Crows Nest Camping 21/22.02.2021
Sunday morning and the magpies are warbling like there is no tomorrow. It is beautifully crisp at 17 degrees, a gentle breeze drifts through and the slow rise of the sun marches across the sky. The day dawns perfectly, well it did before I finally decided to wake up at 6.15 – it’s a weekend so of course I wake up early.
There is something so precious about the dawning of a day. There are rays of sunlight, there is a big bright orb in the sky, there is the silence apart from the bird call, so much so that you can hear the tinnitus that kicks up a racket in your left ear canal. There is also the sound of the breeze as it makes its way through, picking up intensity as it goes. It is a spectacular morning – the occasional bit of cotton wool cloud lingers in the azure sky. The green of the campsite looks quite intense.
You know when people are awake – the smell of food cooking and the change in noise level.
But, back to the campsite.
Crows New Falls Camping Ground is a lovely site although a little closer than I personally prefer. Having said that, some of the site are quite large as they accommodate varying group sizes. For now, though, they are at half capacity due to that pesky covid-19 and the associated restrictions it has brought. This is kind of nice as the place would be a little too cosy if it were full. There is a composting loo, quite something to lift the lid and the big insects just keep coming out because you’re probably the first one to expose them to daylight in a while – just wait for the numbers to reduce before sitting down, they didn’t bite or sting. There is also a shower which you can make hot if you heat the water. Personally, I quite like our new camping shower, fresh out of the box for this adventure. It came in very useful after my hike.
Each site also has a BBQ/forecourt fire “pit” – a lovely contained concrete area with the back of the set up having a cast iron plate to cook on if you choose. Whilst I know it is summer and humid, it is still part of the joy of doing this to have a fire. It wasn’t a big fire because the fire area is not as big as the fire pit at Peach Trees, Jimna, and other National Parks locations I have camped at, but it was lovely to sit and watch the dance of the flames, never ceasing and always moving.
I walked the tracks to see the falls and the rock pools. The area is beautiful, such tiny flowers line the way and the rock formations are something else. The massive drop down, way down there, to the water. Sadly, there is not enough water so the falls are not falling and the pools are stagnating, but the scenery is still worthwhile. When you walk up, you have to walk down so the walk in 27 degrees plus humidity (it was that the last time I had checked it) was quite taxing. It did the bum muscles some good though.
The tracks are about 5.6km in total. There are some significant stair climbing and descending efforts, but the climb is worth it to the highest peak. It would be truly spectacular to see the falls flowing and the country around here in full bloom. The craggy rock edges, or by gone tumult punctuate the area around the falls. There are warnings not to jump or dive into the water and with good reason when you see what is above ground. Sadly, there is also a sign regarding one young man who did not make his 21st birthday because he ignored the warnings.
The native flowers are tiny. The colours are gorgeous, white, yellow, purple. I see flash of colour fly across. I think it is a King Parrot. I have no idea about birds but the red and green are vivid. I am blessed to see a second one shortly afterwards. That one is travelling a little quicker and doesn’t hang around for a beak rub nor face scratch on the branch nor an explore of the branches nearby.
The kookaburras sweep in low across from time to time. One young one saw in a tree not 2-3 metres from me when I was reading before heading out to do the paths. It is quite something watching the kookaburra as you realise it has eyed off an insect or something for sustenance then swoops down, beak first to the ground to have a snack. I sure one also misjudged the branch it was landing on and tumbled down to the ground, sitting there as if to say “what just happened”.
The countryside is a conflict as you drive out here – there is a green drought. Some areas are vibrant and intense green, others are rusty green, waiting for good soaking rain that has fickly doused some areas but not others. The dams are low in these pockets yet full closer to Brisbane.
A storm threatened in the afternoon and then came back again, still threatening in the event. The far distant thunder rumbled around and the occasional flash of night light punctuated the sky but that was it – lots of puffery.
Coming out of Brisbane, I had travelled to the turn off for Spring Bluff. I came along Murphy’s Creek Road and then there was lots of dirt on a well maintained part of the road. Whilst the driving is different, the countryside here was verdant. The cattle were plump and seemingly happy. The colour was such a contrast to the rest of the roads through Woodlands and Minden then out through to Crows Nest. The Old Esk Road was where I joined the asphalt again then on to the New England Highway, initially not taking the road to the campsite but into the town of Crows Nest for a spot of brunch at The Nest Café. Nice little spot.
The camp site is only about 8km from Crows Nest and an easy run to the pub for dinner if you choose. I had a hash of vegetable patties, baked beans and noodles. Healthy feed after a taxing walk. I enjoyed a lovely glass, or maybe 2, of Spanish red wine after the remainder of Jamesons coffee infused whiskey which went down a treat as a first beverage for the afternoon.
I write this on Sunday morning as the world wakes up for another day. I am yet to venture home and that trip will take a slightly different road, in part, than the one out here – all going to plan. I will travel a route shaped like a “p”. That is part of the joy of doing these “adventures” – if there are different roads to travel, take them, you never know what you mind find or see. No matter what, even though you might not have had the solid night’s sleep you were hoping for, the surroundings, the velvet carpet of stars, the bird song, the breeze and nature are what help clear the head and keep you grounded as you remember that it’s not about having everything but this is everything.
Trip home to come…
The trip home took 3 hours and covered roads I had not travelled before. Leaving Crows Nest, I headed out through Lakes Perseverence and Cressbrook – finding a new camping area to consider. Then on through backroads coming on to Esk Hampton Road. Before getting to Esk, I chose the Esk Gatton Road and then turned off, along that road towards Coominya. These are roads I have travelled and would be the road less travelled. The country is contrasting.
The downside of a trip like this is coming back through the traffic into suburbia. It is really nice being out, away from traffic and the pandemonium of living in close society. The trip home was thoroughly enjoyable as it was at a moderate rate, no rush to be anywhere and the choice of taking roads as Google suggested, or not.
So, for this weekend, my camping trip is done. The humidity remains and I look forward to doing this, at a different location in two weeks time. For now, there’s been a top up of head space.
