Looking out into the horizon where the rolling waves of this untamed forest meets the non-quivering blue sky, you can't help but wonder what this explorer's fairy tale may bring. Perhaps it is this feeling of unknown, that excites and drives the endless exploration and expedition to unveil the abundant fruit of what nature has to offer.
Half an hour drive to the opposite side of the Waterfall Way from the Cathedral Rock National Park, I mean that's not a long distance, right? You won't believe if I say that the change in forest environment is worldly apart? Only one highway apart, one side is bone dry, while on the other side, water runs over the steps winding down into the moss coated forest jungle, I won't believe it even after I've seen it with my own eyes! It is as if we were given an extremely unique opportunity to bear witness where two parallel universes cross path.
Slightly over an hour drive from Armidale towards Coffs Harbour direction, you will see the sign post indicating the right turn-off to reach the Point Lookout Carpark of New England National Park. The bitumen road will quickly disappear about a few minutes in and the dirt road will begin. I did manage to get to point lookout with my low clearing front wheel drive, however, I would highly recommend the usage of a 4WD or higher ground clearing vehicle as the road is really uneven with pot holes and trenches. You will go through private land (please respect that and stay on designated roads), and the bitumen road will begin again once you reach the New England National Park sign. Keep on driving follow this road to the end, and you will reach the car park.
There are picnic area including a shelter with tables and bench chairs to the left of the car park for after your hike or if you don't feel like a hike. Otherwise, the start of the Eagle's Nest Circuit will be to the right of car park. There is a map of the walking tracks, highly recommend taking a picture of that and have it on your photo for when you need it. If you continue on the track, you will soon reach the famous Point Lookout that you saw a photo of at the beginning of this post. Keep going and the next lookout you will reach is Eagle's Nest Lookout, from here, if you will see the track split with one leading to the right and downhill, and one leading left which will take you back to the carpark. I would really like to come back here to watch the sunset from these lookouts, it would be such an unworldly experience!
There are quite a number of fantastic tracks in this forest, if you don't have enough time to explore the longer tracks, I would recommend to take a walk on the Eagle's Nest Track, which offers some highlights of this park. The grading of this track is about medium toward difficult, the challenge being that some section of the track including the staircases can be very slippery, as it is constantly wet and has water slowly flowing over it. Don't wear any white shoes, as they won't be white after the walk...
If you did the track from the lookout, you will enter the rainforest, and finish the track via dry eucalyptus forest. The entire track is well sign posted, and it should be quite ok to navigate. You will pass two trickling waterfalls, one being the famous Weeping Rock. These trickles will be frozen during winter, becoming ice feathers on the rock face making this already magical land even more lingering.
As there are so much of this area that I haven't had a chance to really explore, I would definitely be heading back there again. Some of the tracks lead further deep into the ancient jungle, however, from the track conditions that I've seen from the Eagle's Nest Track (which is along the ridge-line), I expect such track would take a lot longer than usual, so please be prepared and make sure you wear sturdy shoes that have good soles. As usual, please make sure you have enough time to return to your car well before dark.
This is a very short post, but you get the idea. :) Get outdoors and enjoy nature in your own way!
