30 October 2012 Mt Lowden and Serenity Rocks

South Black Range and Mt Palerang from 'Serenity Rocks'

Maps: Bombay and Bendoura 1:25000

Getting There

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

Tuesday 30 October: Mt Lowden and Serenity Rocks – M/R/partly X. This is a more challenging version of the day walk of 27 October. The highlight of this trip is the beautiful forest; there are also two viewpoints, some granite, and ferny creeks. After a 45 minute drive from Queanbeyan, park at the junction of Lewes Camp Fire Trail and Bald Hill Fire Trail. Walk on fi retrails to Mt Lowden, which has some views from near its communications tower. Then NW across a saddle with about 600 m of slow, thick scrub and N along a ridge of moderate scrub to Serenity Rocks at E732965, N 6069372. We may do an exploratory detour from the ridge to fi nd the top of a granite bluff at ~E 732480, N 6069020 and possibly another granite outcrop at E 733907 and N 6069245. From Serenity Rocks follow a trail bike track E and N then W across snig tracks and off track across a pretty branch of Mulloon Creek and up a mostly clear ridge to the cars. About 16 km, the main climbs are up about 200 m to Lowden Trig and up about 100 m from Mulloon Creek to the cars, the rest is undulating. Maps: Bombay and Bendoura Leader: Linda G. Transport: ~$40 per car.

9 of us met and drove in 2 cars via Queanbeyan, Kings Highway, Captains Flat Rd, Briars Sharrow Rd, Plains Rd through Hoskinstown, Hoskinstown Rd then Rossi Rd through Rossi, further along Rossi Rd to Lowden Rd, then finally Lewises Camp fire trail to park at the intersection with Bald Hill fire trail. The dirt roads were good, but dusty.

Walk - Track Notes

We walked up the Bald Hill fire trail and Lowden Trig fire trail to the Lowden communications tower. This ain't Lowden Trig (which is marked on the next knoll to the NE on the 1st edn Bendoura map). A pleasant 4.5km in 1hr 10mins. Morning tea on a green grassy area a few tens of metres SE of the tower, with views to the SE. Rang home.

We returned down the fire trail a bit, then struck off to the NW through a band of tight scrub in nearly temperate rain forest, followed by a large area of flattened ferns. A little knoll at 1300+m made a handy aiming point. The ground became more rocky and the forest opened up. Populated by Brown Barrel (thanks Mike M). Patches of beautiful pink granite. Our fearsome leader took us on a lovely arc N then W across the top of a gully to a bonus area for the day - baby bouldery rocks. A fun little scramble and crawl through them.

But 'Bouldery Rocks' was our first planned destination and we came to the top of them around 11.50am. A great time exploring them as they tumbled down the hill side, scrambling to various viewing points. Saw a lyrebird nest. Many birds calling in the Spring-time, healthy forest. Recognised (thank you Matthew H) were Fanned-tail Cuckoo, Spotted Pardelote, Grey Currawong and Whip Bird. Sated, we returned 100m up to the top and enjoyed lunch.

After nose bag time, we continued NNE to strike a foot/motorbike track, which we followed to the E for a while, then struck off to the nearby 'Serenity Rocks'. Wonderful views to South Black Range and Mt Palerang.

Two options were offered to get us back to the cars. The party chose to return to the foot track, follow it W then S to cross a tree fern-ed arm of Mulloon Creek, up a bit of a spur then down to cross another tree fern-ed arm of Mulloon Creek (a pleasant afternoon tea spot), then S to join the Lowden Trig fire trail. Fire trail back to the cars.

Thanks Linda, another tremendous walk in a most lovely area. And thanks for company from Mike B, Peter C, Eric G, Matthew H, Mike M, Lorraine T and Ken W.

Distance: 14.9km Climb: 500m. Time:
Grading: M/R,ptX; M(11)