Sunday morning
RRCQ member and Uki resident, Brian, escorted us on a trip to the
Clarrie Hall Dam. Built on Doon Doon Creek, a tributary of the Tweed
River, Clarrie Hall Dam has a storage capacity of 16,000 mega-litres
of water, is the major offriver water storage facility for Tweed
Shire and is capable of supporting the water needs for a population
of some 160,000 people. Activities permitted on Clarrie Hall Dam
include canoeing, boating (electric motor, sail or paddle power only)
and fishing. The Dam is stocked with Australian Bass and an annual
fishing competition is organised and run by the Australian Bass Association.
Clarrie Hall Dam also supports several significant bird species,
including the vulnerable comb-crested jacana and the endangered black-necked
stork. The Recreation Area is perfect for photography, bird watching,
nature observation, environmental studies, picnics and bush walking.
After leaving the dam, we stopped off for morning tea at Cram’s
Farm via Midginbil.
At Crams Farm Recreation
Area extensive facilities include under-cover BBQs, picnic tables,
amenities block and shelter shed. Or you can enjoy an open air fireplace,
dotted around the wide open spaces under the trees. An all-weather
cricket pitch and kiddies playground near the main BBQs, provides
family fun in stunning scenery. A jetty and launch ramp offers easy
access to the upper reaches of the dam for canoeing enthusiasts and
catch and release fishing.
Following morning
tea we continued on to Tyalgum where we had a delightful lunch at
the local pub where the staff very efficiently served 20 plus club
members with lunch in a very quick space of time. Well done Tyalgum
Hotel and Brian for pre-booking the pub kitchen. After lunch, on
full stomachs, we paid a visit to Brummie’s Lookout in the
Wollumbin State Forest. No mean feat for the faint-hearted or height
fearful of us, as we encountered a 500m trek up a steep mountain
face probably not unlike the Kokoda Trail but in miniature. The climb
by foot up the mountain was certainly well worth the effort for the
spectacular views.
The afternoon
was capped off with home-baked scones, cakes, tea and coffee at Brian’s
home two doors down from the Uki Hotel. This was thoroughly enjoyed
and appreciated by all of us and our thanks go out to Brian and his
wife Gayanne for their country hospitality.
Tony
