Middle Brother National Park - Big Fella Gum

Punkinella,

Middle Brother State Forest
To the south of town is Middle Brother State Forest which occupies the slopes of Middle Brother Mountain (556 m). Together with North Brother and South Brother it was named by Captain Cook who saw it from the coast in 1770.

Head south-west out of town and turn left into Batar Creek Rd which leads into Western Boundary Rd on the western edge of the forest. About 10 or 11 km from Kendall there is a walking track to the left which leads a short distance to Big Fella Gum Tree, a 67-m flooded gum amidst rainforest and bangalow palm.

Continue south along the Western Boundary Rd for another kilometre then turn left into Mudforde Rd. After about 3 km there is an intersection. If you turn right into TV Road, it is about 2 km to the turnoff, on the right, to the peak of Middle Brother Mountain where there is a TV transmitter and a fire lookout. From the summit there are fine views over the Camden Haven River Valley. To the east one can see the coastline of Crowdy Bay, to the north-east is North Brother Mountain, to the north are the tree-lined slopes of Broken Bago Bluff near Wauchope, to the north-west is Comboyne Peak, capped by a fire lookout, and to the south it is possible to see the river flats of the Manning Valley.

If, instead of turning right onto TV Road, you turn left into Grey Gum Ridge Road, you will, after about 1.5 km, come to a picnic area on the left where there are fireplaces, tables and drinking water. It is a 400-metre drive from the picnic site to two of the state's largest blackbutts - the 'Bird Tree' (69 metres tall and 3.6 metres in diameter) and 'Benarkin' (64 metres tall and 4.1 metres in diameter).You may wish to stretch your legs and access the trees by following the 10-minute walking trail which leads off at the road junction nearby.

If you continue along Grey Gum Ridge Rd a short distance you will soon come to a turnoff on the left into Old Lookout Rd which leads to an old fire lookout from whence Kendall can be seen in the near distance.

You can also enter the forest from the eastern side by turning off the Pacific Highway into Hoydens Rd or TV Road. The roads mentioned are all advertised by brown-and-white forestry signs. They are quite suitable for 2WD vehicles, unless it is very wet, but care and slow speeds are always essential. For further information ring the Wauchope Office of State Forests of NSW on (02) 6585 3744.

Cheers

Cruiser