This walk was organised and led by Philip G as an irregular CBC Tuesday walk:

Tuesday 19 August - Admiration Point – L/M. The views of Yadboro and the southern Budawangs are admirable from Admiration Point. Most of this 21 kilometre walk from the Wog Wog entrance to Morton National Park is on track, but there is some thick scrub to negotiate. A total climb of about 300 metres. Map: Corang 1:25,000. Leader: Philip G. Transport: $21. Limit: 8.

13 (well, that's only a few more than 8 and thankfully included me as a last minute starter) met at Bungendore and drove via Tarago, then the Lumley, Cullulla, Sandy Point, Oallen Ford, Oallen, Nerriga and Charleys Forest Roads to the Wog Wog camping area. Our vehicle returned via Charleys Forest Road to Mongarlowe, then Little River Road to Braidwood and home via the Kings Highway.

Walk

The walk begins at the Wog Wog camping area - well set up with signage and a toilet. Just as the track begins to descend to cross the Wog Wog Creek a plaque reads:

The Corang Peak lease of 152 Ha. was purchased by the National Parks and Wildlife Service of inclusion in the Morton National Park with funds donated by The Budawang Committee Inc. through public support of its publications. August 1998.
From 'The Bushwalker 1961' 'Let us not forget the future generations, that they may enjoy, as we have enjoyed, the rugged grandeur of the Budawang Range, the Clyde River Valley and Pigeon House Mountain. May it be kept in its present primitive state for posterity.' 'May we respect this national treasure.' Colin Watson OAM.

After crossing the creek the Corang Plateau Track runs generally E-ish through open forest. A little Tasmanian-esque in places, with the track worn knee deep (no frogs) in places and, later, boardwalks and heath. After around 3km the track turns S. A further around 1km and massive blocks of - no, not granite, but - sandstone came into view. A little further on many hundreds of concrete trucks had dropped massive piles of aggregate, or so the conglomerate rocks seemed. The spot for morning tea and a quick explore around, with Roger making it to the top of one and Mike to another. Little caves and huge overhangs all around (see pic 1).

The next leg to the SE was through less timbered country, with tea tree and hakeas predominating. The undergrowth was close in places, but Jenny has a CBC weekend coming up 18-19 Oct to clear some areas of it. Lengths of boardwalk.

Our next stop was near the W approach to Korra Hill, where a rock slab area in the track gave us an open view 600m to the SW to the escarpment above Cockpit Swamp. A huge view. But these were only 36r babies. Madeleine did mention that on her previous trip morning tea had been taken here so it seemed that as we headed off Philip really put the pedal to the metal.

Paralleling the W-E ridge of Korra Hill to the N at around the 800m contour, views opened up to Corang Peak. We reached a junction in the track which was where we were to leave Corang Peak (and Arch) for another visit. Our way was to take us S to Admiration Point, in view a mere 1km away up an open and gentle slope. A quick glance at his compass and Philip quickly found old white tapes marking a footpad. Well, the pad was there if one could strain to part the hakea. This was the thick scrub he advertised, but neglected to tell newbies like me how scratchy it is on bare knees. The tops of trees waved to our left, marking the line of grand-daddy cliffs forming one flank of Admiration Point but, as yet, out of sight. However, the views opening up to the E were spectacular - so many features to remember, but the jumble of Dojon Mountain stood out and, of course, The Castle in its magnificence behind Mt Owen-Mt Cole. Escarpments marched around to Pigeon House Mountain, with the sea at the back.

We finally made it to Admiration Point, the clever ladies demanding that the 'strong men' break the path. The uninterrupted view was breathtaking, both to the escarpments and down the 106r cliffs into the Yadbro River (see pics 2 and 3). Even the view to the S was a beauty, with fingers of bright green rain forest extending out a short way from the drainage lines plummeting down from the craggy tops. A super lunch stop.

It was a bit of an anticlimax to have to return, but newbies to the area began planning a return, perhaps to Corang Peak and Corang Arch, when there are a few more daylight hours and the flowers are out in Spring.

Timings
 

5 hours drive for a 7 hour walk - I'd do it again tomorrow for this country. Thanks Philip for a wonderful introduction to this area. Thanks Roger for the lift. Lovely to be led and driven (in the physical, not metaphysical, sense). Great company and inspiration from Barrie, Cynthia, Henry, Janet, Jenny, Karen, Madeleine, Max, Mike, Philip, Roger and Steve.

Distance: 20.5km  Climb: 350m.  Time: 8.55am - 4.10pm (7.25hrs), with 50mins of stops.
Grading: L/M; M(10)

KMZ file for Google Earth/Maps: Admiration Point