Bundanoon Creek from Buchanans Lookout

Saturday 14 April: Bundanoon – Buchanans Lookout – Christmas Creek – M/M. From Bundanoon we follow partly overgrown tracks to Buchanans Lookout and other rarely visited clifftop viewpoints, before descending into the beautiful, dark and mossy rainforest of Christmas Creek. We may also see some relics of mining days. Return the same way. There are many undulations but no major climbs; the biggest is 80m at the end. Around 14km and 500m climb. Leader: Jeff B.

Further Information

Only my second trip to Bundanoon, the first on 3 Feb 18.

Summary

Distance: 12.5km | Climb: 350m | Time: 9.25am – 3.25pm (6hrs), including 75mins of breaks | Grading: M/M; M(10)

Photographs

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Videos

Waypoint and Track Files

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Track Notes

We left Watson at 7.30am and drove on cruise control up the Hume Highway. A right just past the Marulan truck station and via the Highland Way through Tallong, Wingello and Penrose to Bundanoon. A quick stop at the local conveniences and we parked at the bottom of William St at the start of the Glow Worm Glen Track. Around a 1hr 45min drive.

Walking at 9.25am down the well made track, passing between beautifully maintained houses and gardens. At the Glow Worm Glen 160m and Dimmocks Ck car park 860m sign we continued for a bit further down the steps towards the Glen. Passing a large rock on the left, we turned left at its bottom onto the unsigned (but taped) Buchanans Lookout Track. Cotton wool clouds in a blue sky, but very windy.

This took us across the head of Dimmocks Creek and along the border of the Morton National Park. Once out of the creek it was flat going through light timber, passing the back of a couple of large properties with manicured acres.

Buchanans Lookout was our first stop, 2.5km in 40mins from the start. Amazing views (see above)!


Bundanoon Creek and the cliffs beside Buchanans Lookout

We were heading round the top of the cliff line to Christmas Creek. Our next leg took us down and through three drainage lines, each with a gentle climb out. The map has a spot ‘Crystal Pool’ marked; we passed its dirty cousin.

The next lookout, where we had morning tea, was Ellsmores Lookout:

Bundanoon Creek from Ellsmores Lookout

One of our party was a bit on the crookish side, so it was decided to about turn and head back. A happy decision in the end, as it allowed us to see other areas which we would not have had time to visit on the original plan. We walked back to Buchanans Lookout, 1,4km in 45mins, where we had lunch.

Revived, we returned towards Glow Worm Glen, took a short detour north to visit a dam at the top of Dimmocks Creek, then took the opportunity to visit the Glen. No flashing lights, of course, but a beautiful area. No doubt it has been visited for over 100 years. A little cascade and pool just round the corner from the viewing platform.

Back up the steps, the entire party chose to walk the N-S leg of Glow Worm Walk to Dimmocks Creek car park. Here we followed the fire trail for 70m to the unsigned start of the Dimmocks Creek track. This took us east then north and down into Dimmocks Creek.

A truly lovely area of temperate rain forest:

Dimmocks Creek Track

Five of us wandered a little further down the creek, rounding under huge cliffs to the north.

Finally, returned to the cars. What a magnificent area. Plenty of more walking for me up here.

Thanks very much Jeff and everyone else for company on a great day!

Track Maps

Track

Google Earth snip

Party

10 walkers – Jeff B (leader), Ming L, Stephen and Lisa M, Julie M, Erick McP, Lauren O, Llewellyn S, Phillip S, me.