Budawangs - Broula Brook, Shrouded God, Castle & Owen

[bernieq]

After 2 failed attempts to get back into the Budawangs, we finally made Wog Wog - and with a good forecast, too.

In 2022, we were set to leave Victoria on a Saturday morning for a Budawangs tramp - but the 1st lock-down was announced on the Friday night ! The following year the plan was remade but 2 days before, a forecast of serious rain had us cancel the trip. I've previously had 4 days of torrential rain in the Budawangs (June 2007) and when finally able to move, made it to a 40m wide raging torrent - the normally 'step across' Wog Wog Creek. Not keen to repeat!

I'd read a 2013 trip report of a group exploring the upper reaches of Broula Brook (Batemans Bay Bushwalkers) which initially followed an alternate route off the Corang Plateau (see the Budawangs Sketch Map BSM) by heading north from near Corang Peak, down a steep unnamed Pass (Corang Pass?), back up through a narrow gap & down into the brook. It was a hard slog but we made the 'clearing' beside the brook & pitched tents.

upper Broula Brook 'clearing' - Sep 2023

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We were too knackered to do much exploring - the growth was pretty thick near the brook. The evening was filled with multiple competing lyrebirds - magic. On exit, we found a much easier route - for next time.

Water was trickling at Canowie & Burrumbeet Brooks but I wondered about availability in the upper Corang & at the overhangs at Mt Cole so we carried a few kg of extra water. As it turned out, not necessary - pools & a trickle at both.

Into Monolith Valley, we dropped packs & headed up onto Shrouded God – a fun climb & terrific views.

the slot, Shrouded God - Sep 2023

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I had thought to cross to the NE end and descend to Holland Gorge, looping around to Angel Creek & back up to Mt Cole – but sanity prevailed! Although it’s open enough on top, the climb up with full packs would be tough enough but the steep descent into the Gorge might have been a push too far.

view from the top of Shrouded God - Sep 2023

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Instead, we continued on to Cooyoyo Creek and early next morning climbed the Castle & wandered out to the east end for fabulous view of Byangee Walls & Pigeonhouse.

Byangee & Pigeonhouse from Cooyoyo - Sep 2023

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Byangee & Pigeonhouse from the Castle - Sep 2023

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Be warned that, until some decent rain, there is not a drop of water in the normally reliable hollows on the Castle or Shrouded God (20mm on 5 Oct may have eased things a bit).

From the Castle we intended to camp at the western-most Mt Cole overhang so decided to go via Mt Owen rather than back through the Green Room – I’d climbed Mt Owen as a day trip previously but, with a full pack & more than a few years older, it was a challenge. The cairned route up was hard enough but the bouldering coming out of the gap was tedious indeed. We were glad to see the overhang unoccupied (lucky, unlike the group of 4 that arrived in the dark later that night).

On the return to Wog Wog we explored the overhang in the upper Corang (marked on the BSM)

overhang in the upper Corang - Sep 2023

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and camped beside the Corang River near Broula Brook, the weather warm enough for a refreshing splash.

[sandym]

Thanks for the trip report. That first camp looks as if you could only just squeeze yourselves in. That Broula Brook area was clear after the 2019/2020 fires. Looks thick as now. Yes, not much water about and not much coming!

[Tortoise]

Thanks for the report, Bernie. Brings back some wonderful memories.

[bernieq]

The 1st camp was just big enough to fit 4 tents in a line with another spot nearby that would have taken 2 more. The Acacia was quite thick, seed triggered by the smoke of the 2020 fires, I suspect.

Yes, it has been very dry - and we were surprised at the wildflowers - both variety and quantity.

Sep 2023

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Sep 2023

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[damomcdermott]

Magnificent views. Thanks for posting. Would love to get back to the Budawangs.

Sorry if I missed the detail, was it three days, two nights?

[bernieq]

was it three days, two nights?

It was 6 days, 5 nights plus a day's drive at each end !

[damomcdermott]

Wow - apologies for the underestimation! What an amazing trip!

[Chev]

Thanks for the report. Sounds like a good trip. I've been wondering about Broula Brook as alternative access between the scenic rim track and the cascades now the old track through private property is out of bounds.

(Twenty?) Years ago I did a bit of exploring along the lower reaches. Lovely walking. Scrub regrowth would be hectic now. Even back then my dim memory is that the best line was mostly in the creek bed. Hoping to get back in there soon.

[Chev]

Double post, Sorry.

[bernieq]

I've been wondering about Broula Brook as alternative access between the scenic rim track and the cascades now the old track through private property is out of bounds

I doubt that idea would work. The route we took, from Wog Wog, into the upper reaches requires going over Corang Peak then back around & into the brook (a lot of extra distance). Then, to walk out to the Corang River would be very slow indeed - thick growth on the banks and a lot of treefall in the creek.

It is simple enough to skirt the private property and the bush isn't particularly thick (except in a couple of creeks where the Acacia has gone beserk) - basically just a bit of navigating between Broula/Corang confluence and Goodsell Creek. The Corang loop is pretty popular so I imagine someone will flag a route, with or without Parks support.

[davidp]

Corang Lagoon was declared a Crown reserve in 1918 and is still publicly owned. There are now three good legal routes established to reach it. Check FB group Keep Corang Open

[davidp]

Corang Lagoon was declared a Crown reserve in 1918 and is still publicly owned. There are now three good legal routes established to reach it. Check FB group Keep Corang Open