Meandering

We've spent a bit of time in the past week meandering around north-west NSW. From Lightning Ridge our plan was to cross the Queensland border and spend a bit of time in the town of St George. Unfortunately our plans were stymied by floodwaters flowing from several Queensland rivers and closing the highway just past Lightning Ridge. With three nights to fill in before our next scheduled stop at Goondawindi, we made our way to Moree, just south of the border on Weraerai and Kamilaroi country.

There's nothing terribly exciting to report about Moree other than soothing hot springs at the caravan park and a pretty decent coffee on the main drag. After Moree we pointed towards Queensland and made our way to Goondawindi, on Bigambul country. We arrived in the afternoon on the day before Anzac Day and because everything was closed the following day we didn't really have time to form an opinion about anything other than the mosquitos (which, we're reliably informed, are of the Scotch Grey variety). There were kazillions of them - not exaggerating - and it was impossible to step outside without being mobbed by the nasty little Scotch blighters. To try and escape them on our morning walk the Labs and I made our way into town and stumbled across the local Anzac Day march. It was small but just as moving as any other march held around the country, and we were privileged to see it. Although Goondawindi was closed for most of the time we were there, we all agreed it seemed a nice place and we'd like to go back, Scotch Greys notwithstanding.

From Goondawindi we headed back across the border to New England and the town of Tenterfield, where the Jukembal and Bundjalung peoples are the traditional owners. Tenterfield was, of course, made famous by Peter Allen's tribute to his grandfather, George Woolnough, the Tenterfield Saddler. Peter Allen actually grew up in Armidale, just a bit further down the road, and started singing at the local pub at the age of 11, but Tenterfield claims him as its own. We visited saddlery, which is now a small museum cum shrine to Peter Allen and Liza Minnelli. It's an interesting little piece of recent history, and it smells all leathery. And a bit dusty.

Again, our stay in Tenterfield was too short. But we did manage to pack in a bit of sight-seeing and a pretty decent feed at one of the local pubs. We agreed that it's a nice little town, and we'll definitely be back sometime. No Scotch Greys there - way too cold.

Here are some photos of our meanderings since leaving Lightning Ridge.