Getting back into the Warrumbungles was like going back to the beginning. It was the first location that I came to, that was planned, and I got blown away… literally.

Checked into the rangers station and scored a list of all the easy short walks in the park and other useful info. I was feeling excited and pretty lucky too. The weather was absolutely perfect, the fire ban got lifted that very day, and when I set up camp I found that I was right next to a great stack of wood that would last me weeks!!! While the days are clear and beautiful, the nights are cold and there is nothing better than cooking on a fire and warming the bones before bed with a nice glass of red. LIFE IS BLOODY AWESOME!!!!!

View of Breadknife from Blackmans Camp…. Pretty good view to wake up to everyday!!

The largest Telescope in Australia at the Siding Springs Observatory … Massive

Unbeknownst to me, my arrival also coincided with the black skies that are the best time for galaxy viewing. Got my Nikon and tripod out and had a few cracks at shooting the stars but found lying on the swag out in the field a lot more relaxing. I felt like I was lying in a crater and looking up at the Milky Way I got inspired and came up with a concept drawing of a work that I can’t wait to invest time in when I get home.

Visited the Siding Spring Observatory to get the lowdown on our galaxy and also found out that I was in fact lying in a crater. The whole area is volcanic. The observatory gallery was so informative and I just hope I remember a tenth of what I took in that day like, how to find south three many different ways, the formation of the sun, stars, earth and all the planets. The 3D movie was a bonus and telescope is massive. Biggest in Australia apparently!!

volcanic rock walls on the Nature Trail.

I mainly just hung around the camp drawing, writing and reading and doing domestics. Went on the Wambelong Nature Walk up a canyon of volcanic rock walls, over a few creeks and up a rocky outcrop that had awesome views of Siding Spring and Belougery Split Rock. Lots of yellow box and red gums, emus, eastern grey kangaroos, lizards, rosellas, currawongs and these awesome little apostle birds that hang around preening each other making lots of noise.

Walked the White gum track and lookout with great views over the Grand High Tops and the famous Breadknife. The Warrumbungles is pretty gorgeous.

There was massive fires through this park back in 2013 that seriously devastated 90% of the park so its still recovering but I love all the black trees that shoot up

Totally loving the lifestyle of camping. Just the domestics of it are good. Collect some kindling, prep the fire, organize food, sit around, stare and think about it all …...aaaaahhhhhh!

It was so good in fact that I ended up going back into Coona and stocking up for another 4 days. PLUS get another go on their amazing ice machine… ice ice baby!!!

AWESOME!!