On the Anzac Day long weekend in April; Henk , Tania and myself and several friends set off for a 4 wheel drive adventure at Emu Creek Bush Getaway in Northern New South Wales. After settting up camp and having a goodnights rest we were ready to start our adventure.
The tracks are graded: A Easy: B Medium; C Hard; D Difficult (diff lock or locks) and E Extrreme ( twin diff-locks, winch and complete recovery equipment required).
Off we went on track 1 which is an easy track. Finding this fairly easy, we decided to try a B track so we took track 48 which led to a swimming hole. This track was quite a bit harder as recient rain had softened the trackand it had been chewed up a bit by other vehicles. there was only one way in and out and we had to wait several times for other vehicles to make several attempts at some of the hills on their way back. It was then time to return to camp for lunch. We all decided that B tracks would be the highest level we would tackle this week end untill we had more experience and some modifications in suspension were made to some of the vehicles.
After lunch we set off again, Warwick took the lead but led us to a wrong track and we finished up on a C track which took a lot of shifting of rocks and several attempts to negoitate and did some minor damage to some of the vehicles. Unfortunately I lost the roll of film I was using for this part of our adventure so I can't show you what they were like.
The following day some of the group tacked track 2 in the reverse direction to which we tried it the day before.
We then tackled track 5 which was very steep and twisty it is a B going down and a C the other way. It really got the heart thumping. Next was Track 43 from which there were beautiful views.
Every one agreed that it was a great weekend and we should do it again!!
Our friend, Bruce had found a magazine that had 4 wheel drive escapes in it and found a place that was not far from where we lived, so the next Sunday we were off again. This time our son Mark also joined us. the name of the place is Tookeron and is in the Beaudesert Shire.
These tracks have not been graded so it is pot luck as to which tracks you take. There are 30 tracks on this property and also a camping area. Track 1 leads to the camping area. we then tackled tracks 10; 9; 8 & 7 stopping at the junctions of tracks 12; 13 & 30. Deciding that 13 & 30 were too steep for our experience we decided to tackle 12 but found this too difficult for some of the vehicles as you can see from the photos.
Turning around, we followed track 7 to the swimming hole where we had morning tea.
We then traversed tracks 15; 16; 17 and 22 to track 26 which is called "Mean Mother". stopping at the top of the hill the drivers decided to walk the track first as it went straight down. No way were they confident enough to tackle it in the vehicles.
Next was tracks 24 & 25 which went through a small section of rainforest. Then it was down the road to Kooralbyn to track 17 and on to track 6 also known as "Tumble Hill" It took most vehicles at least two attempts to get up this hill.
Finally it was tracks 4; 2; 3; 1; 29 & 30 to the top of the steep part we had decided not to attempt earlier. It was then time to head for home where we relaxed with a few drinks after an enjoyable day.
It is now March 2001. Henk and I went out to the Central Queensland Gemfields in September 2001. We Stayed at Tomahawk Creek for three weeks and then went to the Willows wher our Daughter Tania joined us.