Dorrigo-Nambucca Weekend Run

15 March 2017 / Words and photos by Greg Cox

It was time again for our favourite run of the year, the weekend away to Dorrigo. Enjoying blue skies overhead, our five cars comprising Murray & Marg (ex Batemans Bay soon to be Port Macquarie), Chris & Sandie from Coffs Harbour, along with Peter & Keiran, Graham and myself from Port Macquarie, set off from the Port Service Centre at 8:45am. Heading west through Wauchope, we climbed the mountains to our morning tea break at Ginger’s Creek Roadhouse. With the proposed new speed limits on the Oxley highway still under review, we enjoyed the winding mountain road our MX-5s handle so well.

After our break, we farewell Graham who returned to Port Macquarie, then proceeded west descending the mountains to the picturesque sheep and cattle properties along the Apsley river flats. We then stopped for a short break to view the Apsley Falls before continuing through to Walcha and then Uralla for lunch at the Coachwood Hotel. Here we enjoyed a great lunch in the Beer Garden where we were joined by Steve and Leonnie, who had travelled directly from Forster to join us.

We bid farewell to Peter & Keiran, who were returning to Port Macquarie, then continued our drive North West up to Armidale and through to the small village of Ebor, stopping to view the falls at Guy Fawkes National Park. A short drive from here we turned onto the Waterfall Way for 37km of long flowing turns with a background of rolling hills and pastures, which must be one of the most scenic drives in NSW. We soon arrived at our destination for the night, the Heritage Hotel at Dorrigo. After a rest, we gathered for a drink and dinner in the Hotel restaurant, and reviewed our day’s travel before retiring for the night.

Day 2 started early with breakfast together in the restaurant, before departing Dorrigo for the drive North through the fabulous corkscrew and Nymboida. Apart from a Horse Float that slowed our progress for a short time before allowing us to pass, we had a clear run through the twisty bits. We took a short break at Coutts Crossing before driving south through Glenreagh to our morning tea stop at the Kookaburra Café at Nana Glen.

This year it was decided we would complete the Sunday run with a seafood lunch at Nambucca Heads, so after our quick coffee break we continued through to Coffs Harbour where we joined the M1 motorway down to Nambucca. Mike Walkden-Brown our Nambucca resident member who joined us here, had arranged a table on the balcony overlooking the river mouth and heads where we enjoyed our seafood lunch.

Our weekend run came to an end here with everyone enjoying the drive, company and conversation along the way. Thanks to Steve and Leonnie, and Chris and Sandie, for driving the extra distance from home to join us. We hope that Mike is feeling better for the next Run.