This walk was organised by me as an irregular CBC Tuesday walk. Michael G was our excellent guide:
(Tuesday 30 January- Bungonia. S/E,X. I’ve never been there, so I thought a drive up, sus out what’s available and do a short walk. Limit of 8. Leader: John Evans – jevans@pcug.org.au, (h) 6288 7235; contact me by 6pm the previous Sunday to discuss options. Transport: ~$27. Further details at www.pcug.org.au/~jevans.). 5 of us met in Dickson and in two 4WD (the reason becoming very obvious later), drove via Goulburn and Mountain Ash Road to Bungonia. An abortive attempt to access the trails in to Matodoro Ridge, the area being closed due to a total fire ban. So we returned to Bungonia and drove along The Lookdown Road towards the main recreation area entrance. A couple of km before (ref Bungonia 8828-2N 1:25000 GR737421 (MGA94)), we took a right turn into a narrow, rough lane between signposted private property to reach a side entrance to the BSRA. A slow drive then followed, past the Trestle Track parking area, along a ridge top fire trail with tens of spoon drains (the reason for 2 4WD - with 5 on board we may have bottomed out), right to the site of the highest flying fox station above the Shoalhaven River. I only continued to drive because I knew Michael G likes spectacular objectives and I couldn't turn round! 33°C forecast for Goulburn. |
Walk
The walk down the Trestle Track to Tolwong Chimneys is number 18 in Graeme Barrow's 30 Family Bushwalks in and around Canberra, except it starts at the Trestle Track car park and walks the fire trail for 3km to the flying fox station (that explains why it was such a hairy drive - we should have been walking!).
We were away by 9.30am, after inspecting the foundations of the flying fox station. The wooden trestles giving their name to the track, were long burnt and gone. The cicadas throbbed as we followed the track, well benched (level side to side) but dropping quickly. Immediate and absolutely stunning views across to and down into the surrounding gorges and canyons. After 500m, the Tolwong Chimneys could be seen standing tall in the bush on the other side of the Shoalhaven. Grass trees lined the track in places and soon the water in the river could be seen. By 10.15am we were down under the shady casurinas on the river bank (1.4km in 45mins dropping 270m).
A 5min break and then upstream a couple of hundred metres to where we were able to cross the river without removing our boots. An easy wander along the E bank of the river to the Tolwong Chimneys (this leg 1.1km in 25mins). We poked about for a while (see pic 1), marveling at the fortitude of the early 1900s workers at the site.
We returned N along the river, finding fresh water mussel shells. Back to our crossing point, then S up the W side of the river. Again, easy walking mostly in the shade of the casurinas. It was hot in the open patches. A couple of hundred metres past Fordham Canyon over on the E side, we again found shallows where we crossed from W to E. Varying styles used, ranging from long-legged walkers in boots (quick, but slip and splash) to plodders like me who de-booted, thonged, dried and re-booted (this leg 2.5km in 1hr 30mins).
We soon had magnificent views across into the Spring Creek canyon and upstream into the start of Blockup Gorge (see pic 2). We continued a further 400m up the river and found a shaded viewing area for 25mins of lunch.
Away at 12.55pm to retrace our steps, including river crossing. A medium sized goanna scurried up a tree and scattered patches of poisoned ivy grew in the shade. A gentle brush with it took my mind off how crook I'd been feeling all day. 2.4km in 1hr saw us back at the bottom of the Trestle Track, opposite the syncline on the E side of the Shoalhaven.
A hot and grueling up (the 1.4km and 270m) took 1hr. A little quicker than we expected and it deserved a few drink stops on the way. These V walks (down in the morning and up in the hot afternoon when one is tired) should not be sneezed at, even though Michael said this was the easiest entry to the Shoalhaven and described other 450m and 600m climbs out.
We then drove round to the main Bungonia SRA facilities. We visited Adams Lookout (spectacular views to Bungonia Canyon (see pic 3)) and Bungonia Lookdown. Michael showed me the Red Track.
Thanks so much, Michael, for showing us around. Thanks for your company Alan, Max and Shirley. We will have to return for the Red Track and Long Point.
Distance: 9.1km Climb: 350m. Time: 9.30am-3pm (5.5hrs), with 45mins of stops.
