Starlight Canyon

26/1/2014

Party: Sydney Bushwalking Club led by Terry Moss

Grade:  3, very easy with no swimming involved, headtorch needed

Track notes: It's day 2 of the Australia Day long weekend with SBW and we head off along the very same track we used the day before to get to Devil's Pinch Canyon. Climbing that hill the second time around wasn't as fun as you knew exactly what you were in for. This time we walked much further along the track (and didn't bush bash) as this canyon started on a ridge further than Devil's Pinch.

After some navigational issues we got to the first abseil- in  my opinion it would be very difficult to get to without an experienced navigator. However we did come to an obvious T intersection and veered to the left of the ridge (this is all I can remember).

There were 3 longish abseils in this canyon- with it being very open (unlike other canyons being narrow and dark). The third abseil was down a very slippery and mossy waterfall. 

At the bottom of this canyon there is a beautiful stretch of canyon (more like a cave!) of which you can take off your backback and walk down with a headtorch. I was absolutely terrified of going by myself- it's pitch black and there are lots of tight squeezes and goes for about 10-15 minutes. However it's worth it to see the little glow worms :)

Abseil into the cave section

Cave section

Spot for lunch after the abseils

Abseil down the waterfall

Devils Pinch Canyon

25/1/2014

Party: Sydney Bushwalking Club led by Terry Moss

Grade:  Supposedly a grade 5 but in my opinion a grade 3

Track notes: It's Australia Day long weekend and my first trip with the Sydney Bushwalking Club. I left Sydney at 5am to get to Newnes Camping Ground for an 8.30am start. After setting up my tent for the weekend and getting acquainted with the group we head off. Newnes camping ground is one of my favourites as it has a large grassy area surrounded by beautiful cliff faces and the Wolgan River nearby.

The track starts off to the left of the Wolgan river- it is a clearly defined track that goes along the river for maybe 30 minutes until you reach a signpost for the start of Starlight/Pipeline Canyon. This is the start of a 300m ascent with a very rewarding look out at the top. Unlike most canyons, you do the 'climb out' at the start of the trip instead of the end. 

After morning tea we head off along the clearly defined track along a ridge top for about an hour. We then veer left to go down Devil's Pinch. The first abseil was absolutely stunning- it is like abseiling down a crevice and hence why they called in Devil's Pinch. It was about 20m long. The canyon itself was nice but not the best I have seen, and the fact that the water was insepid made it uncomfortable (due to no rain). 

In the end we inadvertently missed the final abseil by mistakenly going around it- but it was supposed to be a 50m abseil down a long waterfall.

Overall devil's pinch is not my favourite- mostly because of the smelly water and the fact that we missed the last abseil! However at the bottom there is a beautiful narrow passage way- definately the highlight.

Exit back up Wolgan river to camp

Twister (Sheep Dip) & Rocky Creek Canyon

21/12/2013

Party: Matt, Mark & Steph

Grade:  Easy/Beginner- no abseils but wetsuit advisable as lots of swimming

Track notes:
This is a fairly popular canyon with many beginners. It's also great for a hot summers day and for just a bit of fun as there are no abseils so you don't need to worry about bringing a rope and there are lots of jump-in's and swimming involved.

The track starts at the Rocky Creek carpark, where after 100m there is a smaller track to the right. Following this track for about 10 minutes you reach the start point where you put on your wetsuit.

There are about 3 places you need to either climb down or jump- however the 3rd and final one you have to jump and it is about 3m high. There is then a fixed line where you can climb down to the right hand side (so pack a small 10m rope just in case it is gone!)

After this final jump you have reached the end of Twister canyon and there are lots of big boulders to climb down. You reach a T intersection in the mountain, where you turn right to go down Rocky Creek and left to go up back to the car park.

Rocky Creek is also a fun canyon but it is much more beautiful than Twister. Once we reached the end of Rocky creek (where the creek started to dry up) we turned around and came up back up it- then turned right at the T intersection to get back to the cars (about a 20-30 minute walk up a steep hill).

Entering Twister canyon

Twister Canyon

The first jump in Twister Canyon

The last jump in Twister 

On the way to rocky creek

The first jump at Rocky Creek

Rocky Creek Canyon

Rocky Creek Canyon

Rocky Creek Canyon

Rocky Creek Canyon

Rocky Creek Canyon

Rocky Creek Canyon

Rocky Creek Canyon

Rocky Creek Canyon

Rocky Creek Canyon

Rocky Creek Canyon

Breakfast Creek Canyon

24/11/2013

Party: Neil, Michelle, Caleb, Ian & Steph

Grade:  Medium- 3 abseils, wesuit needed

Track notes:
Dad and I left Sydney very early to get to the start of the track by 8am, where we had planned to meet the Canberra mob who had come up the night before. We had planned to do Heart Attack canyon this day but the forboding weather and thunder in the distance made us think a shorter canyon was a much better option.

Breakfast creek canyon starts along the same road you use to get to Rocky Creek Canyon, but before it. I remember this canyon being a absolutely beautiful with 3 short abseils. My uncle Ian did not wear his wetsuit however it is greatly advisable to do so because it is a deep and dark canyon with very little sunlight.

The bottom of the canyon leads into Rocky Creek where you can then swim/walk upstream and do Rocky Creek Canyon backwards. However due to the high waters it would have been impossible for us to make it.

A great day and a beautiful canyon.

Michelle on the second abseil

In the canyon

Caleb on the 3rd abseil

Walking along rocky creek

The little beach at the exit

Square Top, Round & Fosters Mountain Walk

5/10/13

Party: Neil & Steph

Grade:  Mostly difficult off track overgrown scrub bashing.

Track notes:
As we were quite disorganised Dad and I didn't leave until the Saturday morning. On the drive down south to the Budwangs we realised that we had forgotten all the dry food and had to stop at Woolies on the way.

At about 10am after this set back we were finally on foot- the plan was meant to be to climb 5 mountains of about 300m height. However after we had climbed our first mountain- Square Top- we quickly came to realise this would be too ambitious. The scrub on this mountain was very thick and to top it all off we didn't even get the reward if a great view from the top because it was overgrown.

We then climbed Round Mountain and it was the same story. By this time it was getting dark so we decided to set up camp on the side of a fire trail as we didn't think we would make the camp cave off of Fosters mountain, and also weren't sure there would be any drinking water on the top of it.

The next day we climbed Fosters mountain and then headed through some swamps back to the car. All in all it was a bit of a disappointing weekend as we didn't get any good views and the walking off track was quite difficult.

Square Top Mountain

Round Mountain

Square Top Mountain

Tahmoor Canyon

25/4/13

Party: Luke S, Steph H, Ayla S & Mitch C

Grade: Really really easy, no wetsuits or abseils

Track notes: Last minute we all decided we wanted to do something fun for ANZAC day so we decided to do this canyon as it looked really easy and it was something we bring our friends along for as they were new to this sort of thing.

The canyon starts in Tahmoor just underneath a bridge next to a creek. The start of the canyon isn't very appealing, the creek is cemented and there is a lot of rubbish around. It is clear that a lot of people have been through there which is sad. After about 15 minutes it starts to really look like a canyon, even though there are still a lot of fluro markers on the trees to tell you which way to go.

On the left you go past mermaids pool, which is an absolutely beautiful water hole that you can swim in, although it is quite difficult to get down to. We stuck to the path which veered left, and eventually made our way down into the canyon. Once down there we were able to navigate ourselves through the canyon, and eventually found the exit and made our way back up.

This canyon was great for real beginners like those who have never been bushwalking, as it isn't too intense and it is a good way for them to get a taste of what it's all about (despite all the rubbish around!).

Mermaids Pool

At the bottom of the canyon

Pencil falls

View on the way out

Kanangra Plateau & Mount Berry Walk

6/4/13 - 7/4/13

Party: Luke S & Steph H

Grade: Very easy

Track Notes: This Easter long weekend Luke and I decided to go camping for one night down at Kanangra Walls- however thanks to Luke leaving behind the tent poles we had to sleep in the back of his car.

We drove down on the Saturday morning and stopped off at Jenolan Caves where we did a cave tour of the Temple of Baal Cave which was amazing. We also explores some of the free caves around it. After staying over night, we had an early start and drove over to the Kanagra Walls car park and began our walk.

We started with the Kanagra Walls Plateau walk, which is absolutely mind blowing. The views are just incredible and surreal. After walking across the entire plateau along the clear path, we started our descent down into a little gulley and ensured we veered left. Continuing along this path we started our ascent again up towards Mount Berry. We kept walking until we reached a huge pagoda, where we then turned right and walked along the pagoda until we found a way to climb on top of it. Once we got to the top, the views were even more stunning- 360 DEGREE VIEWS!! Unbelievable! After a well deserved lunch break amidst the scenery we returned :) The walk was about 3 hours return.

All in all, a great little weekend away! Kanagra Walls is definately one of my favourite places by far and would highly recommend it.

Jenolan Caves

Temple of Baal

Temple of Baal

Waterfall walk from Kanagra

Kanangra Walls lookout- Plateau walk in distance

Along the walls

Along the walls

Along the walls- dark areas are canyons- can see Danae Brooks from here