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This is a picturesque trip across the peel fault and is designed as a guide only you can feel free to stop at any point you feel will result in good bird watching.
Start by following the Fossickers Way south (towards Barraba) for 15 kilometres, turn left onto the Upper Bingara Road at the Upper Bingara Fossicking Area / Three Creeks Gold Mine Sign. After 5 kilometres you will pass through a belt of Serpentine, this is the Peel Fault which stretches from Warialda to Taree.
This heavily timbered mountainous region is a western extremity of the New England Range. Expect to see Scarlet Honeyeaters. The Side entry tracks are worth exploring as well. The entry to Three Creeks Gold Mine can be found 4 kilometres up the range.
After leaving the mine continue on for one kilometre to the Upper Bingara Village (the remanets of the old mining village, where miners camped in the 1800’s).
Continue through the village for the next 8.5 kilometres where the road meanders through open to scrubby country. Note the patches of native callistemon species, an unnamed Siberi found only along the Peel Fault. The road follows a creek through another exposure of Serpentine amid a large area of Grass Trees.
Continue for the next 6 kilometres through open farming land to the Fossickers Way intersection and turn right for the return trip to Bingara. On the return trip, 5 kilometres from the intersection heading towards Bingara is a wetland, often dry, called The Ponds Camp. This was a favourite camping place for drovers. Much of the stock route has been leased to adjoining landholders.
After another 8 kilometres the road crosses Halls Creek, the deep banks and excavation on the left-hand side of the road are worth investigation. Another 2.5 kilometres brings you to Ruby Hill Fossicking Area, look for pyrope garnets. There is a bush track around the hill to Halls creek through the thick area of Coolatai Grass.
After leaving Ruby Hill turn left and continue the last 20 kilometres to Bingara.
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