Day 6 Friday 16/8/2024 Rawnsley Park, 9-16 cool windy

The rain arrived as forecasted and we had a welcome 6mm overnight. Forgetting that we didn’t have the awning out, I left my shoes outside and they’ve had a thoroughly good wash.

We have a quiet morning catching our breath after being on the move. Woody does the washing and returns grumbling. The $6 for the dryer was just a carnival ride for the clothes as they’re still wet after spinning around with no heat. Oh well, it’s a good day for drying washing and the rain seems to have moved on. Meanwhile I give the caravan a bit of a clean and find ‘Bruce’ the Bogong moth has taken up residence above the bed. Harmless creatures and apparently good eating I send him on his way before Woody gets back from the clothesline.

VeeWee bounces into the van to ask us if she should take her friend’s advice and wash her hair in vinegar to cure a bout of dandruff. Woody is horrified. I reckon it can’t hurt as my mother used to whack kerosene on dandruff and that was seriously painful.

After lunch and after some vinegar washing, we bundle into the car and set off into the National Park. We take the Bunyeroo Road through stands of native cypress pine in search of Bunyeroo Gorge. Dry creek crossings are sheltered by big gnarly old red gums reminiscent of Hans Heysen landscapes and of course we soon come across Yanyanna Hut on the Hans Heysen walking trail. Snooping around the horse yard and hut we are surprised to find a young woman resting up after a 26km hike. Crikey, I hope she isn’t walking the whole 1200kms to the coast! Feeling even older than we are we bundle ourselves back in the car. Next stop for us is the Bunyeroo Valley lookout with expansive gobsmacking views.

At this point I should explain that we have only a ‘mud map’ and signposts are few. The road has a few hair-raising blind hills especially as we go over the Razorback ridge. With Woody wondering if perhaps we’ve already seen Bunyeroo Gorge without knowing it and suggesting we should turn back, no signposts, and a map that isn’t to scale there is much hilarity.

With sharp-eyed Elle scouting for wildlife, we cross an area of rolling hills and suddenly we find ourselves driving through the dry creek bed of the gorge. Beyond that the countryside has less vegetation and the road becomes lightly corrugated. We see a few emus before reaching the highway again. We tally up the wildlife count, 6 emus, 2 tatty kangaroos and something roo like about a foot high, 1 eagle and 2 kestrels. Perhaps the rest, like us are on holiday.

We have happy hour in the large camp kitchen and meet for hamburgers in Elle’s motorhome afterwards.

Accom: $46.00