This walk was organised and led by me as a CBC Tuesday walk:
(Tuesday 19 February - Blue Gum Creek - L/R,X. Follow Blue Gum Creek from east of Smokers Trail down creek flats and steep cuts. Walk under Blue Gum Hill and near Booroomba Rocks, then to the ford at Georges Creek. An old track then takes us to Blythburn Cottage, White Horse Flat and up Punch Bowl Creek. Forestry trails lead us back to the car. Around 21km and 600m total climb. Demanding walking for a fit and experienced party. Route not fully known to leader. Possible delays and diversions from the intended route. Map: Corin Dam. Limit of 8. Leader: John Evans – jevans@pcug.org.au, (h) 6288 7235. Transport: ~$10. Further details at http://jevans.pcug.org.au.)
7 of us drove in 2 car to the Smokers Trail car park, turning left off the Corin Dam Road a couple of side roads after crossing Gibraltar Creek.
I have obtained permission from John H, the property owner, to walk on his land.
Route Card
| Route Card - Blue Gum Creek | ||||
| Leg | Description | Distance (km) | Going/Comment | Est time (hr:min) |
| 1 | Smokers Trail car park to leave Smokers Trail | 0.5 | Smokers Trail | 0:15 (act) |
| 2 | Leave Smokers Trail to Blue Gum Creek | 1.9 | Open forest and creek flats | 0:30 (act) |
| 3 | Follow Blue Gum Creek to under Blue Gum Hill | 1.9 | ? Vegetation could close in; cut becomes steep | 1:0 (est) |
| 4 | Follow Blue Gum Creek to under Booroomba Rocks | 3.1 | ? Steep cut | 2:0 (est) |
| 5 | Follow Blue Gum Creek to Georges Creek ford | 2.5 | ? | 1:30 (est) |
| Lunch | 0:30 | |||
| 6 | Track to Blythburn Cottage | 5.0 | Track | 1:30 (est) |
| 7 | Track through White Horse Flat to Punch Bowl Creek gate | 3.5 | Track | 1:00 (act) |
| 8 | Up Punch Bowl Creek | 1.3 | Benched footpad | 0:30 (act) |
| 9 | Forestry trails back to car | 1.6 | Forestry tracks | 0:45 (act) |
|
Totals |
21.3 |
9:30 |
||
Walk
We swanned along Smokers Trail for 500m, then headed SE into the scrub. Quite vigorous regrowth, but supple so easy to push through. Split the dip between the two 1400m knolls (more by good luck than by good navigation, although Blue Gum Hill provided a handy aiming point) then down onto the lovely creek flats of a drainage line into Blue Gum Creek. At this point it was nicer to continue down the flats to my fourth waypoint at a creek junction, rather than continue straight ahead to Blue Gum Creek. We crossed BGC which came in from the S. 2.7km and 50mins to here.
Our track took us generally E, following the creek on the S bank. N of Blue Gum Hill, it became a steep cut so we stayed fairly high. The creek was gurgling the whole way and a series of cascades was seen down below as it ran down through the cut. A bit of short-right-leg-long-left-leg stuff. It seemed like a good idea to pause for morning tea at 9.45am. A 10min break. This leg 1.7km in 55mins.
We continued generally SE down the creek, crossing to the N bank in order to even up with long-right-leg-short-left-leg. Great views across and up to Blue Gum Hill. At the obvious curve in the creek Alan and Chris caught a glimpse and snapped a pic of a nice waterfall, but we were fairly high up from the creek and pushing through some tough going. I was also heading for a significant granite platform, which is visible from Booroomba Rocks and looks across to same and round to Blue Gum Hill, which Chris was interested in. We found it at 11.30am, high above the creek (see pic 1). A wonderful view. This leg 2.2km in 1hr 35mins.
We plugged on to the SE and eventually 'rounded the corner' of the creek and came down to the 900m contour. This leg 1.5km in 1hr so, again, slow going.
But at last we got down to the water, following Blue Gum Creek as it ran to the NE. We took our choice between walking on either bank, rock hopping down the creek or paddling through the water. A delightful part of the creek and a lovely contrast to the previous tough bush. See pic 2. Eventually all collected together at the ford where Georges Creek comes in and we enjoyed a well deserved lunch for 20 mins. This leg 1.8km in 1hr 10mins.
The walk was all but over at this point - except for the 12km back to the cars! The day was warming up, so we refilled with water and set off along the track towards Blythburn Cottage. A bit of a pleasant surprise as we turned the corner of the range - a huge granite top to one of the hills I'd not seen before (see pic 3). Max claimed it for a return walk at some stage. So out onto the leasehold land, a quick visit to Blythburn Cottage, then a trudge up along the track (not marked on the map) to White Horse Flat, back into NNP and up Punch Bowl Creek. FOrestry roads back to the cars. This leg 12.3km in 4hrs.
So a long day, but most satisfying.
Thanks Alan, Chris, David and Meredith, Louise and Max. A tough, hard walk with some great views.
Distance: 22.2km Climb: 650m. Time: 8am - 5.40pm (call it 9.75hrs), with 45 mins of stops
Grading: L/R,X; H(13)
KMZ file for Google Earth/Maps: Blue Gum Creek
