Scenic Drives

Looking for a scenic drive then check out

• There is a magnificent variety of waterfalls in the local area – there is an excellent brochure that has been produced locally which details fourteen waterfalls scattered along the 200km Waterfall Way. Copies are available in the cottage and cabins.
• The well stocked LP Dutton Trout Hatchery, which has an excellent visitors centre including an aquarium & theatrette and the chance to feed the rainbow and brown trout in the breeding ponds – lots of fun for the kids! (7km along Point Lookout Road).
• Ebor Falls – spectacular series of two falls of 115m situated on the Guy Fawkes River within the Guy Fawkes River National Park, great new viewing platforms and picnic facilities opened in 2008. (22km along Point Lookout Road and Waterfall Way).
• Wollomombi Falls – one of the tallest in Australia at 220m – in the Oxley Wild Rivers National Park. Excellent viewing platforms with several walking tracks. (40km along Point Lookout Road and Waterfall Way).
• Scenic Macleay Valley – an alternative route to the coast. (146 km to Kempsey via Point Lookout Road, Forest Way and Armidale Kempsey Road).

Current Two Styx weather.

Also,

Point Lookout Don’t miss a visit to Point Lookout, whether you see anything depends on the mist, fog and low clouds! But, on a good day you can see 70km to the Pacific Ocean. It is a ten minute drive from Two Styx or walk along Tea Trees Fall Walk and from Tom’s Cabin you will find another track heading off to Point Lookout. While there have a look for The Crescent in the Bellinger Valley which is the remains of the Ebor volcano, active until 18 million years ago, and the reason behind the rich basalt soils.

Antarctic Beech (Nothofagus moorei) These magnificent trees occur in cool temperate rainforests and are visible in the eastern highlands from Barrington Tops to southern Quuensland. Pollen of the Antarctic Beech has been found in fossils more than 60 million years old. Nothofagus occur also in New Zealand, New Guinea, southern part of South America and remains have been found in Antarctica – countries which were part of the ancient continent of Gondwana. They grow to 25 m tall and have large trunks with scaly, dark brown bark. The leaf colour is dark green, with new growth brilliant red, or orange in spring – leaves are triangular with fine teeth. The tree is partially deciduous, dropping half its leaves in autumn. There are many specimens on Two Styx along the Little Styx Creek but there is a magnificent specimen about 500m north of the third cabin along the Styx River.

Trout Hatchery Definitely worth a visit with an interesting introductory film, aquarium and the chance to feed the fish. Small entry fees and open most days.

Waterfalls See the Waterfall Way brochure. The closest of the waterfalls is Ebor which is about a 25 minute drive.

The Yooroonah tank barrier Built in 1942 to slow any advance of a Japanese force on the Ebor/Armidale Rd, it consists of concrete pyramids, timber bollards and a tunnel under the road. Many other tank traps were built round the state (around 50), but the Yooroonah one still exists today – does anyone know of the existence of other tank barriers? For directions to the tank barrier drive back along Point Lookout Road until the junction with Waterfall Way – about 11km. Turn left on Waterfall Way in the direction of Armidale and after 1.4km you will see a bare patch of ground on your right – next to a green and white post with the number 4150. Park here – be careful of traffic in both directions – and walk back along the road in the direction that you drove and you will see a gap in the wire rope safety barrier. Next to this is an old vehicle track, follow it for about 5 minutes and you will see a well-defined pedestrian track on your left – the tunnel under the road is about 30m on the left of this track as you start to descend and the bollards and pyramids are towards the end of the track.