Only 104klm NE of Narrabri over Mount Kaputar via the Kilarney Pass, it was more than it seemed. After the endless plains of outback Australia, a single mountain pass has brought us into cattle country where the cattle are fat, the creek and river flats are wide and end in rolling hills then mountains. The scenery, vegetation, topography and feel has totally changed for us. We have left the outback now and though not yet to the coast, it feels as though everything is closer after the wide horizon we have travelled with for weeks.
 
We stopped on the pass to walk into the Sawn Rocks, a shear rockface of volcanic rocks in the form of pillars. These pillars are about 50 metres tall but through rain and heat change they often peel off from their siblings.
 
The drive after crossing the Gap was beautiful cattle grazing land and we stopped a few times just to take it in. Bingara came on us all too quickly and it surprised us with it's size, facilities and beautiful Main Street, not to mention two well renovated pubs. Passing the pubs (sigh), we followed a dirt road about 2klm out of town and down onto the banks of the Gwydir River. This is a designated free-camp area and is just awesome with grassy flats, large gum trees and a crystal clear stream. After all the muddy rivers out west this alone was refreshing.
 
We picked a site at the further east end, alone and very serene. Camp set, lunch made and we settled into a relaxing arvo of reading, photography and blogging. We shall allow the photos to paint the scene! Ah, the serenity!

PS. Won't miss the pubs tomorrow!