BIRD ROUTES of Tamworth Regional Council Grebes can be seen from the road. A spotting scope is useful. Further up Lowes Creek Road a smaller older dam is almost silted up providing habitat for many waterbirds including breeding Blue-billed Ducks and crakes at appropriate water levels. 3km up this road there are picnic areas either side of a concrete causeway. Fifty different waterbirds have been seen on the dams over the last ten years and 100 bush birds in the surrounding countryside. MANILLA (1) Manilla Bridge to Bridge Walking Track From the Post OfÞ ce, take the next street to the west (Namoi Street) turn right and drive to parking area near the main Manilla Street Bridge. This pleasant walk follows the river down past the junction of Manilla and Namoi Rivers to the Showground. Return trip approx. 3 km. (2) Manilla Weir From the Post OfÞ ce head east along Strafford Street Photo: Bob Shepherd for 1 km, turn left on the track located between playing Þ elds leading to the Manilla Weir. In amongst the magniÞ cent gum trees look for nesting parrots and honeyeaters. Flocks of water birds can be seen on the playing Þ elds. BIRD ROUTES OF THE NUNDLE/TAMWORTH REGION (3) Warrabah National Park Turn right 1 km north of P.O. The Park is (1) Betts Lane and Braefarm Road Follow the New England Highway located 35 km north-east of Manilla, 15 km of bitumen and 20 km of gravel north towards Armidale through Nemingha (7.5km) then 17.5km to Kootingal road. At the park entrance near the river there are picnic and camping areas. Country Inn. Continue 1.5km further along the New England Highway, turn Fireplaces, pit toilets and garbage pit. The Turquoise Parrot has been observed left in Betts Lane. 1.5km along the lane a mulberry tree is a favourite site around the camping areas. of Channel-billed Cuckoos that return to the region each spring to feed on (4) Split Rock Dam Head north on the Barraba Road for 14.5 kim, turn right, mulberries and wild Þ gs while breeding in the area. About 2.5km along Betts travel 9 km to main Split Rock Dam wall. Barbeque and other facilities. Ospreys Lane turn right into Braefarm Road. Braefarm Road rejoins the New England have been recorded here. Honeyeaters in trees below dam wall. Highway. Turn left towards Moonbi. (5) Spring Creek Travelling Stock Reserve (TSR) Turn left 1 km north of (2) Moonbi Common and New England Gully Road The Moonbi Store P.O. onto Boggabri Road, at 8.2 km turn left in the Corella Road. This Reserve is 4.7km north of Kootingal Country Inn. Go past the store, turn left into is located on the left 12.8 km, just after crossing Spring Creek. Enter through Moonbi Gap Road. Cross concrete bridge. Road veers right into New England gate and walk through to the Namoi River. In River Red Gums (Eucalyptus Gully Road. 1.8km along this road turn left into Moonbi Common Road which camaldulensis) along rivers edge usually see Galahs, Sulphur-crested Cockatoos leads 1.7km to the Common, a good site for parrots and Þ nches. Returning to and Little Corellas. New England Gully Road turn left. Good bird watching can be found wherever farmland turns into bushland. Moore Creek crossing can be a good site. 23km (6) Borah Crossing Travelling Stock Reserve From Spring Creek TSR from Moonbi Store the road ends at Minbalup Wilderness Lodge. (No 5) head west for 4 km then turn off the road to the left. Enter through gate in amongst Silver-leaved Ironbarks, also visible are patches of weeping Myalls. (3) Moonbi Lookout 6.5km north of the Moonbi Store the magniÞ cent This reserve is located on the northern edge of Lake Keepit, possible site for granite Moonbi Lookout is 1km off the New England Highway to the left. observing different water birds, depending on the water level. Panoramic view of the Moonbi Valley. When the Þ gs are fruiting or eucalyptus ß owering the area is alive with birds. (7) Adams Travelling Stock Reserve Accessible from Borah Crossing to the south (1 km) or from Borah Reserve to the north. This area contains (4) MacDonald River Bendemeer 42km north of Tamworth. The village is good remnants of Grassy White Box Woodlands with an understorey of native located just off the New England Highway. The river that ß ows through the shrubs such as Acacia deanei and Acacia decora. These shrubs provide an village has a number of picnic sites. important habitat for small birds. Finches have been observed in abundance in (5) Cockburn River near Limbri From the Kootingal Country Inn drive this locality. Painted Honeyeaters recorded. through village of Kootingal and follow signs towards Limbri. After crossing the (8 & 9) Continue north for 9km. Pass through Boggabri/ Gunnedah T Junction railway 6km east of Kootingal a choice of routes is available. Straight ahead over to signpost No. 9. Then 7.5km to No. 8. See descriptions listed under Barraba. Ballantines Bridge a rough gravel road leads 30km to Dungowan or preferably Refer to Routes 8 & 9 of Barraba turning left the road to Limbri follows the Cockbum River with numerous bird watching and picnic sites where side tracks follow the watercourse. Limbri is 15km from Kootingal and return by retracing route or a longer scenic route BARRABA through Woolbrook and Bendemeer. The Þ rst 25km is rough winding narrow gravel road with many bird watching sites. (1) Black Springs Travelling Stock Reserve is 6.5km south of Barraba. A remnant of the once vast Grassy White Box Woodland. To enter this reserve (6) Nundle, Hanging Rock and Sheba Dams From Neminga travel 52km follow the roadside sign to a gate (please shut after you if already closed). south through Dungowan and Woolomin to Nundle. The lookout at Chaffey Blossom time brings many species of honeyeaters. Dam is worth a stop. An alternative route starting from Woolomin is the West Bank Road around Chaffey Dam which passes the Dulegal Arboretum a (2) Woodsreef Reserve 500 hectares. Former town common for 1850’s delightful picnic spot with a great variety of native plants. The town of Nundle goldÞ eld 16 km east of Barraba on Woodsreef/Bundarra Road. Cross concrete has a variety of accommodation, eateries and a working knitting mill. Follow low level bridge at Ironbark Creek, continue 1km to entry at top of hill, the signs 8km up a steep sealed hill, drive through the small village of Hanging opposite huge abandoned chrysotile mine. Enter gate ‘Recreation Reserve’. Rock to Sheba Dams on the left. In summer this is a cool retreat for Tamworth 4WD or suggest other vehicles check road Þ rst. 0.9 km to tranquil creek. See people with snow occurring most winters. Facilities for basic camping. Walking map of reserve at Information Centre, OR enter and walk upstream through track around the main dam. The dams were built to supply water for a large small gate behind concrete picnic hut before grid 300m from bridge. gold Þ eld between Hanging Rock and Nundle. The higher altitude of Sheba (3) Mille Creek Travelling Stock Reserve. Follow Bingara Road. Open Dams means Crimson Rosellas and Satin Bowerbirds are usually resident, along reserve begins 3.5 km north of town, Regent Honeyeaters seen here. Walk or with many bush birds and some water birds. Longer return to Tamworth via drive dirt track into Silver-leaved Ironbark and White Box forest. Port Stephens Cutting and Dungowan. (4) Continue north another 3km to sign board. Enter the travelling (7) Nundle-Walcha State Forests Between Nundle and Walcha a number stock reserve through gate. Look for Sacred KingÞ sher’s nesting hole in the of State Forests contain a variety of bird life including Whipbirds and Lyrebirds. bank hidden below tree root running parallel to the creek. Return trip Upper Horton to Barraba On the western side of the village plains. In the woodlands there were wallabies, possums, honey, insect lavae and turn south and follow the Bereen Road for 17km. Turn left where it joins the grubs. Many of the forests have been cleared for introduced pine plantations. Care is (5) Plumthorpe Travelling Stock Reserve is 16.5km west of town on the Trevallyn Road. Continue 2km to the Bereen Mountain Lookout (regard the required. Watch for logging trucks, and pig shooters. Contact State Forests at Trevallyn Road. Enter gate. Easy drive to Manilla River, Picnic and BBQ area at O’Rourke provides us with an interesting insight into the organisation of superb but little known panoramic view of a vast valley) Continue towards Walcha 6777 2511 before visiting. the river bank. Parrots and Honeyeaters are common. Kamilaroi tribal society. The smallest groupings were made up of a man, his wife Barraba for 27.5km via bird routes 5&6. or wives and their children. Such “hearth groups” might consist of about ten (8) Oxley Park and Endeavour Drive The scenic background to the City (6) Little Creek Travelling Stock Reserve is 22.5km west of Barraba. (13) Bells Mountain Reserve 7km north of Barraba on the Bingara Road. A people and several of these groups would often camp together in “bands” of of Tamworth is protected as Oxley Park. Two main access points are the drive Continue on the Trevallyn Road 2km past Horton Falls turn off. Picnic shed and signiÞ cant conservation grassy box woodland managed by the Tamworth Rural up to sixty. Communities of 200 or more people in four or Þ ve “bands” would to the Lookout and Kamilaroi walking tracks at the top of White Street and toilet facilities, camping.