The village of Wollombi was established as the administrative centre for the district, built where the Great North Road split with one branch going north and the other east. One can step back in time when you visit this charming little village. The story of why Wollombi did not develop into a large town is told else where on the Wollombi Valley website.

When traveling from Sydney via Tourist Route 33 you join the Convict Trail at Bucketty at the intersection of the road from St Albans.

For those traveling through

A very few minutes north of the Bucketty intersection is Ramseys Leap. The 100 meter long dry stone wall up to 4.5 meters high supports, beneath the bitumen, the road that was built by hand across the saddle between 1830-2 and you are driving on it. This wall is as good as those on Devines Hill for which a World Heritage nomination has been applied for.

After you have traveled down the hill and across the valley floor past Fernances Crossing you climb another hill. Halfway up the hill in an abandoned loop on your left is a large stone culvert set in a curved retaining wall. Down and up again and you pass Murrays run culvert, also on your left in an abandoned loop.

Next you come to Laguna here there is a church, a school, a community hall and the Laguna Wine bar and store that also sells petrol. An abandoned loop of the Great North Road runs in front of the Wine Bar.

Plan to spend a few minutes at the Bucketty precinct or perhaps enjoy a picnic in the bush surrounds. Only 1 hour north from the start of the F3 you are surrounded by bushland without a building insight. At the Bucketty Precinct there is a large abandoned loop that contains a large culvert (reconstructed), the remains of a bridge (the gap filled with a large pipe), stone packed road surface, cut drains, rock platform road surface and a small box culvert. This site is suitable for people with impaired mobility. Disabled parking is adjacent to the large wooden gate.

For those with a sense of adventure who don’t mind driving on a dirt (gravel) road a 4 kilometer detour to Mt Manning is very rewarding.

On this now little used road surrounded by bushland with the cicadas singing or a light wind rustling the trees it is easy to imagine your self back in time. Examples can be seen of most of the elements of the whole historic road. They can be viewed from the car or visited in short, easy walks. The greater part of this road is little changed since the convicts built it in 1830 to 1832.

There are also great views to Mt Yengo across the wilderness of the Yengo National Park