The drive took the trekkers from the Gloucester Environment Group through Dungog to the Barrington Tops and the start of the Rocky Crossing Walk.

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The walk, which runs along the Williams River, offers scenic rainforest views, wildlife and birdwatching.

This area is the most extensive strip of diverse rainforest anywhere on earth.

Listed as a World Heritage Area, it protects ancient Aboriginal campsites, scarred trees and sacred ceremonial places of several Indigenous groups.

This can be a challenging walk, even when going downhill, as it can be very slippery in the wet.

This didn’t deter the walkers who came fully prepared with hiking gear.

“Commencing at the Lagoon Pinch picnic area it was all downhill from there, with the occasional hike up from the river rest areas,” said walker Di Montague.

“The opportunity to see, at close hand, soaring old gums reaching for the sky, is rare.

“Mossy covered stumps are dotted throughout, reminding us of past logging.

“We walked through dense forests of sassafras avoiding the occasional stinging tree.

“Thick strangler figs and vines curled and looped their way around and around.”

A rest and morning tea at the river waterfall gave walkers a chance to take photos before they headed off again.

The wet ground with leaf mulch was the perfect home for leeches, and they weren’t only on the ground.

“One of the group, who is particularly tall, had one on his hat as he ducked through low branches,” Di said.

“Nevertheless, it didn’t deter us from enjoying the beauty surrounding us.

“A lyrebird crossed our path, whipbirds could be heard and we spent some time deciding if the melodious song was a golden whistler or rufous whistler, or both.

“A pretty fantail fluttered around and a bush turkey was seen scratching in the undergrowth.”

After lunch by the river, the walkers returned back to the Williams River picnic area.