GUYRA NSW AND THE MOTHER OF DUCKS LAGOON

 

Gurya Serviceman's Memorial Hall circa 1920

 

Guyra is a tiny Town with a population of 2100 and consists of a short and narrow main street, two Pubs,a few old Buildings and 6 Churches! It is 37k Nth of Armidale on the New England Hwy at an altitude of 1330 mtrs making it the highest Town on the New England Range.
A Pastoral District (500,000 sheep and 100,00 cattle) with a past Tin mining history and with a Temperate Climate of Summer Temperatures 11 - 23c and Winter 1 - 11c is also ideal for Horticulture. A 20 Hectare Glasshouse that produces 72 million Tomatoes pa is nearby and is a major source of employment for the area.
The main reason for stopping here is to visit the Mother of Ducks Lagoon. It's on a backroad just behind the main street. I am camped overnight (only allowed 1 night) between the road and the Lagoon on a grassy section with only a Toilet Block. since it's grey, raining, windy and cold, everyone is holed up hopefully waiting for the skies to clear tomorrow.
The Lagoon is freshwater and 14k in circumference, a marshy Wetland in a silted Volcanic Crater. It is Natural Heritage Registered Reserve because it attracts many species of Migratory Birds to nest here. About a 300mtr walk from the campsite the is a viewing platform and hide from where, hopefully tomorrow, I can get some photos, if the weather clears that is.
Before moving on another 60ks to Glen Innes tomorrow I want to take a look at Thunderbolts Cave, which is a 13k backtrack at Black Mountain, I missed it due to heavy rain as I passed. Also 25k nth towards Glen Innes there is Little Llongothlin Lake (or Lagoon on some maps).
The bloody gears in the van were locked up again this morning when I tried to leave Dumaresq Dam but came good after 5 mins warm-up. I saw a Mechanic at Guyra but he had no clue what was wrong. There is a Toyota Dealer at GI so I will go there tomorrow to see if I can get an answer.
See ya!
 PS It was too wet for Thunderbolts Cave and Little Llogothlin Lake.

Pictures bellow are of The Mother of Ducks Lagoon