Views over Mt Moollattoo from lunch on the edge of the Carrialoo plateau

Map: Bundanoon 1:25000

Walk Description

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

Tuesday 4 June: Mt Carrialoo - M/R. This walk features magnificent eucalypt forest, rain forest and heath, and cliff-top views. Starting from the junction of Jacks Corner Road and McPhail's Fire Trail, up the fire trail steeply, leaving it at approx 672 E, 567 N to go up through the cliff line on to the Mount Carrialoo Plateau. Across the plateau through slow scrub and on a foot pad to the cliff top on the SE corner of the plateau, for spectacular views of the Shoalhaven. Return via a break in the cliff line on the plateau's SW corner. Around 9 km with 500 metres of ascent and descent, some rock scrambling. Around 2 hours 20 minutes drive from a 7 am start in North Canberra, all on bitumen. Map: Bundanoon. Leaders: Peter C and Linda G. Transport: $120 per car. Limit: 8.

8 of us drove from Canberra via the Hume Highway through Goulburn; right onto the Illawarra Highway through Sutton Forest and Moss Vale; right onto Nowra Rd through Fitzroy Falls and Nowra Rd becoming Moss Vale Rd through Barrengarry; right into Bendeela Rd which becomes Jacks Corner Rd to park at the start of McPhails Trail. 2hrs 20mins drive.

Photographs

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Track Map

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Track

Video

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Track Notes

SO nice to be driven - had a ziz on the way up and back. Southern Highlands (what I saw of it) is lovely.

A lovely welcome sign at the car park. We walked up McPhails Trail to the very loud calling of lyrebirds, rain forest in some of the gullies. Steep in places. Just shy of 3km we headed off into the bush. A nice mossy boulder sporting a birds nest fern greeted us.

A short, sharp climb up a rocky spur to reach the NE corner of the plateau for morning tea. Red flowering Mountain devil (Lambertia formosa) about. Great views of Yarrunga Creek and up the cliff line to the NW corner.

W along the top of the cliffs for a while then, after negotiating the little 15r line, generally SW across the top to an orienteering marker hanging on a tree. Some open going, some tracks petering in and out through the scrub. Some crazy rock formations,

Next W through a gentle saddle, wet and tight scrub in places, with redeeming footpads. So to the Carrialoo trig. Big old Banksia trees.

Then NW, mainly on footpads, to the NW corner of the plateau and lunch, arriving around 12.10pm. A pair of eagles soared.

What magnificent views! Checkout the video and the photos. Rang home; posted a photo to Facebook.

Linda disappeared and came back full of glee - a nearby cairn announced the top of what appeared to be a pass off the top down towards Yarrunga Creek. Some of the party (not including me) went for an explore part way off the top, thanks to the rope that Peter had carried in.

We retraced our steps to the orienteering marker, then continued generally E to Linda's 'Rock Garden'. A bit further on a small cairn marked the top of the SE descent route. Views through the trees to Bendeela Pondage. A bit of a permanently fixed rope assist on the SE descent.

Back to join McPhails Trail and descend.Saw 3 lyrebirds.

A truly lovely walk, thanks Peter and Linda. Beautiful forest in places and Sydney sandstone.

Summary

Distance: 10.7km Climb: 540m. Time: 9.30am - 3.05pm (5hrs 35 mins), with 1 hr of breaks.

Grading: M/R; M(11)

Walk Participants

8 walkers - Peter C and Linda G (leaders), Eric G, Jenny H, Stewart J, Max S, Ian W, me.