Burning Mountain Nature Reserve
Trip Start
Jun 18, 2008
1
47
72
Trip End
Ongoing
Scone,
New South Wales,
Australia
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Heading north from Sydney, we decided to take the inland route, through the Hunter Valley (Vineyards and Coal Mines) and then into the New England region (lots of English town names, Highland Games and sheep).
Although nothing of any real excitment to write home about, the region did have one sort of bizarre attraction that we felt we needed to go and take a look at. A Mountain that is literally on fire.
Burning Mountain is on fire. It has been for over 5,000 years. White settlers thought it was a Volcanco (it's a large hill, it's on fire, pretty conclusive really) but alas, it's not - although it did smell of Sulphar. No, something far less interesting - it's a very large coal seam that probably caught fire through a lightning strike and ever since has been smoking away. The Aboriginals stayed well away from the place, and normally they are spot on with their judgements. For a start, it's a pretty hefty walk to the top, as scenic as the route was. Then at the top, is a lot of burnt coal, with vents smoking away, with a lovely aftertaste of Sulphar. Mmmmm.
But it is worth it, because it is so strange. It's only one of three places on Earth where it happens. I have no idea where the other two are, but I've seen this one now so don't need to visit the others. The route to the top takes you over the previous areas where it has burned, where the seams have fallen in and large chasms have opened up. It's interesting too for it's plant life, as you can see the different plants that sprout up once the fire has moved on. In places recently burnt, it's small shrubs. In places where it burnt hundreds of years ago, it's various trees etc.
This Lizard jumped at Helen :-)
I know it makes for a boring blog entry, but since I write this for myself and my Mum, I don't care. It was a nice walk, I saw something unusual and a Lizard jumped off a post and scared Helen, which made me laugh, so all in all, I liked it.
Thats it really. Everything else nearby is pretty boring. Oh hang on, we went through a town called Tamworth (told you they are all English town names) which is "Australias Country Music Capital". We didn't stop.
The next entry is far, far more interesting. More Snakes, Lizards and long walks....
