Narrowneck to Splendour Rock

[khouw]

Happy Lunar New Year to all ye bushbashers! In my Scouting days every year we go up to Splendour Rock from Katoomba Railway Station via Narrow Neck or along Megalong Valley camped by an overhang cave at Mobs Soak. Crazy we were, we always bring a huge water mellon and several rock mellons to gourge at the top of Spendour Rock. Now I want to bring my son and his mates over same journey, but as it was over 40 years ago I forgot the location of Mobs Soak cave.

Can anybody provide me a map showing where the cave is and general direction as above?

I live in China, but intend to return Down Under to do this walk sometime next month. Any other crazy walks to recommend around Sydney within easy public transport access?

Thanks,
Steve

[kanangra]

Steve,

Mobbs Soak is easy to find. There is a track to it. You know you are close when you come to a large rock in a clearing. The soak is down in the creek below. There is a cave beside it. The track starts not long after the gate at Medlow Gap. It goes past Kennel Flat. The turn off to Splendour Rock is after Mobbs Soak. At the rock it is possible to lose the track if you are not careful. It heads uphill from the top of the small clearing. If you look up to your left you will see it.

K.

[tom_brennan]

Some notes and sketch maps:
http://ozultimate.com/bushwalking/walk.php?nid=804

[khouw]

Hi Tom, this is fantastic info, the sketch help quite a lot with our planning. Aye just reading Kanangra's commentary too really brings back fond memories. Thanks guys.

The route we are thinking of is to start by walking down from Katoomba Railway Stn into Megalong Valley just walk along the 6 foot track onto Medlow Gap, eventually camping at Mobb Soak. Ah I still remember that cave. We can climb Splendour Rock the next morning with our water mellons as we admire Kanangra Wall, Coxs River etc. I hope the walkers registration box is still up there. Our return journey will take us back to Medlow Gap, climb Tarros Ladder to walk along the fire trail on Narrow Neck.

Only consideration is whether this trip is too tough for kids, an option is to bring our children along. Perhaps if we stretch it over 3 days might help. Anyone who had been in the area recently, can you tell us whether there be plenty of water there? Am still in Shanghai heard it had been raining a lot there?

[Lindsay]

Hi Tom, this is fantastic info, the sketch help quite a lot with our planning. Aye just reading Kanangra's commentary too really brings back fond memories. Thanks guys.

The route we are thinking of is to start by walking down from Katoomba Railway Stn into Megalong Valley just walk along the 6 foot track onto Medlow Gap, eventually camping at Mobb Soak. Ah I still remember that cave. We can climb Splendour Rock the next morning with our water mellons as we admire Kanangra Wall, Coxs River etc. I hope the walkers registration box is still up there. Our return journey will take us back to Medlow Gap, climb Tarros Ladder to walk along the fire trail on Narrow Neck.

Only consideration is whether this trip is too tough for kids, an option is to bring our children along. Perhaps if we stretch it over 3 days might help. Anyone who had been in the area recently, can you tell us whether there be plenty of water there? Am still in Shanghai heard it had been raining a lot there?

Hi hkow, can you detail your planned route a little more, the 6ft track does not connect with any route to Medlow Gap that I can see.

cheers

Lindsay

[khouw]

Sorry I meant Nellies Glen track (not sure how to spell it) it has been many years since I last walked it. I recall there were many abandoned huts (was used for the Ned Kelly film?) along the valley floor as we walk towards Medlow Gap keeping Narrow Neck on the left side. When I get back to Sydney first thing I do is to get a topographic map of the area.

[johnw]

Sorry I meant Nellies Glen track (not sure how to spell it) it has been many years since I last walked it. I recall there were many abandoned huts (was used for the Ned Kelly film?) along the valley floor as we walk towards Medlow Gap keeping Narrow Neck on the left side. When I get back to Sydney first thing I do is to get a topographic map of the area.

Could it be Mitchells Creek Fire Trail, which leaves the Nellies Glen Road section of the Six Foot Track? That should eventually lead you onto the FT to Medlow Gap. You could also come down the steep Devils Hole Track to join the SFT. That might be a bit shorter from Katoomba station, but with a fair bit of road walking. Yes, the topographic maps of the area will help. In the meantime you can review an online version here - http://lite.maps.nsw.gov.au/

[FatCanyoner]

I have some recollection from a previous walk that the Mitchell's Creek FT north of Black Billy Head is no longer maintained. I haven't walked the length of it, so have no idea re condition. South of Black Billy the track is still used, as it is the access for the high tension power lines. This route would definitely work, but is not particularly interesting. It is just a lot of fire trail walking with no views for most of the distance.