Valentines Weekend at Walcha

21 February 2015 / Words by Barry & Jenny Luttrell, Photos by Keiran Rodgers

11:30am Saturday, arrived at McDonald's Port Macquarie Service Centre to join Mike (run leader) and Mid North Coast Chapter for their run up and down the mountains via Walcha and Gloucester. This is one of the best MX-5 loops in NSW. After photos by Kieran, six cars set off to Wauchope to meet with two additional cars for lunch. Lunch was at the Wauchope RSL where we shared stories and generally caught up with each other.

Eight cars left Gloucester to begin the fun part of the weekend, along the Oxley Highway and up the twisty mountain road with annoying 4WDs, to well-earned stop at Gingers Creek Store. We shared the car park with the usual assortment of high powered motor cycles all there to have fun.

We left Gingers Creek and had a clear quick run up the remainder of the mountain and on to Apsley Falls. There are a number of viewing platforms with magnificent vistas of the falls and deep gorges of the Oxley Wild Rivers National Park. And the road is all sealed to the falls car park!

The short run into Walcha was uneventful and we arrived at the Walcha Motel for check-in and a few drinks at Walcha’s historic Apsley Arms hotel before dinner in the motel restaurant. A surprise for each of the girls on our run was a Valentine’s Day gift package in their room from Mike. (What was in the package? You will have to ask the girls). Valentine’s Day celebration dinner was up to the usual high standard we have come to expect from the Walcha Motel and many stories and laughs were shared during the evening.

Sunday morning was time for a hot buffet breakfast in the motel restaurant and packing up ready for Sunday’s run to Gloucester.

The drive from Walcha through Gloucester is a great MX-5 road especially if you can get a clear run with minimal traffic. The road out of Walcha to Nowendoc has a couple of kilometers of rough sections but otherwise is smooth and quick. Toilet stop at Nowendoc and then on to the top of the mountain lookout. Parking was at a premium as the car park was filled with motorcycles, caravans, motor homes, cars, 4WDs and even a boat on a trailer. The lookout provides a magnificent vista of the Woko National Park and Barrington Tops in the distance. The run down the mountain was a challenge with a large boat on a trailer, caravans and assortment of Sunday drivers making for a slow run to ensure safe driving. Lunch at Gloucester, was at the Avon Valley Inn hotel that provided an extensive menu and good food.

With lunch completed we continued down Bucketts Way to Booral and then across to Bulahdelah via Girvan. This is a great little MX-5 road through forests with its share of tight bends, climbs and descents. 

We said farewells and departed at Bulahdelah to travel to Newcastle whilst Mid North Coast members travelled north via Wooton Way. This was indeed a classic MX-5 drive, fun, challenging and with great people.

Thanks to the Mid North Coast Chapter for inviting us.