Katoomba to Budawangs?

[ferozious]

I have some time off until mid February 2013.

I have been thinking of doing the Katoomba to Mittagong walk but thought to myself, "why stop there?"

I could pre-place my mountain bike (and some sort of food drop) near Hill Top and then spend a day or so riding down to Morton N.P at Bundanoon. From there (after just a quick look at the NSW Whereis Map) I envisaged a route from Bundanoon down to the Shoalhaven River then upstream to Bungonia (second food drop).
Then from Bungonia somehow over to Sassafras (third food drop) and thence down to Long Gully Carpark where some sort of vehicle would be available to transport me back home.

I am well aware of the routes from Katoomba to Mittagong and then Sassafras to Long Gully but does anyone have any knowledge of possible routes from Bundanoon to Bungonia and then on to Sassafras?

(I'm assuming the Bicentennial National Trail, wherever it is at those lattitudes would be crossing through flat, privately owned areas which wouldnt be ideal for hiking)

Cheers.

[jackhinde]

why not ride to fitzroy falls, drop down mcphails trail, pass through kangaroo valley, ride to tallowa dam, walk down river to the junction of the ettrema, wander up it to sassafras?

[ferozious]

That definately sounds interesting.
I always thought Tallowa Dam was restricted access due to Water Catchment. After a quick browse on the net it appears to be Schedule 2 so hiking is feasible.

Thanks for that jack, ill definately look into it.

[jackhinde]

no restricted access other than not being allowed to drop your tinny in at the boat ramp.
if you want a real adventure why not ride from mittagong (it is not "katoomba to mittagong" if you pull out at hilltop!) to moss vale, park your bike and drop down the meryla pass to yarrunga creek, swim across and wander on the old milk road to beehive point where you can hitch a ride on a passing canoe... shouldn't be a drama catching a ride- 300 hundred people have done the valley to tallowa this week end apparently.

[clarence]

Great idea Ferozius,

I have been thinking of a Morton NP mega traverse (Tallong to Currockbilly) or similar for many years.

I have walked most of the section from Bundanoon to Bungonia in various different combinations. I have done various trips across, through etc the area roughly bounded by Bungonia, Bundanoon and Sassafras.

The most obvious route for walking south of Bundanoon is Bundanoon Creek. It is very pretty and wild country, but quite slow going.

When you reach the back of the lake Yarrunga where Bundanoon Creek flows in, it would be quite slow going around the lake shore all the way to Fossickers Flat (which is the only part I have not walked, but which I have liloed and canoed). The only person I know who walked from the current dam up to Fossickers along the lake shore said it was very slow and rugged going. It may well be quicker to lilo this part. From Fossickers up to Bungonia is very pleasant and spectacular walking overall.

In the bigger context however, for a through trip, I would suggest taking the bike to Tallong and heading DOWN the Shoalhaven to somewhere like Rotten Creek, then heading up there and over the plateau into the Ettrema system, then up onto ridge to the east of Ettrema which will take you out along a fire trail in the headwaters of Jones Creek and on to Sassafras. I have walked a substantial portion of this suggested route, and most of it is very acheiveable and totally mindblowing wilderness country. From what I have seen of the country, the bits I have NOT done should not be too different overall from the rest in terms of difficulty, navigation, water, wilderness value etc.

The other option would be to walk up the Shoalhaven River from Tallong/Badgerys Crossing (there are two alternative lesser-known entry points downstream of Badgerys Crossing, which I can send you privately if you wish, from where you could enter the river system and walk upstream). Irrespective of where you start, you could head up the River itself to the vicinity of the Horsehoe Bends. For this part you would need a lilo for some sections, in particular the Blockup Gorge. AS the name suggests, the Blockup is completely water-filled from side to side for about 1km, and not possible to walk through.

Above here there are a few systems of little known but spectacular creeks and gorges to the east, which could be used to head generally east/southeast to the Tolwong Road, depending on how far south you wanted to hit it. In that area the terrain and vegetation makes for magnificent walking, and it is highly underrated and rarely visited bushwalking country.

Please PM me if you want more info, and I will have a better look at my own maps in the meantime to refresh my memory and get in the mood for my own trip.

Clarence

[WarrenH]

I'm assuming the Bicentennial National Trail, wherever it is at those latitudes would be crossing through flat, privately owned areas which wouldn't be ideal for hiking.

Ferozious, G'day.

The BNT doesn't go near where you are intending to travel ... the BNT is further west. The skinny for the BNT to the equivalent latitudes for your starting and finishing points, is along the Great Dividing Range not the Great Escarpment that your intending to follow.

Happy looming New Year.

Warren.

[ferozious]

Thanks Clarence and Warren.

Over Christmas I lost a bit of my motivation for this trip, but after your very detailed input Clarence, I am definately going to do it! (hopefully....)

I will first need to get some more maps for the Bundanoon - Sassafras section.
I also bought the "Bushwalking in the Budawangs" book the other day. It really is a great book for people wanting to explore the region.

[ferozious]

Does anyone know if there are hot showers available at Yerranderrie?

[Wollemi]

...hot showers available at Yerranderrie?

Yes. At the lower timber village, not the higher brick village. There is a small fee. You going soft?

...hot showers available at Yerranderrie?

I went Googling for you, and immediately found this; http://www.yerranderie.com/notice1.htm

Yerranderie: 0246 596 165 General Information: john@yerranderie.com Caretaker Yerranderie: yerranderie@bluemaxx.com.au

[ferozious]

You going soft?

haha, not soft. If there is a luxury readily available to me then I won't avoid it.

It might improve the reception I get when I return home if I am just that little bit less smelly.

[ferozious]

The route has been confirmed!

Katoomba
Konangaroo Clearing
Mt. Cloudmaker
Roots Ridge to Kowmung
Brief side trip on the Axehead Range
Yerranderrie
Beloon Pass
Nattai Road to Hilltop (I don't have the Mittagong map so wont be doing all of the Nattai River)

Then on the mountain bike from Hilltop to Tallong via Bundanoon

Leave bike at Long Point Lookout Tallong

Hike down to Shoalhaven River
Up Rainbow Ridge (apparently it is an awesome knife edge ridge in some parts)
Tryers Ridge to Tolwong
Drovers Ridge Trail
Dungeon Canyon
Ettrema Gorge (side trip up Jones Creek)
All of Sentry Box Canyon
East up a ridge then onto Sassafras
Newhaven Gap
Visit to Aboriginal Bora Ground on Quilty's Mountain
Hidden Valley
Monolith Valley
Visit to the Castle
Long Gully

Approx. 240km hiking, 90km riding
13 - 17 days

I will be spending next week depositing the food drops, mountain bike and car whilst doing some small day trips. Can't wait!

Thanks to those who have helped me in working out this route!

[jackhinde]

i have to admire your spirit in attempting this in one slog.

[WarrenH]

East up a ridge then onto Sassafras

Ferozious, is this possible.

I've done Ettrema a few times. The only exit before Sentry Box is at the head of Jones Creek(?)(not counting exciting up Transportation Spur to the north). The head of Jones Creek exits relatively close to Turpentine Road and the only exits after Sentry Box, are Rockslab Creek(?) and Bullfrog Creek(?) exciting to the Queirra Clearing, North of The Jumps.

What have I missed? Have new routes been posted? It is wild country if you're not on the concentric rock pavements that skirt the edges of the gorge, making for the roads.

Warren.

[ferozious]

Hi Warren,

Thanks for the input.
Rockslab Creek doesn't appear to be labelled on my topo map. Is that the one existing West from Ettrema Creek at GR 421 208 on the Nerriga 1:25000?

My plan is to continue upstream along Ettrema Creek past Bullfrog Creek until the cliffs on the East become lower and a route can be negotiated up to the East. Google Earth imagery and topography, although vague, indicates that this might be possible around 2 - 3 km upstream from Bullfrog Creek.

I just hope that the scrub in Ettrema Creek upstream from Bullfrog Creek doesn't become too much of an issue, as I have never visited that part.

(Does anyone know what the scrub is like in that part of Ettrema Creek?)

[jackhinde]

if it is like the backrange creek and bulee brook which i have explored then you will be moving slowly.
which creek is rockslab warren? i have entered into sentry box via one of the un named creeks south of churinga head using a rope.

[WarrenH]

Ferozious and Jack, G'day.

Rockslab Creek doesn't appear to be labelled on my topo map. Is that the one existing West from Ettrema Creek at GR 421 208 on the Nerriga 1:25000?

(Does anyone know what the scrub is like in that part of Ettrema Creek?)

Yes, about 2.5 - 3 kilometres west of Sentry Box Canyon. You will know when you're exiting Sentry Box because the gorge becomes distinctively different, as distinctively different, as when you first enter Sentry Box.

When I wrote that there are only a few exits to Ettrema, I was thinking of you always moving forward, rather than exiting early and then having to do an extended bush bash. If you need to you can exit heading West before Jones Creek at Myall Creek or exit to the East going over Hamlets Crown. I've exited on the three major creeks facing North West after Sentry Box Canyon. With the waterfall exit, I started to climb and I crossed-over just below the waterfall and climbed up the scree slope pulling myself up through the Wonga Vines, I liked it. With Bullfrog, the moment you feel you can exit Bullfrog do, then make for the rock pavements.

What is the scrub like? It is full-on if you cant make it to a rock pavement on the Southern side of Ettrema. On the Northern side of Ettrema once you clear the escarpment, make for the highest point which is a mini-high ground (not that it will feel like being an easier high ground) on the map and keep to that higher ground, making your way to Tolwong Road.

There are some very interesting narrow gullies with warm temperate rainforests, if you have the time to explore.

http://wildwassa.deviantart.com/gallery ... 6#/d1yyk9q


Jones Creek Gorge is a classic. By the way, take a pair of goggles to enjoy the deep pools ... the water is amazingly clear. At Jones Creek just below the waterfall, I tried to touch the bottom, but I didn't get close.You can think that Ettrema Creek is only a metre deep at times, when it is glassy.

http://wildwassa.deviantart.com/gallery ... 6#/d1z73bn


Ferozious, you might find this interesting being a dirt rider. I take my MTB bushwalking ... https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/?o= ... =7644&v=BI

Warren.

PS, Clicking on the photos, enlarges them, particularly the Mount Sassafras image benefits being larger.

[ferozious]

These bushfires and heat waves aren't helping much.
I've been ready to go deposit my food drops since Monday. Nowra-Braindwood Road currently closed as is the Princes Highway south of Ulladulla.

[Allchin09]

Ferozious - Did you ever end up going on this trip?

[jackhinde]

probably still out there, the dooragarl got him?

[Allchin09]

probably still out there, the dooragarl got him?

Haha

[ferozious]

haha, I only ended up doing Katoomba to Hilltop since the bushfire closures prevented me from leaving a car and food drop in the Morton N.P.

I don't think I'll have that much time off again for a number of years.
I do hope to complete the other sections of this hike though - I haven't yet been down into Ettrema.