Holiday ride day 2 - Chillagoe and Mungana
19th September 2026
Sunrise with the Swans.
Day two would start with eating breakfast whilst the Swans fed in front of me on the foggy water top. After breakfast I would pack up camp as I had decided to change my plans and head out to Chillagoe.
On the way there I would pass the Koorboora Cemetery as I have done many times in the past. On this day however I would stop to spend some time there.
The Aboriginal meaning of Koorboora is “barren place” and there are 27 known graves in the cemetery. Many of them for very young children and adults well under 50 years of age. The township of Koorboora was established in 1889 to service nearby tin and wolfram mines.
The Balancing Rock, Chillagoe, 2019.
Back in 2019 I visited Chillagoe with my wife and we went to some of the main tourist attractions like the Balancing Rock. Today she would be unable to sit there as they have now fenced off the rock.
Mungana Caves, Chillagoe 2019.
Unlike the more popular caves you are able to roam Mungana Caves on your own. We loved our time there and I could not wait to revisit, something I had been planning to do for a long time. On this solo trip I would finally revisit Mungana Caves.
Chillagoe Observatory & Eco Lodge
Setting up camp in Chillagoe.
I wanted to unload my bike before heading out to Mungana. I checked into the Chillagoe Observatory & Eco Lodge which I have stayed at before. A great place to stay that you can have as many modern luxuries or as few as you like.
Mungana Caves
Entering the caves at Mungana.
My plan was to scout the caves at Mungana then come back the next day to take photos and possibly stay another night in Chillagoe.
Can you see the face? Mungana Caves.
Everything about the caves is on a grand scale. This white rock section is about 20 metres tall…….and I saw a face in it so had to take a photo.
Walking in between the caves to exit on what was once an ocean floor.
I had been invited by the owners of the Chillagoe Observatory & Eco Lodge to join them and some other local business people for drinks back at the Lodge so it was time to head back.
On the way back my bike threw a drive mode error code and the check engine came on……. and stayed on. My plans were about to change again.