Blue Mountains (NSW, Australia) hikers. A question for ya. (Pictures added)

[Bob W]

So those of you who have hiked the popular trails in the Blue Mountains: Which, in your opinion, is the 'worst' (scariest, hardest, whatever) downward route from the plateau to the valleys below?

I have previously done the Grand Staircase, Giant Staircase, and a few others without such dramatic names. But today, wheh, I think the descent from Evan's Lookout into the Grose River valley beats them all. Horrible knee-killing 'stairs' of random sized rocks, washouts, detours over rockslides...
The return walk up from the bottom of Bridal Veil Falls to Govett's Leap was no treat either. Scared the hell out of me. :grumpy:

So which is on your "worst" list? Which is your favorite?

 

[Bob W]

With so many views and no comments, I'm guessing no one's been there. I just returned home this evening and can now post a couple pictures from the walk. Beautiful country, but very muggy on warm days.

Hiking the 12k loop in a counter-clockwise direction beginning at Evans Lookout, I saw no other hikers until Junction Rock.

Map: https://www.google.com/maps/place/R...2!3m1!1s0x6b127197606b3625:0x3da2c936231cd93a

The paper map I carried was a bit vague, no topo lines. I thought that once reaching Greaves Creek the walk would be fairly gentle, following a small stream. Well, that small stream was waterfall-after-waterfall for the entire distance. Very steep, loose, and rugged trail down. From checking an online topo map, it appears that the vertical distance dropped was 1500', and of course 1500' back up again. Between climbs, the trail along Govett's Creek was fairly level and easy-going.

The trail is now completely safe as it crosses the top of a rockslide zone.

The creeks are incredibly scenic with thousands of pools, waterfalls, and cascades.

A bit puzzled how the trail would ascend the undercut cliff and complete bowl up to Govett's leap.

Here's how:

Spectacular scenery:

 

[Currawong]

I can remember most of the trails I've walked around there being as you describe - and in national parks generally in that part of the world (at least the steep bits). Outside of the highly used routes, hiking trails in Oz tend to be an exercise in bush bashing with the occasional wobbly stair or cleared patch to show you which direction to go in. Beautiful photos. Have you walked anywhere outside of the Blue Mountains?

 

[WILLIAM.M]

Great Photos

Thanks for posting

 

[Bob W]

Have you walked anywhere outside of the Blue Mountains?

When in Australia it's nearly always a work trip. Long days, inconvenient locations (inconvenient for bushwalking), and few if any days off. So most of my bushwalks have been short trail walks to get to a waterfall, ocean coast, or some other specific location. I do take advantage every chance I get though, even if it's just a few hours. The Blue Mountains just happens to be close to, and en route to, some mines I work at. So I've done quite a few of the Blue Mountains trails like the North Lawson Park area, Grand Canyon Walk, and Dardanelle's Pass.

Other than the Blue Mountains I've done a bit of walking and exploring along the coasts, particularly from Sydney down as far as Eden, the coast around Newcastle, some Queensland areas, and throughout the Illawara region. Some memorable walks have been to the Glow Worm Tunnel near Lithgow, climbing the big hill in Mount Royal National Park (no trail), and the Castle Rocks walk in the Munghorn Gap Nature Reserve. I also visit as many city parks, nature reserves, and botanical gardens as possible - just whatever I can find wherever and whenever I have time. :thumbup:

Sorry to say I haven't spent time in Canberra. Did pass through there in June when on a two week holiday with the family. We spent over a week exploring the coast , then drove through Canberra on the way to Blackheath for a few days of Blue Mountains walking.
A good Aussie mate of mine is from Harden, not far from Canberra.

 

[Bob W]

The style of national parks in Australia and the United States is quite different. In the USA, "National Parks" are generally the most developed, controlled, and over-visited public lands available; many US National Parks are congested, crowded, and commercialized. National Park or National Monument status is reserved for only the most spectacular or visitor-oriented natural or historic features.
In Australia many National Parks are simply acreage set aside to protect some interesting or environmentally sensitive areas. Most Australian National Parks lack visitor centers, trails, campgrounds, or anything else. I've spent entire days in certain parks and been the only visitor. Even finding park maps is difficult.

 

[Currawong]

What part of the south coast did you visit? Around this area most of the good stuff is not on the tracks, and requires off-trail walking to get to. 60 metre tall, 500 year old eucalypts; 3,000 year + year old rainforest trees (e.g. Eucryphyia); 10m + tall tree ferns; amazing waterfalls; etc etc. But either no one knows these places exist, or if they do there's no time or energy to construct trails there. For every place there's a trail to, there's 10 that are almost completely unknown. I guess because Australia has a much lower population density (almost the size of the continental US, but less than 1/10th the population) so we just can't build and maintain all the infrastructure. If you come back to this region let me know and I'll give you some suggestions.

 

[Bob W]

Along the southern coast of NSW, I especially like the Bawley area. So undeveloped and peaceful.
Mimosa Rocks is one place, one of thousands, that I would like to visit and haven't had the chance yet.

The Glass House Rocks near Narooma took almost an entire afternoon of our family holiday. Could have stayed there for days.

We also liked the shipwreck and walking tracks at Abrahams Bosom Nature Reserve, the lighthouse ruins at Cape St George, and the rocks at Haycock Point. :thumbup:

 

[Currawong]

Yep. Beautiful places.

 

[elof_alv]

Nice pics Bob!

There are some steep climbs in Ku-Ring-Gai Chase National Park.
Recently gone on a bush walk there that had almost 1500' drop too.

 

[Bob W]

Nice pics Bob!

There are some steep climbs in Ku-Ring-Gai Chase National Park.
Recently gone on a bush walk there that had almost 1500' drop too.

Thanks for the tip. :thumbup: I often travel the M1 north from Sydney, but haven't ever been to that national park.
I have been to several ocean-side locations between Sydney and Newcastle - beautiful places. Birdie Beach, Swansea Head, Wybung Head, Catherine Hill Bay...

 

[OwenM]

That's awesome that you have the opportunity, and make the time.
Those Glass House Rocks pics are awesome:thumbup:

 

[Sharp_Canadian]

Wow. Add one to the bucket list.