Forest Way - New England Area

Thanks Dune Digger,

Yep, I'm aware of the extra time involved, time I have plenty of, on leave for eighteen days. I am heading up to Glen Innes eventually then down along the Old Glen Innes/Grafton Road.

We have done the Armidale/Kempsey Rd. a few times now, camping at West Kunderang once and Georges Junction many times.

Be aware that the signage for the road through to Kempsey has been changed from "Not suitable for caravans/trailers" to "Caravans/trailers/vehicles over x mtrs prohibited".

The area up there has now been hit by three big floods with some serious slippages where the road runs down the escarpment. When we went through in August Many sections of the road were pegged off with orange mesh and are single lane. Should you meet, someone has to back up or down. Was very unsettling to see longitudinal cracks in the road surface and know that your wheels were straddling them. Contractors are building a high level flood resistant bridge at Georges Creek and have booked the Bass Lodge as living quarters. The river banks at Blackbird Flat have taken a real ripping and are unrecognisable compared to their previous condition.

Have you travelled the Forest Way? Can you give me any information as to the condition.

Ian

Hi Ian W,

I thought the Forest Way was the Kempsey - Armidale road

Is Georges Junction Campsite OK ? I might Check it out too

Dunedigger

Gotcha,

The Forest Way comes off the Kempsey Armidale Road to the east just after Rasberry Road then runs north to Point Lookout Rd.

Georges Junction is a great camp. We love it. It is a crown land TSR and apiarists reserve though I have never seen hives in place.

One proviso! If possible make it Monday to Friday. A couple of times we were there the place started to fill up with feral trail bike riders from both Kempsey and Armidale on Friday afternoon. There are no facilities other than two long drops.

Bass fishing can be outstanding, in addition there are mullet, catfish and freshwater herring. If you suitably equiped you can usually drive throgh the river to the south bank and follow it up stream for further camping spots.

Ian

Hi Ian,

I always go bush midweek, Planinng on leaving tomorrow. I prefer to have the place to myself.

i would say that from looking at the maps that the road you are looking at is usually in good repair, but apart from that I can't help you.

Thanks for the info about Georges Junction. I might get up there by Wednesday. I will come over from Kookaburra

Dunedigger

Thanks Mark,

I was reasonably certain the road would be suitable but prepared to accept a second opinion.

After my trip down there a few months back I wouldn't go down at all with a van and mine is only a fifteen footer.

Ian.

Just be aware of the limitations.

The road was originally signposted "Unsuitable for caravans, trailers etc..; etc:
This was merely a recommendation and I believe, was to discourage the "nervous nellies", people who were perhaps ill equipped or insufficiently skilled to undertake the drive.

The road has been reclassified from "Not recommended for-", to expressly forbid caravans, any trailers and vehicles over a particular length which I can't remember.

The limitations are in place between Blackbird Flat near Lower Creek about 69 k's west off Kempsey and the start of the Armidale/Kempsey Road where it branches off the Waterfall Way near Wollomombi.

Those who like to press the envelope might be interested in the following. I have driven both up and down the road towing a tent trailer, I prefer up. My last trip in August was down with a 15' off road caravan. Never again, the road has deteriorated badly with the heavy rains and it may take the relevant bodies many years to get the road back to something like it's former self.

Many sections were single width before the damage, now you have to look at those sections and ask if there is such a thing as "less than single lane".
Ian

Thanks for the info. I camped at Blackbird last night and after getting your email I got my "bat and ball" and went home towards the south.

I could not see a way around the load limit. I did get up once by using 5 day creek after learning the NPWS gates were unlocked for a short while.

I will have to check out the Stix area and nearby areas another time

Dunedigger