RIDE 91: MANNING RIVER LOOP (Northern Barrington Tops State Forest)

FROM: Devils Hole Camping Area

TO: Manning River (return)

VIA: Dilgry River, Gummi Falls

LENGTH: 34 km

TIME: 1 day

RIDE (FRACK GRADE: 4/4

WALKING: Short walk to see Gummi Falls

HEIGHT VARIATION: 380 m

TRANSPORT: Private transport to Devils Hole Camping Area via Gloucester or Scone

FACILITIES: General picnic and camping facilities

MAPS: CMA (LIC) Cobark and Moonan Brook 1:25 000 topographicals. Also useful is the Barrington Tops and Gloucester Districts 1:100 000 Tourist Map for vehicle access to staging area.

While the south of the Barrington Tops contains many features and is accordingly well visited, the northern section is often by passed. The sheer aesthetic quality of dense lush beech tree forests is no less. Featured on this one day circuit of the Barrington Tops State Forest is a lookout over the wild Moppy River valley, pristine mountain rivers, and a waterfall.

Start by driving to the Devils Hole Camping Area which is located just off the Barrington Tops Forest Road and links Gloucester with Scone. If arriving late, one can car-camp here at the nearby Polblue Camping Area. In the morning, check the lookout over the only pure wilderness area in the Barring ton Tops—the upper Moppy River valley. From here, one can see a clear distinction between the wet beech forest on the slopes and dry eucalypt bush on the plateau. Start the cycling by travelling east to the signposted Honeysuckle Picnic Area. Turn left here directly opposite the picnic ground on to Pheasant Creek Road which leads down to Dilgry River. The small camping and picnic areas are set in open forest, while the Dilgry River itself is lined by a corridor of moss-draped beech trees.

Head up the other side and left at the top, then cycle west until you reach a turn-off. Keep right here still following the Pheasant Creek Road. The turn-off to the Manning River Camping Area is on the right. This is quite a beautiful ground, making it the ideal venue for lunch. When you’re finished, head back up to the road and right, crossing the river. The Pheasant Creek Road then leads up on to the Mount Royal Range and over 200 m of height need to be gained here.

Turn off the Pheasant Creek Road on to the Tubrabucca Road and then left again on to the Bullock Brush Road which leads down via a great descent to the Gummi Falls on the infant Manning River. Although they’re more like a cascade, they still make nice photographic material due to the lush green vegetation surrounding the rocks. A tripod might be handy for slow exposures.

To attain the Devils Hole Camping Area, simply head up the other side where the trail curves south and directly accesses the Barrington Tops Forest Road via Thunderbolts Trail. Of course, this ride could also be done in reverse.