designergigi

I'd be very appreciative if you could tell about this area. It's likely that I shall be journeying there next May to spend 6 weeks.
To travel from Baryulgil to Brisbane or Sydney, shall I need a car or is there public transportation? If so, would it be coach or rail?
What would you recommend for daytrips?
Does a US citizen need a visa?
Would I need an international drivers license?
This has all come up suddenly and I would appreciate all your input and help. I love art, history, photography, opera and am an oil painter.
I'm so looking forward to this adventure!
Thanks so much!

johhj_au

Baryugil!!! of all places!! Why would you be going there?

You would really need a car.You can travel brisbane-grafton and sydney-grafton by train or bus but I would think there is probably one school bus a day from baryugil to grafton.

US citizen does not need a visa.You just need your US licence and a credit card if you are going to hire a car.

Now there are some things you need to know about Baryugil...
-it is not outback but quite isolated.
-it is the site of an old asbestos mine
-it is an aboriginal settlement
-it is close to the lovely clarence river
-it is close to the rainforests of the washpool national park.

Neil_Oz

Actually US residents do need a visa to enter Australia - to quote from the Immigration Department website (www.dimia.gov.au),
"All travellers, except New Zealand citizens, must obtain a visa or travel authority before travelling to Australia."

As John says, you'll definitely need a car. I haven't been to Baryulgil, in fact had never heard of it, and for all I know it might be a very fine place, but I wouldn't care to be stuck there without transport. In any event, there's some beautiful country in the New South Wales northern tablelands and north coast areas and you shouldn't miss the opportunity to explore.

I've never worked out the point of an international driver's licence. I got one before our first visit to the US, rented cars all over and all anyone wanted to sight was my Australian licence. Waste of money.

I'm sure you'll find plenty of interesting painting subjects, but you'll need to visit Sydney to properly indulge your taste for art, opera etc. And/or Brisbane, depending on what operas are scheduled for that time.

I'd also be interested to know why you're going to Baryulgil! You'll have the edge on 99-point-something percent of Australians, that's for sure!

johhj_au

Thanks Neil...I stand corrected...I think the airlines are issuing the visa though??

Incredible...somebody on fodors headed for Baryugil!!

Neil_Oz

Well, John, at least it makes a change from the usual suspects.

designergigi - this is one trip report we'll be hanging out for.

Okkie

Baryulgil!!! You're kidding!!! Two houses, a "school" (and I use the term loosely) and a creek full of dumped cars.
No phone, landline or mobile (cell). Certainly no internet. Hell, all you'll get in Baryulgil is sun-stroke and death-by-boredom.
even the nearest city (Grafton) is not worth 2 nuggets of goats-pooh. If you must reside up that neck of the woods, do yourself a favour and head towards the beaches

designergigi

LOL ~ This is pretty funny!
I've been told and verified that it's full of natural beauty! Now, tell me that is true! I shall be staying on a paddock (ranch) and be meeting up with other artists. I will have a 4 wheel drive vehicle and be going a few other places.
Is it REALLY so bad for an artist?

designergigi

Sorry, I didn't say thank you for the helpfulness! You are all pretty entertaining, I think!

I do know that there is a landphone and they do have internet access! I shan't be so removed, but, wouldn't mind it if I were.

Any ideas of thoughts for daytrips and if I were to leave for 3-4 nights?

Thank you! I can tell, this is going to be fun!
Gigi

johhj_au

Gig...I think you will go allright up there by the Clarence..remember we posters here are middle class urban types who perhaps are a little alienated from the delights of the Washpool.

But Baryulgil itself is a dose of social reality...it is a microcosm of the current aboriginal situation..and to most western eyes it isn't pretty.

But i suspect your place is beyond baryulgil and over the clarence river near the washpool national park...a great example of the gum forests of the dividing range.

Take your trips to..
the clarence gorge
up into the ranges thru the state forest.
up the clarence valley to tabulam and bonalbo.
thru to the coast at angourie or wooli.

or a weekend up at the byron hinterland(probably where your contacts would be if they had the $)Go to the channon markets.

tropo

Tony Mundine, the boxer came from Baryulgil.
I guess designergigi, if you are staying out of Baryulgil, on a property, then you should have a good relaxing time, plenty of bush walks, etc.

Neil_Oz

gigi, just to help with local terminology, a ranch in Australia is called a "station" and is a large, often enormous, sheep/cattle farm, including the owner's house and outbuildings. A rancher in Australia is called a grazier.

A paddock on the other hand is a field, usually fenced for the confinement of livestock. A cattle or sheep station would incorporate paddocks, but you wouldn't live in one. I wouldn't, anyway. I'm terrified of any animal bigger than your average dachsund.

If you don't need money in Baryulgil it would be a great place for artists (I have a few family members in the arts, my son included, looking for a garret to starve in).

Please don't be put off by comments from people like me, though. I'm sure it will be an interesting experience. Ever seen "Deliverance"? (No, just joking, really - I'm sure the locals in Baryulgil are hopeless banjo players.)

Neil_Oz

tropo, the fact that Tony Mundine comes from Baryulgil is not exactly reassuring.

johhj_au

Troppo..
thanks very much for your advice on agnes water..had a great 4 days there two weeks ago.

and a very pleasant beer at the Cordalba pub.