Post by AussieSurvival on Jul 20, 2009 20:34:12 GMT 9.5
"Down The Wire" From Bowen Mountain. Blue Mountains National Park. Or Wollemi National Park.
Grade: Medium/Hard.
Distance: 4.2 Kilometre circuit.
Time: 3 Hours.
Maps: kurrajong 1:25 000.
Descent: 190 Metres & Ascent.
Camping: Yes.
Swimming: Yes.
Entry Fee: Free.
Although this walk is relativley short, it's graded hard both due to the scamble down the "wire" and because there's no track alongside the Grose River, meaning you have to wriggle under fallen branches, climb over boulders, push through thick bush and generally keep your wits about you. This said, the scramble down is great fun and takes you to a particulary wild and beautiful section of the Grose.
Access: Heading west along the bells of line of road from north richmond, trun left into Grose Vale Road. After 7 Kilometres (about 200 metres past Grose Vale Village) turn left into Cabbage Tree Road. Another 3.3 km brings you to a NPWS gate (which is always open). 100 metres further on, when the road forks, keep right. 400 metres further on, the road forks again and this time, keep left(you should see another gate). Another 100 metres brings you to a second NPWS gate, Park Here. And Begin the walk.
1. Head down the firetrail, ignore the rough track that forks off to the right after 350metres, and continue straight ahead. Then the firetrail divides into 2 for about 20 metres, with a huge angophora in the middle of the road. about 100 metres after this, take the firtrail that branches off to the right.
After 300metres, you come to a turning circle. Another rough trail branches uphill to the left, but you need to keep straight ahead, keep an eye out for a small creek (it will be dried out) and follow it , it start's getting bigger as you reach the steep gully, start climbing down, and head all the walk to the bottom. keep an eye out for coloured ribbons it will be a easy walk down.
Once at the bottom, walk through the bush and head for the Grose River, once you have found the River head down stream alot the river side, there is no track, very rough. Battle through the thick foliage of casuarina, lillypilly, melaleuca, pittosporum, tea-tree and water gums (and the rocks are slippy too). You will come across some sand small camping grounds (small.) Keep battling on for a kilometre before the route gets much easier. (you could probably lilo downstream). Keep going until you find the soil is sandy and the land is quite disturbed with alot of weeds and look out for the stinging nettles. You will come across a dirt track/road head uphill zigzaging steepy. At the top, 3 firetrails branch off, just keep straight and head downhill for 250 metres until you meet up with a firtrail that comes in from the left, this is the route you took at the beginning of the walk, so just keep heading straight and back to the car park.
*Going Down!
*Grose River
*Rough Map.
Grade: Medium/Hard.
Distance: 4.2 Kilometre circuit.
Time: 3 Hours.
Maps: kurrajong 1:25 000.
Descent: 190 Metres & Ascent.
Camping: Yes.
Swimming: Yes.
Entry Fee: Free.
Although this walk is relativley short, it's graded hard both due to the scamble down the "wire" and because there's no track alongside the Grose River, meaning you have to wriggle under fallen branches, climb over boulders, push through thick bush and generally keep your wits about you. This said, the scramble down is great fun and takes you to a particulary wild and beautiful section of the Grose.
Access: Heading west along the bells of line of road from north richmond, trun left into Grose Vale Road. After 7 Kilometres (about 200 metres past Grose Vale Village) turn left into Cabbage Tree Road. Another 3.3 km brings you to a NPWS gate (which is always open). 100 metres further on, when the road forks, keep right. 400 metres further on, the road forks again and this time, keep left(you should see another gate). Another 100 metres brings you to a second NPWS gate, Park Here. And Begin the walk.
1. Head down the firetrail, ignore the rough track that forks off to the right after 350metres, and continue straight ahead. Then the firetrail divides into 2 for about 20 metres, with a huge angophora in the middle of the road. about 100 metres after this, take the firtrail that branches off to the right.
After 300metres, you come to a turning circle. Another rough trail branches uphill to the left, but you need to keep straight ahead, keep an eye out for a small creek (it will be dried out) and follow it , it start's getting bigger as you reach the steep gully, start climbing down, and head all the walk to the bottom. keep an eye out for coloured ribbons it will be a easy walk down.
Once at the bottom, walk through the bush and head for the Grose River, once you have found the River head down stream alot the river side, there is no track, very rough. Battle through the thick foliage of casuarina, lillypilly, melaleuca, pittosporum, tea-tree and water gums (and the rocks are slippy too). You will come across some sand small camping grounds (small.) Keep battling on for a kilometre before the route gets much easier. (you could probably lilo downstream). Keep going until you find the soil is sandy and the land is quite disturbed with alot of weeds and look out for the stinging nettles. You will come across a dirt track/road head uphill zigzaging steepy. At the top, 3 firetrails branch off, just keep straight and head downhill for 250 metres until you meet up with a firtrail that comes in from the left, this is the route you took at the beginning of the walk, so just keep heading straight and back to the car park.
*Going Down!
*Grose River
*Rough Map.