A trip down the convict trail…

Old, cheerful, big and bold…These are just a few words to start you off.

What you see as you come towards this tunnel dug out of the mountain with bare hands many years before my life began.

The tunnel at Dalmorton 65km from the Grafton area and 110km from Glen Innes is a wonder that has been channeled through the mountain so that settlers and miners where able to get supplies to and from the mining camps at Dalmorton township.

Historical tunnel at Dalmorton NSW in the Northern Rivers area. Pictures by Megen Hibbins

I am one of those lucky people that get to travel this road endlessly not just for a holiday or a day out when work gives me time off.

The Old Glen Innes road, if coming from the Grafton end or the Old Grafton Road if you are coming from the Glen Innes end is a stretch of Dirt road and recently sealed bitumen road spanning about 140km long.

Going through some of the most picturesque and beautiful places with mountainous areas and flat grassland, rivers, streams and many other things to see.This is one of those places that should be on most peoples bucket lists.

The Old road (as locals call it) was built in the 1800’s as the only route between the coast and inlands area of the New England.

This road preceded the Gwydir Highway which was built in the 1960’s with its curvy bitumen allure that now carries people between the New England and Clarence coast.

The mid 1800’s the Bullock Drays carved the narrow track down the range (Now know as Diehard), from Glen Innes, through the winding valleys and along the river towards grafton. This road gave access to the northwestern towns that are vibrant rural communities still today.

To travel this road I would give a few suggestions that could be taken under advisement from someone that lives, works and plays in this area.

Pack water, hat, sunscreen and swimmers.
ALWAYS, ALWAYS, make sure you have a good spare tyre and a full tank of fuel.
Mobile service is NON EXISTENT a UHF is good, but if know one is driving around this is a must to remember ( drive safely)
Make sure you have enough food for your journey as there isn’t any shops.
TAKE YOUR RUBBISH WITH YOU (there is NO bin services of any kind in this area)
If your are travelling out this way it is a good idea to let someone know, this way if you are over due they can call for help (this is an isolated road please be aware).
Cattle and stock can be on the road and the road does go through TSR (travelling stock routes) so caution needs to be observed.

I know the above list sounds extreme, however as someone that lives here and has experienced all of these things happening to tourist travelling this road… experience is that experience.

This area is one that will delight the senses, engage the imaginations and light up your photo albums for years to come.

It is one of the remote places that you can really feel like you’re back where it all began, with no services useable it is a place where families can connect and enjoy some much needed off grid time together.

With the large amounts of camping places around and areas to explore along this road, it is one that you won’t regret taking the time to drive, stay and relax.