Johnny Boy's Walkabout Blog

Saturday 21 March 2026: Big Hole and Marble Arch * – M/M. Easy walking to two spectacular locations. We’ll drive on all sealed roads via Braidwood to the Berlang camping area. A shin deep crossing of the Shoalhaven River followed by a 2km track walk to the BIG hole. Another 4km of easy walking brings us to the steep descent into Reedy Creek and the rock formations of Marble Arch. Bring a torch for exploring. We return the same way. Around 13km and 500vm climb.

Summary

From Garmin Connect (recorded on Garmin 66i handheld) – Distance: 12.6km | Climb: 515vm (that’s a bit high – AllTrails 425vm) | Time: 3:52 moving + 2:06 of stops = 5:58 | Grading: M/M; M(9).

Photographs

View photographs here.

gpx file

Download the gpx file here.

Track Map

Here’s where we went:

Trip Report

I was last at Big Hole and Marble Arch on 27 Apr 23.

We met at Spotlight Queanbeyan at 8am. Walking at 9.45am, after the drive (via Braidwood for all sealed road) and toilet queue. A change of footwear to cross the Shoalhaven River.

2km in 1 hour (including the shoes off, shoes on) to the Big Hole.

Allan had abseiled down it in his youth – and ascended by prusiking. It’s billed as 100m deep. We had smoko.

The 4km walk into Marble Arch took us 1:30. We had (quite a) bit of rain  and were accompanied by atmospheric timpani – between one flash and the ensuing thunder I only got to “one and …).

On the way Allan pointed out a tank at an old eucalyptus oil distillery site.

Quite pleasant country to walk through.

We reached the signage at the top of the 90vm descent into Reedy Creek. Tell me if you can read it.

After I was shown the correct footpad we began the descent, wooden steps a bit slippery in the rain.

Here’s the entrance to Marble Arch.

We dropped our packs and popped on torches. As a matter of principle, I don’t like being separated from my pack (first aid kit, comms, etc), but I thought we’d only be going to the end of the arch.

I love the flowstone stalagmite!

Here’s the ‘light at the end of the tunnel’.

We popped out into the light.

Allan and Chris took Karina, Bill and Sherenne a couple of hundred metres further down the canyon.

They hit a small waterfall.

The rest of us returned to our packs and a long lunch.

We left at 12.30pm and puffed back up out of Reedy Creek.

Thankfully the rain had stopped.

An uneventful trip back, with the opportunity to focus on things close at hand.

Most of my companions had not been here before, so a successful day.

The AllTrails map is here, where you can pan and zoom.

Party

12 walkers – Melinda C, Chris D, Allan D, Dianne G, Kirsty G, Sherenne G, Karina J, John M, Neil R, Bill S, Damian S, me.