This walk was organised and led by Brian S as an irregular CBC Tuesday walk:
Tuesday 21 October - Bungonia Creek and Slot Canyon - M/R. Bungonia SRA - Bretons Creek – Bungonia Creek (option to explore upstream to the base of Jerrara Falls/Bungonia Falls - Bungonia Slot Canyon and BlockUp – Shoalhaven River - Mt Ayre - Bungonia SRA. Some scrambling required to get through the Block Up. ~12km, 450m steep descent/ascent, feet stay mostly dry. Cancelled if raining (Park Regulations). Map: Caoura Leader: Brian S, email: brianscbr@yahoo.com.au Transport: ~$12 (+ Park Entry Fee).
3 of us drove up from Canberra and met Brian at the Rangers' Office.
Walk
We left the Rangers' Office quickly, as soon as we'd signed on and purchased our park entry tickets. We didn't want to give the Rangers a chance to close the Slot Canyon although, as it turned out, we enjoyed perfect weather. Drove to the Bungonia Lookdown and enjoyed the views from first the standard lookout and then around to the cantilever 'lookdown'. Great signage and fabulous views down to Bungonia Creek and, across several folds of spurs, to the path of theShoalhaven River. Clearest view, however, was across to the Marulan South limestone mine and the 'mist' = dust rising from it.
We wandered SW along the dry forest on the ridge top to join the top of the W leg of the Red Track as it descended to join Bretons Creek. A view a minute kept our cameras clicking - wonderful crags above, grass trees aplenty, knee-stressing track, scree patches, cliffs. Towards the bottom the creek began to run and more wet gully type vegetation abounded. At the bottom there were wonderful dripping formations of limestone, mud and moss, with exposed fig tree roots appearing to hold up rocky overhangs. Wonderfully different! Constant calling from lyrebirds, but not sighted.
Instead of turning E we headed W, then NW bending through SW up Bungonia Creek. Initially a dry creek bed with river pebbles and small rocks to hop over, the creek soon flowed and the blocks of rock trended towards house size. We found a smashed climbers helmet (no doubt washed down from upstream) and a small cave with a stash of abseilers' bedding. Areas of Casuarinas and sand as we rocked-hopped along, with just sufficient poisoned ivy to brush by. Our trusty leader was heading towards Bungonia Falls, but each vantage point merely showed another bend in the creek an a tantalising spur. At last we came to the bottom of some cascades and the time and rock shelves dictated that morning tea should be taken.
Not to be dissuaded from nearing his objective, Brian led us (extending my comfort level) around some house-sized blocks and up a rock shelf to the top of the cascades we viewed from morning tea. Here was an Olympic sized pool and further cascades (see pic 1), with cliffs rising to the sky on each side. A magnificent spot. However, the map later revealed that we had only reached a point on Bungonia Creek nearly in line with Paddys Castle and Adams Lookout, short of Jerrara Creek and well short of Bungonia Falls. We about turned and scrambled then rock-hopped back to the Red Track.
Here the next phase began as we entered Bungonia (Slot) Canyon. The area is staggering - truly a unique experience. Towering cliffs of different colours (see pic 2), great vegetation and easy walking - until you reach the beginning of the blockup. Here we were greeted by gigantic blocks of white limestone and other compositions blocking the canyon. It was over, under, around, hopping and crawling down the blockup. Our earlier experience held us in good stead. But finally we were through and out into the more normal environment of Bungonia Creek - river rocks, sand and Casuarinas. We passed the Blasting sign, warning us to be out of the area when signals announce the intention to blast at the quarry above. We crossed the Main Gully coming down from the quarry, the flowing water discolouring the main creek as it joined. Pools of water downstream from this point were blue-green.
We stopped for lunch, enjoying the creek scenery and the fine weather. High above we could see the cantilever of the Bungonia Lookdown. The vanguard of a school group with teachers walked through, going upstream. We passed more as we began after lunch, the biggest walking group I've ever encountered - 81 students and 12 teachers from NSW Central Coast school!
Easy walking downstream after lunch, crossing and recrossing Bungonia Creek as necessary. Near its confluence with the Shoalhaven we clambered up a short, steep ridge to sight the river, then followed the White Track on the crest down to the creek/river confluence. A delightful spot with fine camping areas nearby.
All that remained was to return up the White Track - hate these V walks (down in the morning and up in the afternoon). A puffing climb. Lovely views NE and S down onto the gracious curves of the Shoalhaven River as we climbed towards Mt Ayre (see pic 3). Finally to the top, a pause to gain breath, then along the red/white/green track back to the cars. A large goanna was not much troubled by our presence.
From here we drove to Adams Lookout. The view to Frome Hill above the W entrance to the Slot Canyon was as recorded on 30 Jan 07 (see pic 4). Returned and signed out. Drove home.
Route Card
| Leg | Description | Distance (km) | Going/Comment | Actual time (hr:min) |
| 1 | Bungonia Lookdown car park to Bungonia Creek via Red Track | 1.5 | Along ridge then signed track/footpad (Red Track) down the line of Bretons Creek | 0:50 |
| 2 | Up Bungonia Creek to cascades (incl morning tea) | 1.5 | Easy sandy Casuarinas, rock hopping in dry creek, rock hopping in running creek, large boulders and slab faces | 1:25 |
| 3 | Down Bungonia Creek to beginning of Slot Canyon | 1.5 | Reverse of leg 2 | 1:00 |
| 4 | Through Bungonia (Slot) Canyon and blockup to lunch | 0.8 | Easy sandy Casuarinas, house-sized boulder dodging in the blockup (Red Track) | 0:40 |
| 4 | Lunch | 0:25 | ||
| 5 | Lunch to confluence of Bungonia Creek and Shoalhaven River | 2.4 | Part Red Track, rest unmarked easy sandy Casuarinas and creek crossings where necessary | 1:00 |
| 6 | Shoalhaven River through Mt Ayre to Bungonia Lookdown car park via White Track | 3.1 | Signed track/footpad (White Track) up spur to Mt Ayre, then red/white/green track along ridge to car | 1:30 |
|
Total |
10.8 |
Absolutely huge scenery, thank you Brian, a great walk. Thanks also to Michael and Philip.
Distance: 10.8km Climb: 450m. Time: 8.50am - 3.40pm (call it 7hrs), with 40mins of stops and lots of photo ops.
Grading: M/R; M(10)
KMZ file for Google Earth/Maps: Bungonia Creek and Slot Canyon (the track is obviously a bit out, when we were down in the Slot - 2D fixes only)
