One of the iconic landscapes of inland Australia, Pilliga Forest (or sometimes called the Pilliga Scrub) is made up of Pilliga Nature Reserve, Timmallallie National Park, Pilliga West, and East State Conservation Areas.

Pilliga is a vast forest that spans more than half a million hectares and features 2,000km of public access trails.

A couple of years ago, we visited the Pilliga Bore Baths and thought we had 'done' the Pilliga. It was only after seeing Cuppa & Mrs Tea's blog that we realised that what we saw was only the tip of the iceberg.

After stopping at the Visitors Information Centre at Coonabarabran, we obtained directions to the Sandstone Caves. The Caves are off the Newell Highway but not signposted due to the respect of the elders of the Gamilaroi people. These caves are an important Aboriginal site and the Gamilaroi people's connections to this ancient landscape.

After taking in the views and enjoying these caves we ventured up the Newell Highway turning left onto the No 1 Break Road. So named appropriately, as for the first 20km in it was a shocking, corrugated road. Recent heavy rainfalls had affected this road and we could see and feel where causeways had had huge volumes of water flooding through.

Turning onto Top Crossing Road we found the 11km road much more pleasant, as we headed into the Dandry Gorge and Sculptures in the Scrub campground. This is a free campground in Timmallallie National Park. Here we enjoyed two very relaxing and peaceful days, listening to the birdlife, discovering the Sculptures in the Scrub and hiking through the gorge. The debris that has washed up beside tree trunks stood at least 5 foot high, which indicated the amount of water that would have rushed down through this gorge back in March.

There are five sculptures, each sculpture is the result of an artist collaborating with local Aboriginal Elders and young people on a piece that tells a story of local Aboriginal history and culture.

After speaking with other travellers, we were advised the road into Baradine wasmuch worse than the road coming in from the Newell Highway. In fact, heading towards Baradine was easier driving than the other direction.

At Baradine we visited The Pilliga Forest Discovery Centre, which was a very informative centre. We asked about the road condition up to Pilliga; the road has only recently been reopened after being affected by storm damage.

We arrived at Pilliga, the weather is a sunny 21 degrees. After paying our $5per night camp fees we set up camp at the Pilliga Bore Baths. The Pilliga Bore was established in 1902, after severe drought, for town water and later established as a swimming hole and then a pool. While we had our roast chicken cooking in the camp oven, we enjoyed a nice dip in the warm bore bath, chatting to fellow travellers. They move out and we got to enjoy the bath to ourselves for about 10 minutes before others joined us.

The following morning greets us with clear blue skies and a top of 25 degrees, so shorts went on first thing for the first time. We enjoyed three days here soaking up the warmer weather, the 37 degrees water and chatting to fellow travellers.