from Kemsey. Fair bit of unsealed but not difficult.