20260424 NSW Waltcha to Apsley Falls

20260424 On the New England Highway and once again we are dealing with roadworks, it baffles me why there’s two worker’s (not working) sitting in there cars or on a chair on the side of the road watching the traffic go by, when there’s traffic light signalling to stop or go. So not only do we pay for traffic lights to control the traffic we also pay two workers to watch the traffic go by. I’m also told these so called worker’s get around $80 an hour, what a bloody joke. Rant over we pass through Glen Innes and Armidale and on to Uralla where we continued onto Waltcha.

This is a common site of where the taxpayers money is going, we literally are paying these people to watch traffic go by while they play on their phone's, it’s bloody disgraceful.

It’s very dry heading to Waltcha but also very pretty.

Waltcha as we enter the town, it looks like a picture Post Card.

Another one of those quant little towns with a wonderful display of sculptures scattered through the streets and where many bikers stop at the bike cafes for a hot coffee and lunch before continuing their journey. We did intend to camp just 4ks out of town until we stopped at the butchers who told us about a camp spot about 20ks out of town called Apsley Falls, that sounds nice. Before leaving we brought some lamb chops and a couple of lamb shanks then made our way to the cafe for some refreshments before checking out the falls.

This sculpture is one of many and is titled, The Warrior.

 

We’ve been to Waltcha a few times now so after our coffee we headed to Apsley Falls to check it out, there’s nothing but wide open space out here, just as I like it. 

Check out that scenery with the trees in the distance and one old tin shed, now thats living.

I could handle living without the hassle and bustle of everyday traffic, it just so blissful.

Arriving at the Apsley Falls we found our camp sites and setup, all the sites have tables and chairs and a fire pit with wood supplied so I set up the fire ready for an afternoon drink. That’s it I’m going to check out the falls, not that I’m expecting much, it’s really dry in NSW at the moment.

The Apsley falls circuit, I would love to see the falls after a good drop of rain.

Apsley Falls, located near Walcha, NSW, within the Oxley Wild Rivers National Park, a natural wonder with Indigenous cultural significance, telling of the Rainbow Serpent creating this dramatic gorge.

Our first site of the gorge, and to think this was once all under water.

The Suspension Bridge crossing the Apsley River offers elevated views of the gorge and forms part of the 2.7km walking loop. The current bridge replaced a previous one washed away in 2009.

The first drop of the gorge is about 65 metres (213 ft) in depth, and the second, about 800 metres (2,625 ft) further on, plummets 58 metres (190 ft) to the bottom of the gorge. The sheer sided walls of the upper Apsley Gorge are largely caused by the slate in the area which splits vertically.

I’m king of the termite mound, as a kookaburra laughed and a wallaby stared, 

 

“Is that a new part of the tour?” 😄

We had a visit from one of the locals Swamp Wallaby (Wallabia bicolor), also known as the black wallaby.

The Falls holds spiritual and historical significance for Aboriginal people, a nearby spirit totem site linked to Walcha Aboriginal doctor Joe Woods, known for his healing, his two “clever” dogs, and a protective magic eel. He is still remembered with affection across Walcha and Armidale.

Then came the European settlers in the 1830s, conflict grew over land and resources, in the absence of law enforcement, some settlers took violent action, and it is said Aboriginal people were driven off the nearby bluff.

Food, Fire & Drinks to Complete our Day