Hunter Coast to Mountains Weekend

22 December 2020 / Story & Photos: Jenny & Barry Luttrell

2019 memory:  Our run was disrupted by drought and bush fires that saw roads being closed and not reopening for months. Having been turned back at Gingers Creek on the Oxley Hwy we hoped to redo the run in 2020, but in reverse.

2020: This year we had to accommodate the changing COVID19 restrictions and predicted extreme weather conditions. So, our accommodation needed to manage up to 30 participants within COVID19 limits. Aston Hill Motel allocated us the rooms and also the use of their outdoor covered BBQ area for Saturday night dinner, which fitted nicely with Covid19 and the weather. 

Saturday morning saw 25 participants in 14 cars leave Raymond Terrace Riverside Park to drive the back roads of the Hunter Valley via Clarencetown, Limeburners Creek and Booral stopping for morning tea at Wade Park Bulahdelah. The forecasted extreme weather was holding off so all was good. After morning tea, the convoy wound its way up Wootton Way (a nice twisty fun section of road), John having left earlier to video our cars coming up the hill. Turning at the end, we then did the road in reverse back to our start point.  The spirited run over, it was a scenic drive along Lakes Way through Forster to the Taree Service Centre for lunch. Lunch over and with the bad weather still staying away we continued onto Ocean Drive via Kew, Laurieton and into Port Macquarie. A visit to North Brother lookout provided the opportunity for a welcome leg stretch and to check out the magnificent views across the coast and lakes.

Dinner tonight was a BBQ at the motel organised by Barry, Jenny, Chris & John (with help from Woolworths), and deliciously cooked by David G & David B. Our two Brian’s (aka B1 & B2) led a rendition of various songs to accompany the evening and many stories were shared over drinks.

Sunday breakfast was at the Rivermark Café and included a surprise visit by some of the Mid North Coast Chapter members. After breakfast and in perfect weather conditions (for MX-5s), we progressed up the Oxley Hwy to Stockyard Creek for BYO morning tea. The Oxley Hwy is one of the last great drives in Australia and also attracts tours by international motor cyclists. The final section of the mountain took us to Apsley falls and views of the gorges of the Oxley Wild Rivers National Park. Sadly, the falls were not running- this was after Jenny and Barry described the potential vista of falling water, sorry about that !

Lunch was at the Walcha Royal Café a step back in time and a glimpse of the historic Royal Hotel with typical country hospitality. The afternoon drive was down another great MX5 road, Thunderbolt’s Way, to Pioneer lookout at the top of Gloucester Range taking in the valley views. Following Thunderbolt’s Way, it was down to Billabong Park at Gloucester for afternoon tea. The run dispersed with participants saying goodbye and making their own way home.

Thank you to everyone who contributed to making the event a great success.