KANANGRA WALLS

via Edith and Boyd River

TIME: 1.5 hours return, plus time at the Walls.

DISTANCE: 107 km return.

ROAD CONDITION: Suitable for cars, part sealed, gravel sections fair to good.

FUEL: Oberon

FOOD: Oberon

TOILETS: Boyd River, Kanangra Walls

TAKE THE EDITH ROAD from Oberon. There is contrasting scenery through lovely farming country, pine forests, National Park and snow gums. 25.6 kms from Oberon take the right fork to Kanangra Walls. Excellent camping area at Boyd River (46 kms from Oberon) also drinking water, toilets and fireplaces.

AT THE WALLS - parking, picnic tables, toilets.

Lookout Walk - 20 minutes return, very good track, has wheelchair access, wildflowers a feature, spectacular views.

Plateau Walk - 35 minutes return, very good track, spectacular scenery, definitely worth the effort.

Waterfall Walk - Lovely spot, rugged and interesting, rough track, only for the fit.

YERRANDERIE

More detailed information available from the Visitor Information Centre. Please ensure all visitors phone before setting out, ph 4659 6165.

TIME: Allow a full day (2 hours drive each way)

DISTANCE: 100 km - EACH WAY.

ROAD CONDITION: Initially sealed, 73 kms dirt road from Shooters Hill Road. Preferable 4WD vehicle in wet weather.

FUEL: Oberon NO FUEL ON ROUTE or at Yerranderie, ensure full tank, check spare tyre and general vehicle maintenance.

FOOD: Oberon - carry water, food and warm clothing

TOILETS: Yerranderie

FEES: Day visitor fees to Private Town and day visitor guided tour fees apply, children half price.

NOTE: Yerranderie is classified by the National Trust and Heritage Commission. It is privately owned, a restored silver mining town and a wildlife sanctuary.

TAKE THE EDITH ROAD for 8 kms. Turn right onto Butterfactory Lane, continue past Shooters Hill and turn left at sign to Oberon Correctional Centre, then follow signs to Yerranderie. At Gurnang take the left fork to Mt. Werong and continue on through State Forests and spectacular National Parks to fascinating Yerranderie. Set in magnificent scenery at the foot of a mountain, this peaceful and historic town has a variety of walks, climbs and cultural features to suit all interests. Please be aware that the town and wildlife sanctuary are managed along similar lines to the National Parks and take your rubbish out with you. Enjoy your stay and return to Oberon by the same route.

BLACK SPRINGS - ROCKLEY - CHARLTON - CHIFLEY DAM - WISEMANS CREEK

TIME: Approximately 2.5 hours return plus stops.

DISTANCE: 131 km round trip

ROAD CONDITION: Suitable for cars, scaled and gravel

FUEL: Oberon, Black Springs

FOOD: Oberon, Black Springs, Rockley, O'Connell.

TOILETS: Oberon, Black Springs, Rockley, Chifley Dam, O'Connell

TAKE THE ABERCROMBIE ROAD to Black Springs, lovely views of Lake Oberon and through prime farmland. Black Springs has a general store, fuel, toilets, campsite and picnic area, BBQS, water, playground, two churches and good fossicking and mushrooming area. Black Springs to Rockley through beautiful farmland and Dog Rocks State Forest, dramatic views to the south west. Rockley is a National Trust Historic township and has a Hotel, park and picnic area, toilets and swimming hole. (Tea rooms, Old Wares shop weekends and public holidays, Rockley Mill Museum Sundays.) Rockley to Chifley Dam (30 kms) - return along the Dog Rocks Road 0.5 km and turn left to Charlton, at Charlton turn left onto The Lagoon Road, drive about 20 minutes, - turn right to Chifley Dam. Chifley Dam has a picnic area, BBQs, toilets, sailing, water skiing (rates for camping and boat launching). Chifley Dam to The Lagoon, the home of many pacers and trotters including "Hondo Grattan", also some interesting birdlife. Turn right at The Lagoon to O'Connell.

O'Connell is an historic village with Hotel (1865), Church, Convent and picnic area at Fish River Bridge. Return to Oberon via Wisemans Creek (Beaconsfield Road) through bushland, old mining area, turn left onto Sewells Creek Road, then past historic Essington Park, a National Trust home. At Abercrombie Road, turn left to Oberon.

BLACK SPRINGS - BURRAGA - ABERCROMBIE CAVES - TRUNKEY CREEK - ROCKLEY

TIME: Allow a full day

DISTANCE: 168 km round trip

ROAD CONDITION: Suitable for cars, sealed and gravel

FUEL: Oberon, Black Springs, Burraga, Trunkey Creek

FOOD: Oberon, Black Springs, Abercrombie Caves, Trunkey Creek, Rockley TOILETS: Black Springs, Burraga Dam, Abercrombie Caves, Rockley

TAKE THE ABERCROMBIE ROAD - 1 km from Oberon turn right to Rotary Lookout for a scenic view over the district. Back to the Abercrombie Road, turn right to Black Springs (23 kms), see views of Lake Oberon and drive through prime farmland.

Black Springs has a general store, fuel, toilets, campsite and picnic area, BBQs, water, playground, two churches and good fossicking areas. Drive 26 kms to Burraga through Vulcan State Forest, see old copper mine chimneys, St. Dympna's Church, Burraga Dam and the old trout hatchery. Drive 46 kms to Abercrombie Caves through magnificent country with views over the ranges. Visit Grove Creek Falls prior to the Caves.

Abercrombie Caves is historically a gold mining area and gold fossicking equipment can be hired. It has the largest natural arch in the southern hemisphere, there are guided and self guided cave tours available, also a kiosk. Travel north 12km to Trunkey Creek - Billabong Teahouse, Tourist Information Thursday to Sunday. Trunkey Creek to Rockley 29 kms. Rockley is a National Trust Historic Township with well preserved buildings, Hotel, park and picnic area, toilets and swimming hole. Tea rooms, Old Wares shop weekends and public holidays, Rockley Museum Sundays. Return to Oberon past historic Charlton and Essington Park, 32 kms.

JENOLAN CAVES

TIME: About 60 min round trip - plus time at the Caves

DISTANCE: 60 km round trip

ROAD CONDITION: Part sealed, part gravel. Suitable for cars but 3 km steep grade not suitable for caravans, buses or articulated vehicles

FUEL: Oberon

FOOD: Oberon, Trails Brasserie and Caves House

TOILETS: Jenolan Caves

TAKE THE EDITH ROAD and drive through beautiful farmland, the village of Edith, then rugged bushland down to the Jenolan River. Jenolan Caves are the most spectacular underground limestone caves in Australia - enjoy cave inspections, historic Caves House, concerts (occasionally) in the Grand Arch, bushwalking and a great variety of flora and fauna. As an alternative, return to Oberon along the Jenolan Caves Road, through national park and state forest, initially for 14 kms. (Option: Turn left into Boggy Creek Road for 5 kms through Jenolan State Forest then left again onto the Duckmaloi Road) Continue towards Hampton for a further 13 kms. At the T intersection turn left and return through farmland to Oberon, 26 kms.

Visit Oberon and Jenolan Caves on your caravan holiday.

TARANA - EVANS CROWN RESERVE

TIME: 1 hour return, plus time at Evans Crown

DISTANCE: 66 kms return

ROAD CONDITION: Suitable for cars, sealed and gravel

FUEL. Oberon

FOOD: Oberon, Tarana - take drinking water with you

TOILETS: Tarana

Leave Oberon along the LOWES MOUNT ROAD past the timber processing mills of CSR and Boral and proceed to Tarana. Drive past the Railway Station taking the Sodwalls Road, about 2 kms along turn right onto Honeysuckle Creek Road. After a further 1 km, you will come to the Evans Crown Reserve where you can walk to the top (about 20 minutes easy walking for a superb view out to Bathurst and the surrounding countryside. This exciting place with its gigantic boulders, is a major rockclimbing venue. To walk the round trip is 3km of medium grade, taking about 2 hours. For your return trip, drive towards Tarana and just after St. Stephens Anglican Church take a left turn to Oberon, 26 kms. This is an unsealed road through some picturesque grazing country.