This walk was organised and led by Brian S as an irregular CBC Tuesday walk:

Tuesday 20 October Waterfalls and a Castle M/R/XW. Bungonia SRA - Bungonia Creek and Falls - Jerrara Creek and Falls - Paddys Castle - return via Devils Pulpit. Great views, rugged terrain, creek walking (wet feet likely), scrambling. Maps: Bungonia and Caoura 1:25000. Leader: Brian S (02) 4358 0209 brianscbr@yahoo.com.au Transport: ~$25 + park entry fee.

7 of us drove from various parts of NSW and the ACT to meet at Bungonia SCA at 8.15am. It was a 6am depart from Weston Creek and, via a pickup in Turner, we arrived 30mins early.

From the Bungonia campground head along the cliff tops towards Paddys Castle - points of interest include tops of Bungonia Falls, Jerrara Falls, exploration of Bungonia Creek and Jerrara Creek upstream of their falls and of course Paddys C if we can get there (there could be a cliff or two which blocks our route). Then retrace our steps back to the start.  M/R/X with wet feet.

Enough there to keep us busy for several hours - not long distance wise but there will be scrambling, creek walking (in or along) and plenty of Kodak moments.

Walk Track

After purchasing our parking tickets we drove to the camping area car park and set off from there, following the combined Green and Yellow Tracks for a couple of hundred metres before swinging left onto the Yellow Track. But this was meant to be an eXploratory walk so Brian soon left the track and plunged down through the bush to meet Bungonia Creek. Heading down the creek, the first astonishing feature was a high rock column in the creek bed. Lorraine kindly went forward to provide scale (see - pic 1). We didn't know at the time, but this is the Devils Pulpit, marked (perhaps ambiguously) with a ° symbol and 'Devils Pulpit' on the map. (But a subsequent Google brings up a document here, referencing 'Identification, Assessment and Protection of National Estate Values Southern NSW CRA Region' with an entry 'Devils Pulpit Member (Bungonia Creek)', so it has to be.)

We rock-hopped on down the creek until we came to the first place that compulsory W(ater) had to be waded. A couple of party members changed into volleys and I was happy to let others go ahead, as we'd first discovered a large eel - approximating very closely in length and girth to that of an adult's leg - in the pool just upstream of our crossing (see pic 2). The combination of W, rock-hopping and Eric's eel stories of sharp grabbing teeth stressed me slightly, but everyone else was very happy. The deep side of the creek was around thigh deep.

By around 9.20am we reached the top of the 25r Bungonia Falls, just downstream from where Bungonia Creek turns the corner from flowing E to N. A spectacular place. We milled about a bit in awe. There was no way we could continue downstream - the only way was to abseil down using one of the anchor point slings on either side of the top of the falls. The V of the gorge fell away below the falls.

We returned upstream 420m to a point where we were able to clamber nearly 100m up out of the gorge. The dry ridge line vegetation greeted us, along with an easy 0.5km wander along the Yellow Track to the lookout at its official end. Further spectacular views to the gorges of the Bungonia and Jerrara Creeks and the mountains and ridge tops above them. An excellent place for morning tea, with the day warming up.

Following clues in a guide book, Brian took us past the official end of the Yellow Track, onto an old fire trail for a few tens of metres, then another plunge down into Jerrara Creek. Not long after entering the creek line at the bottom of the gorge we came across an impassable block. There was a significant drop down to it with a pool at the bottom, then an undetermined (by us) fall on the the downstream side. You can get an idea of the scale of the affair once you see Brian lizard-ing up the rock ramp on the right hand side of pic 4. As every trusty leader should, he determined that we could get to the edge of the drop, so we all followed for a look. I must say that I was the only wimp who didn't crawl the last 2 metres to peer over the edge - by this time the combination of W(ater) and H(eight) was too much for me and I didn't want to spill any B(lood). An awesome place, most likely the upper falls marked on the map on Jerrara Creek.

We next headed upstream, where my racing heart was slowed by a more gentle gorge bottom, gradually spreading as it became less severe. At a convenient point we exited the creek and climbed towards Paddys Castle. At a saddle just before reaching the top we were rewarded to exposed views to Jerrara Creek on one side and down towards Bungonia Creek on the other.

Paddys Castle is a 17r escarpment with views across gorges to the tops and 300m down to Bungonia Creek. A beauty! After admiring the view we began an attempt to descend to Bungonia Creek, but had to abort and return. We did have an excellent view from underneath Paddys Castle to its bare tops. Settling nearby out of the breeze and the sun we enjoyed lunch. Interesting wattle, which Peter, THE GURU of all things growing (especially worts) identified for me as: 'According to Acacias of NSW dated about 1976, if it has elongate flowers, phyllodes (simple leaf-like, not compound leaves), and the width of the leaf is over 4 mm, and it is from Bungonia area, it does not agree with anything. According to 'Native plants of the Sydney district' it is Coastal Myall, Acacia binervia – occurring on the tablelands, with greyish foliage, fl Sept-Oct'. Thanks Peter.

There had been discussion of exit routes and if were had been able to come off Paddys Castle down to Bungonia Creek, we would have returned via the huge haul back up Bretons Creek at the top of the Slot Canyon. Maybe just as well, as the day was heating up. I certainly had only just enough water. Note to self - the first walk of the summer season - more water, broad brimmed hat, long sleeves and collar, sun screen needed from now on.

So after a lazy lunch, the decision was to wander further N and E around the ridge top, then return via the Yellow Track. All this we did, the outward leg to the furthest extent of the walk easy walking through dry and open forest. Great views including the ever dominant Frome Hill and an opportunity for Brian to sus out another walk from Bungonia Creek up Kerillon Creek (remind me not to join him on that one).

Our return began, taking us 2.8km in a wider W loop generally S, across Jerrara Creek and back to the lookout at the end of the Yellow Track. It was here that the reality of the map struck us - Paddys Castle was recognisable a mere 300m across from the lookout (as the crow flies), whereas our morning leg between the two points was 1.1km. A last look at the fabulous area.

A swan back along the track to the cars.

Great walk, Brian! Thanks to you (and happy birthday again), and Andrew P, Eric G, Lorraine T, Max S and Peter W.

Distance: 10km  Climb: 450m.  Time: 8.35am - 3.20pm (6hrs 45mins), with 50mins of stops.
Grading: M/R,WX; M(10)

KMZ file for Google Earth/Maps: Waterfalls and a Castle