GRAFTON on the NSW’s north coast is known for the yearly Bridge to Bridge ’ski race and the Jacaranda Festival, but just west of the city is the start of a road where many a fortune was lost and found, known to some as The Old Glenn Innes Road. It’s not a hard drive by any standard, and great in a soft-roader or AWD.
As you head west out of Grafton along the Gwydir Highway, turn left towards Buccarumbi; this road follows the route of the old Cobb & Co coaches that trundled between the tablelands and Grafton. It was the main route until 1967 when the new highway was built over the Gibraltar Range.
It’s a pleasant 10-minute drive on the tar until you hit the dirt and soon you’ll cross the low-lying Buccarumbi Bridge. We always stop here and stretch the legs – you can see remnants of massive steel and concrete bridge supports that have been washed away by past floods.
The road then follows the Boyd River as it twists its way through the countryside, giving you stunning views of the area with rugged mountains as a backdrop. For those keen to set up camp down beside the river, keep an eye out around the 50km mark as there are some fantastic secluded riverside spots amongst the twisted native trees that have been shaped by the raging water. One of our favourite stops is at the old graves that date back to the late 1800s just as you cross the grid along the way. There isn’t much info on these two random graves, but it’s nice to stop and show a little respect.
DALMORTON
Continue reading your story on the app
Continue reading your story in the magazine
TRACKING THE GHAN
FOLLOWING THE ROUTE OF THE HISTORIC GHAN RAILWAY – FROM ITS TART IN PORT AUGUSTA AT THE HEAD OF SPENCER GULF TO ITS FINAL DESTINATION IN ALICE SPRINGS – IS A GREAT WAY TO TRAVEL FROM SOUTHERN AUSTRALIA TO OUR CONTINENT’S RED HEART.
THE 'CRUISER TOYOTA SHOULD HAVE BUILT
THIS TOUGH-AS-NAILS 105 SERIES LANDCRUISER NOW HAS A HEART OF GOLD AND IS BUILT TO GO ANYWHERE.
SMART LIGHTS
ARB HAS TAKEN NOTE OF ALL LESSONS LEARNED FROM ITS ORIGINAL INTENSITY LED LIGHT RANGE, TO COME UP WITH THE UPGRADED AND VERY CLEVER INTENSITY SOLIS.
SIX OF THE BEST FETTLED NISSANS
FROM MILD TO WILD CREATIONS, HERE ARE A HANDFUL OF OUTRAGEOUSLY EPIC NAVARA AND PATROL CUSTOM BUILDS.
OBSESSIONS
THE NEW BLOKE SHOWS HIS STYLE WITH A PAIR OF 4X4S IN HIS SHED.
LIFE IN THE BUSH LANE
LIKE MANY EVENTS PLANNED FOR 2020, COVID RESTRICTIONS PUSHED THE DRIVE 4 LIFE TEAM TO REASSESS ITS PLANS, BUT THEY STILL HELD A SUCCESSFUL TOUR THROUGH OUTBACK NEW SOUTH WALES.
LEAP OF FAITH
IT’S BEEN A LONG TIME COMING BUT LAND ROVER’S NEW DEFENDER IS FINALLY HERE. HAS IT BEEN WORTH THE WAIT?
PHAT BLASTER
NO WEIGHT LOSS SUPPLEMENTS HERE. THE ADDITIONS TO ANTHONY BARR’S PATROL WERE ALL COOKED UP TO CREATE HIS OWN ULTIMATE TOURING VEHICLE.
DOUBLE TAKE
THIS EXPEDITION-READY LANDCRUISER IS NOT WHAT IT SEEMS AT FIRST GLANCE.
BACK TO WORK
WE’RE FINALLY GETTING OUT AND USING THE MUSSO AS INTENDED.
