Gold Coast Hinterland, Byron Bay & the storms - would you call a trip off?
 

Hello All,

A short visit to that part of the world during the second week in June was on the cards (nothing booked yet). Now I'm not so sure.

Does anyone know what, if any, impact there's been on the national parks inland?

And from a selfish tourist's point of view, how quickly do things return to 'normal' . I feel for those who'll have to clear up the mess but, having never lived through a flood, I have no idea what's involved and how long it takes.

In short, would you still go, or would you call it off and find another destination?

Thanks for any advice you feel able to give.

The coastal rivers tend to come up & subside more quickly than the flatter inland systems, but it's a tricky thing to predict, given our mad weather patterns just now. I guess it depends just where you're planning to go, too.

I'd give the National Parks bods in the areas you're contemplating a call towards the end of next week & see what they think then. Whilst the high country won't be affected, you might well find yourself cut off if one of the little creeks flood.

I'm planning a trip to Tatham (near Casino) next weekend; at the moment my friends are cut off and because the Pacific Highway & Summerland Way through Grafton are both cut, I'll have to see how it goes this week. At the moment it's not raining, but my friends' river is still rising ....

I know you're smart enough not to do this, Afterall,.... but for everyone reading who might be a bit 'gung ho' & think they'll drive through a little patch of flood water in a culvert (dip in the road) ... DON'T! Even if there are depth markers on the side indicating the water isn't very deep, the road could very well be washed away. And, if there are people parked on the road before a patch of water - they undoubtedly know more about the conditions than you do ... so take notice of them & don't go through it either. A day or so ago, a man was killed when his car was washed off a culvert and in June 07 several people were killed in the Hunter Valley when they went past people parked before a flooded patch of road.

Afterall, I also call the LOCAL NRMA guys; They're on the ground & usually know what's going on for a fair radius. Just google, for example "Lismore NRMA" and you'll get the locals.

Great ideas there Bokhara2. Thanks. Number 3 on the list, of course, is to keep an eye on the cheap airfares. Leave it too late and the trip gets called off anyhow because the cost of the flights breaks the budget. There's no way I'd drive from Sydney (not unless the point of the journey was the drive itself and I had loads of time) so it has to be fly up to Coolangatta or Ballina/Byron and hire a car there. Probably Coolangatta as there are far more flights and carhire is cheaper. We thought we'd visit Lamington, Springbrook, Murwillumbah, maybe Brunswick Heads and day trip to Byron Bay but it sort of depends what attracts once we're there.

Cheers.

Hi afterall. Just wondering if you still went to Bellingen or gave it a miss due to floods? Seems accessible now. I drove from Coff's Hto Port Macquarie and no remaining problems at all. Bello has been open for some time too.

Hi Afterall,
Did you go to Ballina/Byron etc. in June? I'm just back from a couple of weeks in the area + Burleigh Heads, and wondered if you made or shelved your plans.

The drive Lismore/Casino - Gold Coast through Bangalow is lovely, as is the one to Ballina, through lots of little hamlets.

If anyone's in the area, the Bangalow markets are very good. Probably on each month, but not sure which weekend. Byron Bay has excellent markets and an "Artist's Walk/drive" that takes you to various art galleries. There is a fantastic glass blower there - really gallery/museum quality work.

Cheers
Bokhara