2017 Moke Round Up - Schedule of Events

[Newie]

Some of the details still need some fine tuning, but we've had a few people asking what we have planned for the 2017 Round Up and thought it only fair to share our basic plans for the event so those who are interested have some idea what they're signing up for.

If you haven't been to a Tamworth Round Up before, the first thing you should do, if you haven't already, is to read the "What to expect at the Moke Round Up" thread which explains the basic concept and what we do at these events. https://www.mokeforum.com.au/index.php?topic=12622.0

If you have been to one or more of our events in Tamworth before, then you have a fair idea as each year's event is a variation on the same theme we started with in 2010.

We have always run these events starting on a Wednesday and going through until Sunday. To save a massive overload post though, we'll start off with the first three days in this post and get back to you on the weekend activities.

Wednesday 29 March 2017 - Bendemeer

An easy late start for the early arrivals, we are letting everyone have a sleep in and will leave Moke Central around 9.30 - 10.00am for a drive around some scenic back roads with the highlight being a run up the Bungendore Spur Rd, which is an interestingly steep, scenic gravel road known only to a handful of locals. The destination is Bendemeer Hotel for lunch. This hotel is very family friendly and they have a huge area running down to the McDonald River where the kids can run off some excess energy if the weather is good, or for the older folk to stroll around and stretch their legs.



After a lazy hour or two for lunch, we may split into two groups. From Bendemeer we have a choice of taking some scenic gravel roads back to Moke Central, or for those that have had enough dust for one day, it's very easy to get back home down the bitumen. Either way, the plan is to be back at Moke Central in plenty of time for Happy Hour.



Thursday - Split Rock Dam / Mount Borah

The plan for Thursday is to make our way to Split Rock Dam (approx 80km from Tamworth) for a picnic/BBQ lunch EDIT, - a few issues mean we may have to change the lunch destination on this one, but we will still be headed out in the same general direction. Just still working on finding a nice shady spot near some water that can accommodate us all then on to Mt Borah after lunch which offers some spectacular views. Mt Borah is famous as the venue for the National Paragliding championships. Those that don't want to do the Mount Borah leg (it does involve some gravel roads and a steep climb at the end, but well worth the trouble) will be given an easier alternate route home.



Friday - Quirindi / Werris Creek

The plan here is to run up to Wallabadah First Fleet Memorial Park for morning tea, then on to Quirindi for lunch. The group will be split at Wallabadah, with one group heading out along an interesting back road with quite a few good water crossings, while the less adventurous still get a nice scenic run along the bitumen into Quirindi.



Once we get to Quirindi we will be turning everyone loose to fend for themselves for a couple of hours. Quirindi is a small country town, with ample choice for lunch with several takeaways, coffee shops, pubs and an RSL Club. There are a few shops and other local attractions to keep everyone amused for an hour or two and once everyone has had a chance to eat and look around, we'll be heading back towards Tamworth via Werris Creek where we will stop to check out the Rail Worker's monument and the Railway museum, which is housed in the local historic Railway Station (c 1878). Worth a look for most people, and last time we visited we had to leave several railway buffs there when we moved on .



Again we have a couple of options to get home to Moke Central. A dirt track detour for those who are keen for it, or an easy half hour run down the bitumen for the rest.


So that's a start - I'll get back to you soon on the run down for Saturday and Sunday. Don't forget to also check out the "What to expect at the Tamworth Moke RoundUp" if you haven't already https://www.mokeforum.com.au/index.php?topic=12622.0

If you have any questions, post them up and we'll do our best to answer you.


Newie

[Newie]

It's taken me a while to get back to the other half of this post, but here's the basic plan for the weekend of the Round Up.


Saturday - Nundle

This run will be familiar to those who attended the 2010 and 2012 Round Ups. We tried something different in 2014, however this only served to prove that, although it's been done before, Nundle is the best location for the Saturday trip.

The basic plan is to head out from Moke Central, through Nundle to visit Sheba Dams and then on to Hanging Rock lookout which provides a fantastic steep windy Moke road, followed by spectacular views of the surrounding countryside from the lookout.



We then head back down into Nundle for lunch. There are several choices here ranging from BYO in the local park with kids playground, to a take away shop, a coffee shop style cafe that does lunches, or the historic c1860 pub which offers an inside dining room, beer garden out the back or you can sit at a table on the wide front verandah.

Nundle is an old gold mining town. It's quite a small tourist driven town these days, which offers a couple of popular antique shops, a replica gold mine experience, and an historic Woollen Mill which has proven very popular with the crafty ladies in the past.

We will give everyone a few hours to go and do their own thing before running the group back home to Moke Central

Sunday - Tamworth

We have tried a few different ways to get the most out of this last day of the event in the past, but have agreed among ourselves that what we did in 2014 (the last Round Up) worked the best and would be hard to top, so we're basically doing it again  .

Plan is to have all Mokes do a lap of the main street, then head up to Tamworth Lookout. The idea here is basically to line them up and show them off to each other. People will be given time to wander around and admire each others vehicles and see what ideas are worth stealing to use on their own Moke  . We will also be drawing raffles and making any presentations etc up there to basically wind the formal side of the event (such as it is) up. We don't run a show and shine or any sort of competition - this is as close as we get to that sort of thing.

We will then head down for the obligatory tourist stop/photo op at the Golden Guitar. As well as a huge guitar you can get your photo taken in front of, it is also the site of the Tourist Info centre complete with souvenir shop, Country Music Wax Museum, and the newly opened Collectors Museum, which features Don Bradman and other cricket/sporting memorabilia.



This is all conveniently located next door to a variety of eateries. Our recommendation is the Longyard Hotel, which has great meals and a fantastic outdoor family friendly beer garden. For those who want something simpler, there is also a McDonalds, KFC and Subway all within a minute or twos walk.

It's at this point that we would suggest any poor folk who need to get home so that they can front up for work, school etc Monday morning, could bid a fond farewell to their new and old Moking friends and head off down the road to home.

For those that are able to stay an extra night and make a fresh start home Monday morning, you have several options:

1. Stay at the Longyard for the afternoon - a popular choice for those with designated drivers 
2. Head back to Moke Central and relax before the big trip home, or take in some of the many other sights in Tamworth
3. For those who still haven't had enough of Moking around the countryside, we will be running a short afternoon drive of maybe 2 to 3 hours - details of which are yet to be confirmed, but won't be anything too strenuous (we've all had a long week by this stage  ).


So that's it in a nutshell. Don't forget to also read the  "What to expect at the Moke Round Up" thread https://www.mokeforum.com.au/index.php?topic=12633.0  for a more general overview of what the event is all about.

[Newie]

Not much has changed from our initial plans that we posted up here, but KMC has today updated the Round Up web page with a nice easy to read schedule of events 

www.mokeroundup.com.au/program.html


Newie

[Newie]

As people are gradually posting plans about when they will be arriving in Tamworth, I thought I'd post up some meeting points for Wednesday and Friday in case anyone is arriving in the morning or around midday and would like to catch up with the group for the lunch stop, which will be a couple of hours.

Wednesday is easy. We will be at the Bendemeer Hotel for lunch. Bendemeer is approx 40km north of Tamworth, just off the New England Highway. It's not a very big town, so you could probably follow your nose and find the pub (it's the only one in town), but the Google Map to it is here https://www.google.com.au/maps/place/Bendemeer+Hotel/@-30.8793547,151.1559185,15z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0x9458166a90cd3853!8m2!3d-30.8793547!4d151.1559185
It's on the way for anyone travelling south, and for those coming in from other directions, allow a good half hour to get there from Tamworth.

Friday we will be in Quirindi, which is 65km south of Tamworth. Not on the highway, but not hard to find. From Tamworth you head south down the New England highway towards Sydney for approx 50km where you turn off at Wallabadah and it's 15km into Quirindi from there.

If on the other hand you're on your way north to Tamworth on the New England highway, it's a very easy diversion and will add virtually no extra km to your trip to Tamworth. You turn off just the other side of Willow Tree (at the sign that says Quirindi) and it's only about 15km away.

Meeting up in Quirindi is a little trickier though as we're all parking up in one spot and then splitting up to forage for lunch. Although Quirindi's somewhat bigger than Bendemeer, it's still not so big that you won't see Mokes floating around town everywhere if you turn up at lunchtime on Friday.

Our mustering point for arrival and departure will be Jock Longfield Park. It doesn't come up as that on Google Maps though, but I have discovered that 38 Henry St Quirindi gets you there. It is a well signposted park next to the town swimming pool, so easy to spot when you get close. Has a lot of big shade trees which will probably have Mokes parked under them.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/place/38+Henry+St,+Quirindi+NSW+2343/@-31.508912,150.6825637,824m/data=!3m2!1e3!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x6b0afbe66a0c977b:0xd9bac2f0075baf96!8m2!3d-31.508912!4d150.6847577


Thursday is quite a lot harder to find us as we are heading out into the bush and having a picnic lunch (which will be provided by the way). If you're really keen on finding us that day, contact KMC or myself and we will give you directions.

Likewise if you'd like to meet up with us somewhere else, or at some other time, contact KMC or myself and we'll do our best to work out the best time and place to work in with you.

The other option of course (which I'm sure will be taken up by more than a few) is to sit back and relax after your long drive to Tamworth and enjoy the serenity before everyone starts pouring back into Moke Central  .


Newie