Goonoo Goonoo Station Run
27 June 2021 / Jill McDonnell
MX5 Club of NSW
Mid North Coast Chapter
GOONOO GOONOO STATION RUN
It was a cold and sunny morning that we met at 8.00am at the closed Rivermark Café in Port Macquarie – so no early morning coffees for us. Jill and Peter took the lead in their Kia Celtos followed by Pam and Allen, John and Susan, Margaret and Murray, Peter and Kieran off up the motorway to Kempsey to pick up Michael and Gail, Wayne and Cathy. Then off to Macksville to pick up Mick and Chris.
Driving up the motorway to the Old Butter Factory in Bellingen meeting up with Robert and Rhonda for morning tea and a chat. Off we went through Bellingen to Ebor Falls. Sunny morning, hills so green and trees shimmering in the cool air. Over the Bellingen River, past Thora General Store then along the windy road through the Dorrigo Mountains. At the Dorrigo roundabout the soldier statue has been re-erected after a vehicle smash knocked it over. We stopped at the Ebor Falls which are flowing again, but we couldn’t stand on the damaged viewing platform. Next stop was lunch at the Armidale Bowling Club. On our way again through the country side passing the Thunderbolts Rock which is 80 km from Tamworth and finally meeting up with Kevin and Jen arriving at Goonoo Goonoo (pronounced Gunoo Goonoo) and meaning'running water over rocks in times of drought' - at 4.30pm. Our rooms were in the Shearers Quarters all modernised very warm and comfortable. For dinner a small group of us dined at the Glass House, the renowned restaurant. Delicious food, great wines and company. Other people in our group went into Tamworth to Thai and Italian restaurants or to use the opportunity to visit family.
We all met for breakfast in the Glass House with the sun shining through the huge windows looking over the property. Then we were off to Nundle where the week before the whole town had been covered with snow. In Nundle we had morning tea at the Nundle café and then walked around to the Nundle Knitting Mill. There we had a guided tour of the operations of this more than 100 year old mill. Rick, the owner, took us through the whole process from the sourcing of the wool from sheep in Tasmania to carding the wool, spinning, hanking, dyeing and winding to beautiful balls and hanks of wool in a myriad of colours and sizes. Even the techno minded people in the group enjoyed the tour!!
We then went shopping in the wool shop, lots of beautiful woollen items to buy. From Nundle we drove to the Arc-en-ciel Trout Farm for lunch. Arc-en-ciel is French for “Rainbow” – hence the Rainbow Trout Farm. Snow, snow and snow throughout the countryside on the way there. Lots of trees damaged by the weight of the snow falling on them. After we had lunch in the wood fired warm restaurant Russell the owner took us on a tour of the fish farming operations from the sperming and baby fish tanks and then on the 500m walk down the hill to the tanks where the fish grow to mature age. Afterwards, at maturity, they are put through the smoking process. Very cold, snow on the hillsides as some of us walked back up the hill – while some others decided to get a ride back up the hill!
Then we took the drive back to Goonoo Goonoo, some in our group stopping to build a snowman and throw snow balls!!
For dinner we all went to Carmen’s Italian Restaurant, recommended from those of us who went there the previous night.
In the morning we all met again in the Glass House for breakfast and farewells, all of us then going in different directions as we headed home.
A fabulous couple of days and all our thanks to Allen & Greg (unfortunately Greg & Jane were unable to attend) for their organisation of this great drive.
Jill McDonnell
