Kanangra to Katoomba with one night. Best place to camp

[NickB]

Hi All,

This is my first post here so I apologise if has already been discussed here.

We're off to do the KtoK soon and thinking we'd like to do it with just the one night camping / over two days. Will get off to a super early start for day one.
Could you suggest where to target for camp that's roughly halfway?

The more scenic campsite the better with a decent creek is preferred.
I have watched clips of a campsite near the Kowmung river that looks to be good / even to possibility of catching a trout I believe. Is this too far out of the way....

Or are we better off targeting the intersection of Cox's / Kanangra Creek area?


Thanks in advance for any suggestions / help - Nick

[Walk_fat boy_walk]

Kowmung is a loooonnnnggg way out of the way. Realistically the only place to camp is the general area of the Cox's (depending on which route you take). If doing the 'traditional' route I'd camp around Konangoroo, or even at the campsites along the Strongleg side of Kanangra Ck (as you suggest). From memory there are other places that are "give or take" half way, eg. some of the saddles between Moorilla Marroo and Strongleg or up on Yellow Dog, but for access to water and an even split of time I'd think you'd be somewhere along Cox's river.

[DaveNoble]

There are many routes you can take for a walk from Kanangra to Katoomba and all are good and worth doing. Here are some -

Kanangra Carpark - Thurat Firetrail - Mt Thurat - Mt Paralyser - Kanangra Ck - Kanongaroo - Yellow Pup - Medlow Gap - Narrow Neck - Katoomba

Kanangra Walls - Kilpatrick Causeway - Bourkes Butress - Kanangra Ck - Kanongaroo - Yellow Pup - Medlow Gap - Narrow Neck - Katoomba

Kanangra Walls - Crafts Walls - Gabes Gap - Mt High and Mighty - Mt Clouldmaker - Mt Strongleg - Kanongaroo - Yellow Pup - Medlow Gap - Narrow Neck - Katoomba

Kanangra Walls - Gingra Range - Kowmung River - Low Gangerang Range - White Dog - Medlow Gap - Narrow Neck - Katoomba

And there are a lot of variants of these. Most of these walks would be graded "medium" over two days, except perhaps the last one (medium/hard over 2 days or medium over 3 days)

For the first three walks, if doing the walk over 2 days, then the best place to camp is Kanongaroo. Best to get your water from Kanangra Ck.

Dave

[NickB]

Thanks guys that's super helpful info. Appreciate the comments!

Thinking it's this version - Kanangra Walls - Crafts Walls - Gabes Gap - Mt High and Mighty - Mt Clouldmaker - Mt Strongleg - Kanongaroo - Yellow Pup - Medlow Gap - Narrow Neck - Katoomba
As want to head up Cloudmaker.

Once we hit that Kanongaroo clearing area is it worth heading up/down creek to check for better spots than the clearing area itself?

[Xplora]

Pack light, walk fast, get water at Dex Creek and make it to the Cox's day 1. Some small spots to camp near the track up to Yellowpup. Purify the water. 2 big days but doable if you are fit. Maybe a trout to be caught. A few carp getting around there now. The rainbows will be heading up stream to spawn soon but there may be the odd resident brown. Please consider taking males only and leave the breeding females. Some think them a pest but I still like to catch them.

[DaveNoble]

Once we hit that Kanongaroo clearing area is it worth heading up/down creek to check for better spots than the clearing area itself?

If you look at the map - you can see that the easiest way down Strongleg Buttress descend to reach Kanangra Ck on a bend about 500 upstream - and there used to be great camping on that bend, or a short way downstream. Further down, near the junction with the Coxs River is a campsite that is fine - but not grassy flats. And you can camp at the bottom of Yellow Pup (not as nice though). Camping on Kanangra Creek has the advantage that you are camping right next to what must be close to the cleanest drinking water in the world.

Dave

[NickB]

Thanks Dave that's helpful. Will see what we can find around the bend and be sure to sample that water. One day would like to try the Kowmung river way and attempt to catch some trout there.
Again appreciate the comments/support.

[DaveNoble]

Kanangra Ck and the Coxs River can both be very good for trout.

[NickB]

Good to hear Dave. Any other hikes in the Blueys or there abouts you would recommend?????

We've done Solitary and Six Foot a few times now.
Long distance is better but also all about great camp locations.

[DaveNoble]

There are lots and lots of great walks in the Blue Mts. Many of the best are multi-day walks - e.g. into the Blue Breaks from Kanangra - and traversing Axehead Mtn and Broken Rock Range, or some of the high lever traverses in the Northern Blue Mts. These have great campsites - high on plateaux with great views. But no tracks and you need to carry water from some areas. These walks are also best done in the cooler months. In summer (or in Autumn with record heat) - it is best to stick to rivers and gorges. The walk down the Grose River from Mt Victoria to Blackheath or Leura is a good one.

Dave

[NickB]

Thanks mate I'll add those to the list.

The Hatchers Hollow hike also looks interesting - http://bushwalkingnsw.com/walk.php?nid=818

[tom_brennan]

Note that trips like Hatchers Hollow and a number of the routes that Dave mentioned will require you to do a lot more navigation than you will have done on Mt Solitary or the Six Foot Track.

Even K to K has its challenges, though there is a track the whole way - but not always straightforward!

[NickB]

Thanks for the heads up Agreed re Six Foot etc.
We're relatively experienced hikers but as a precaution I spoke to a mate up there who is one of the parks main rangers and he's talked me through KtoK / lending me his GPS also. Can't wait.