Colo Meroo campsite

[jackattack]

Hi gang

Has anybody walked into Colo Meroo campground from Upper Colo Rd Recently? I want an easy walk in campsite far away to be quiet free of hoardes of car campers.

I understand access is through private property..

is access still possible from Upper Col Rd? I have phones Richmond NPWS, left a message for reply.

Thanks in advance

Jack

[Rosscodj]

https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/ca ... sitor-info

From the NPWS website (link above):

Alternatively, if starting upstream from Upper Colo Road:

This 2.5km walking track crosses private property so please leave the gates as you find them
Please ensure you stay on the marked walking route into Colo Meroo

I'd say it's still ok to go via that route.
Looks like a nice spot! I'll have to check it out once day.

[jackattack]

Yeah I read that as well. I drove out on Wednesday night to take a look. The sign on gate clearly stated No river access. There was a barking dog and a light came on and I retreated before I could nose around more.

I will follow up with NPWS and report.

Jack

[rcaffin]

Yes, you can walk in to the NPWS Colo Meroo camp site - always.

The 4WD track is meant to be on a gazetted public right of way, but it sometimes wanders off the theoretical route. That does not matter however, as the law gives you the right to walk the track even if it strays. So says the Chief Engineer for Colo Shire in his official capacity. Just stay on the track.

The gate at the start is locked, and it will stay that way. It keeps the trail bikes and 4WDs out, and no-one wants to change that (no-one that matters, anyhow). It's an easy walk.

The 'No River Access' sign applies to the properties along the way. Once you leave the track (before getting to the campground) you are trespassing on Private Property, so don't. You can however access the river at the Colo Meroo campground, legally.

Yes, ALWAYS leave any gates as you find them.

Cheers
Roger

[jackattack]

Hi Rodger,
Thankyou for this information. I will walk in this way
soon and have a quiet relaxing time by the
river.

I agree gates should be shut to 4wd and motorbikes.

And yes to respect of gates.

I really appreciate your advice, I was
disappointed when I thought I couldn't walk in.

Thankyou! Jack

[Tortoise]

Great news! The easy access to Meroo brings back fantastic memories. It was my first overnighter after 2 years totally out of the bush with chronic fatigue. A bunch of friends helped carry my stuff. We had a cuppa on the way, and I needed a couple of lie-down rests. We had 3 magical days in there. In spite of the amazing remote multi-days I've done since then, it still counts as one of my best walks ever!

[rcaffin]

When you get to the Colo-Meroo campground, you can go up to Meroo itself. A bit of a steep climb, but not too far. At the 'top' there are two tracks. The one on the right goes to Mt Lagoon (longish) via a narrow rocky ridge and then across the plateau. The one on the left goes to the Meroo trig. There is room for a couple of tents up there somewhere, but (obviously) no water.

Cheers
Roger

[johnw]

The one on the right goes to Mt Lagoon (longish) via a narrow rocky ridge and then across the plateau.

Mailes Ridge - Has some fantastic views in places looking down on the Colo R. I remember years ago doing an overnight trip this way to Colo Meroo. We shared the campsite with a large wombat that huffed at us then went about its business. Lovely spot.

[Neo]

A great spot is Bob Turners Track. Go over the bridge, up the hill and past the roadhouse a few hundred metres turn left for about 1km. It's a nice walk down to the river, a bit upstream of Meroo. Could pitch there but on the other side is a great beach for sand camping and swimming. No toilet.

I hope to explore much further upstream one day, Colo Gorge.

[Petew]

Colo gorge is wonderful. I haven't been there for years but did maybe 5 week long trips there on lilos in the late 80s and early 90s. Great way to spend a week.

[mandragara]

I go to the Colo quite regularly, never been south of Bob Turners though, maybe I should investigate the T3 track - Colo Meroo loop sometime. You lot have tempted me.

[Neo]

Waratahs grow around there. Very tall and narrow.
Once off tracked downstream of Bobs, crossed to a beach, the T3 sounds familiar. Camped up high then ended at Meroo.

[rcaffin]

maybe I should investigate the T3 track - Colo Meroo loop sometime.
Mt Lagoon - T3 - Colo - Colo-Meroo camp - Mt Meroo - Mt Lagoon is a very long day even in summer time. As an overnight, camping at Colo-Meroo, it should be easy.

The river banks are pretty thick in places. We found the fastest way down the river was by walking in it. Pick a low water level for this.

You can do a shorter loop by going up the steep narrow spur opposite the S end of the Townsend spur (left side of gully going up). However, there are some cliffs, and a bit of rope or tape is strongly recommended. Having a rock climber with you is helpful. Be careful.

Cheers
Roger

[mandragara]

Cheers for the info.

I'm one of those start at dawn, finish after dark daywalkers, so I think I'll be OK. I might get clever and dump my mtn bike at the firetrail above Meroo so I can ride back to my car at T3 track!

[Wollemi]

When you get to the Colo-Meroo campground, you can go up to Meroo itself. A bit of a steep climb, but not too far. At the 'top' there are two tracks. The one on the right goes to Mt Lagoon (longish) via a narrow rocky ridge and then across the plateau. The one on the left goes to the Meroo trig. There is room for a couple of tents up there somewhere, but (obviously) no water.

I would like to travel a loop; Upper Colo - Colo Meroo - Maile's Ridge - Gospers Ridge - Sam's Way - Mountain Lagoon Trail - Comleroy Road.
The issue of concern is I want to do the trip by CX bike + is the 4km of apparently steep ridge defined well at the moment ? I have not travelled Maile's Ridge or Gosper's Ridge before.
It is likely I may go alone - is the navigation to find the start at the bottom in Colo Meroo tricky ? I won't have a GPS.

I will swap out of my SPD shoes into runners early on to carry the large bicycle. I have previously walked in and out of the T3 track alone (but then got lost in heavy rain while walking out with 2 others)

EDIT. 26/06. Trip done, carrying a fixie. 32km from Upper Colo. Colo Meroo access was confusing + I passed through three gates that said no trespassing, but no-one came out of two different houses to challenge me as I walked through properties. Sign there guides you to Mailes Ridge walking track. Took 7 hrs to do this loop via Sam's Way. The Mailes Ridge track was indistinct at times, taking up much precious daylight. Gosper's Ridge trail has soil berms caused by trail-bikes Cycling downhill 550m under starlight through Wollemi NP from Mountain Lagoon to Upper Colo under starlight was incredible