Bear and I were moseying along the New England Highway on our New South Wales road trip, wending our way through green hills on our way up to Glen Innes when suddenly I saw something that had my eyes bug out in amazement.
My normal response would’ve been an elated, “Look at THAT!!!” But after nearly giving Bear a heart attack with previous such startling pronouncements, I’ve learned to calmly say, “OK Bear, we need to pull over up here” and hold back on my unabashed exclamations of delight for when the car has stopped. 😉
With his heart thus beating at a normal rate, he pulled over and drove through this gate.
What I had seen from my car window was this…
…and this…
…and this. Seriously, wouldn’t YOU want to pull over if you saw such a thing? Amazing!!
We found a shady place to park then eased our creaking selves out of the car and looked around us in wonder.
This particular boulder is known as the Balancing Rock. How on earth is it staying put?
We had so much fun trekking all over the Stonehenge Recreation Ground, delighting in the massive boulders erupting out of the gently undulating plateau.
Stonehenge Recreation Ground is located just south of Glen Innes, New South Wales and takes its name from nearby Stonehenge Station, the first property owned by a white settler, a Scotsman named Archibald Boyd. He was led to the area by William Chandler and John Duval, two stockmen known as ‘the Beardies’ because of their long beards.
The Land of the Beardies Festival is held here annually and features a beard-growing competition. That cracks me up. 🙂
It is such a beautiful place and a great spot for a mid-road-trip break since it has picnic areas and toilets and plenty of room for cooped up travelers to stretch their legs.
I loved exploring this area of Australia known as Celtic Country, and would love to return for the Australian Celtic Festival in Glen Innes in May.
Do you have an affinity for Celtic things like I do? If so, what is your favorite Celtic event, place, or experience?
What an amazing site Krista. Australia is just so diverse, so much different than what we are used to and unique in all of its own ways.
It IS diverse, @disqus_2LQ5qLN5aY:disqus ! I love exploring it and discovering all these astonishingly interesting places. 🙂
How amazing Krista!! …and it is right in my backyard! :0! Let me know if you are heading to Coffs at any time and we will pack a picnic and go somewhere nice. 😉
Ohhh, I didn’t know that, @GourmetGetaway:disqus ! Next time hopefully we won’t be making a mad dash down your way and can actually stop for a visit. A picnic would be absolutely fantastic. 🙂
Well I never there is a Stonehenge in Australia as well. It looks a lovely spot. 🙂
I had no idea either, @LindyLouMac:disqus 🙂 It was a great surprise. 🙂
Wow Krista, love your Australian Stonehenge experience. I don’t have a particular Celtic affinity, I’m happy to live through your experiences 🙂
Sounds like a deal, @wanderingsheila:disqus 🙂
Love that pic of you on the rock!
Thank you, @AndiPerullo:disqus 🙂 Bear had to help me scrabble up, but once I was on the top I felt like Queen of the World!! 🙂
That is so great! Australia seems to be a land full of surprises and diversity! I do have an affinity for all things Celtic, I’m ScottsIrish background and I love hearing the bagpipes. =)
I didn’t know your background was so rich in Celtic-ness, @breannemosher:disqus 🙂 Just one more way we’re kindred spirits. 🙂
I had no idea this existed!! I would definitely stop
I didn’t either, @inspiringtravellers:disqus 🙂 It was such a fantastic surprise. 🙂
I know, we have lots of those “balancing” rocks in Arizona, and it doesn’t seize to amaze me how they manage to stay put through hundreds of years! well, look like you had a really fun detour and a good story to tell to all of us! 🙂
I’ve never seen anything like them before, @juliajuliasalbumcom:disqus 🙂 How nice to have them so close to you!
I’m in awe just looking at the photos…can’t imagine actually BEING there!
Thank you, @joanneeatswellwithothers:disqus 🙂 I just kept spinning around trying to take it all in – I couldn’t believe it either. 🙂
Ohhh, this looks interesting. Love the idea of a beard growing contest. Barry would probably be a contender at that at the moment! 🙂
Julia
That contest cracked me up too, @turkeysforlife:disqus 🙂 I’d love to be there to photograph the event for sure. 🙂
Australia is on my bucket list…when I get over a) my fear of flying and b) my fear of all those deadly snakes/spiders/everything you have there ;). Looks amazing!
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