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| Belltrees Shearing Shed |
The Scone to Barrington
Tops Scenic Drive is a pleasant way to see beautiful parts of the Upper Hunter Valley in NSW Australia.
• Driving distance is 210 km , which will take about 3.5hrs
driving time. Make a full day of the drive and stroll along some of the short bush walks on the way. Take a picnic or eat at one of the local hotels.
• The drive includes 104 km of gravel road, which is
suitable for all vehicles
• In winter, some roads within Barrington Park
maybe closed temporarily by snow. Check with the VIC, NPWS or police if in doubt.
The Route in Brief
Scone – Gundy – Belltrees – Moonan
Flat – Barrington Tops Circuit – Moonan Flat – Belltrees – Scone
The Detailed Route
0km Scone Turn off the New England Highway at the southern end
of town onto Gundy Road.
5km 24 km circular DETOUR via Glenbawn Rd/Allan Bridge Rd/ Segenhoe Rd will
take you past Glenbawn Dam, a number of famous horse studs, and over the
historic Allan Suspension Bridge.
20km Gundy A tiny rural village with toilet faculties, Gundy
General Store and the Linga Longa Inn.
24 km Waverley
Road DETOUR via Ellerston. This road follows the
Isis Eiver past the Belltrees Polo ground, and Waverley Station to the Timor area where you leave the Nundle Road turning right over Sergeant’s
Gap and rejoin Hunter Road
at Ellerston. It is another 3 kms to the Tomalla Road turnoff on your left – see
below
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| Belltrees Homestead |
35km Belltrees Excellent view of the Belltrees 44 stand shearing
shed designed by J. Horbury Hunt. Glimpses of the beautiful historic Belltrees
homestead can also be seen. Just after crossing the Hunter at Belltrees is the
side road to Stewarts Brook– an old gold mining area of the 19th centaury.
Hunter Rd
follows the Hunter
River through predominantly beef cattle properties to
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| Moonan Flat suspension bridge |
52km Moonan Flat Tiny rural village, a general store and the
Victoria Hotel. Walk across the suspension foot bridge
over the Hunter River. There are picnic areas on the
river bank. Prior to the advent of motor vehicles as the normal form of
transport, Moonan Flat was an important service centre for the top end of the Hunter Valley.
Follow the Hunter
River along Hunter Road and
turn right onto
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| Barrington Tops |
65km Tomalla Rd which climbs from the Hunter River
to the Barrington Tops Plateau. There are spectacular views across Ellerston
Station to the Great Dividing Range from Nundle
area to Walcha. After passing Hunter Springs (The tiny creek you cross is the beginning of
the Hunter River
on its 400km long journey to the Pacific Ocean at Newcastle.) Turn right onto
81km Pheasant
Creek Rd Through the Barrington
Tops State
Conservation Area and Barrington
Tops State
Forest. Continue left at
the
 |
| Henry’s Bridge over Manning River |
86km Pheasant
Creek Rd / Tubrabucca Rd intersection. Continue left
on the Pheasant Creek Rd
through the forest to
89km Henry’s Bridge over the Manning River.
A spacious picnic area beside the river.
94km Pheasant
Creek Rd / Dilgry Circle intersection Turn LEFT onto
the Dilgry Circle.
Continue through the forest to
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| Banksia Picnic Area |
101km Banksia Picnic Area To discover a secluded picnic area
– a great place to have lunch - follow the dirt track upstream for 100 m. Continue,
turning RIGHT at the
105km Dilgry Circle / Barrington Tops Forest Rd intersection
onto Barrington Tops Forest Rd. Continue west to
108km Honey Suckle Picnic Area [and Pheasant Creek Rd intersection]. Take a
25 minute 1km walking loop through a temperate rainforest of Antarctic Beech
and tree ferns. Continue west to
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| Devil’s Hole Lookout |
122km Devil’s Hole Lookout and Picnic Area Follow the short
paved path, suitable for wheel chairs, to the lookout platform. You'll fin picnic tables and toilets here, all of which
are suitable for wheelchairs. All facilities are linked by paved
pathways, including wider passing sections along the walk to the
lookout.A magnificent
vista over the Wilderness Area to the Gloucester Tops section of the National
Park and beyond. Continue west to
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| Polblue Swamp Picnic Area |
129km Polblue Swamp Picnic and Camping Area Polblue Creek
winds through the sphagnum swamp. Enjoy a 3 km walk around these highland
wetlands. Continue west to
138km The Firs Picnic Area A short, 5 minute loop walk
through the pine forest with a good chance of seeing lyre birds along the way. Continue
west to
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| Moonan Flat suspension bridge |
140km Dingo Gate Picnic Area The Moonan Lookout provides
spectacular views to the South towards Wollemi N.P. From the Dingo Gate there
is a long winding decent to Moonan Brook. There are breathtaking views at
almost every turn. Continue down to the
152km Moonan
Brook Road T-intersection. Turn RIGHT. (DETOUR The
road to the left follows Moonan Brook to the village – an old gold mining area.)
157km Moonan
Brook Road / Hunter Rd intersection. Turn LEFT to
return to Moonan Flat and Gundy. The Victoria
Hotel or the Linga Longa Inn could
be just the place for dinner on the way back to
210km Scone.
