4WDriving near Sydney

[grit]

Hey Stilllookin,
(Do I know this name from the geo-caching site??)

One of the reasons I have not uploaded many maps yet is that I don't want to simply duplicate those already there. In saying that, mine (Newnes Plateau, etc.) are detailed with many of the hidden trails and quite a bit of the more difficult stuff. I have seen this area deteriorate rapidly in more recent times and several tracks have been closed such as the old coach road, deep pass, etc. I have known the Spanish Steps by that name for many years before the gates went up (gate at Sunnyside Ridge side is currently left unlocked). Bird Rock is also a nice little diversion off Sunnyside Ridge. A newbie could spend weeks up there and still miss some of the real attractions. Even the Powerlines (so close to main tracks) is seldom stumbled upon by newcomers.

I often link some of the other tracks you mention into a single trip staying at Turon Gates, Sunny Corner, and down south to Yerranderie. I have a cousin with property on Abercrombie Rd and through it I can link Mt Werong tracks to Abercrombie River Park, staying at Silent Creek, The Beach or the Sink. I usually get away every couple of weeks and these areas make for a great active weekend.

The tracks you have put up would be a great base for anyone wanting to explore those areas. Well done.

 

[Stilllookin]

Gidday Grit,
Oh dear, you have made us (chuckle chuckle). Did you find us on the GC site or the GCA site?
Are you a cacher as well and if so what is your alias.

Like your self and Tats have described in another thread we too have watched the demise of our beloved plateau over the years, but having said that when, we first started going up there there was rarely another 4wd to be seen. Also the wear and tear on the place was much less and the vehicles seemed to cause less wear and tear on the environment as well.
As a young fellow we would all pack into a series 2A Land-Rover and go exploring and we spent countless weekends exploring just about every nook and cranny of the plateau.
I am curious though, when do you think Fire Trail No.5 become known as the Spanish Stairs as I can't recall it being known by that name in the 1970's and 80's and maybe the 90's.
Did you ever drive over to Mt Cameron and even beyond that and go over to the Colo River. That was a good drive and it was a sad day when the NPWS ripped up that track and closed off Natural bridge.
We only walked down into Deep Pass in the last couple of years as we refused for many years to go back there in disgust to that track being closed. In the early days when we used to drive down there, there was still a timber cutters hut.
Now that's enough of that, I am starting to ramble on too much about the past.

Now back to the topic we are discussing here, we fully agree, there is many tracks still available at the moment which do not take too much exploring to find and some of them are tough some are easy and some go to some of the best scenery in the area.

Interesting you mention Abacrombie NP, we will have to tell a story about one of our trips there one day, perhaps in another thread some time down the track.

Anyhow thanks for the kind words, perhaps we will see you out and about some day

Stilllookin

 

[millsmob]

Track Datat Base for Non GPS equiped members

The track data base appear really great. A quite alot of effort must have been made to upload them

However for those without a GPS how would you use the details ????.

Unless I have not seen any text reports on the trips. Some body may be able to steer me in the right direction here.

 

[Blue Dog]

Hey Stilllookin
I agree with you on the Mt Cameron trail it used to be one of my regular rides on the bikes back in the 70 and 80 we were there the day they were doing the gates.
Did you ever do the run up over the trerrace's and down through to putty ? you would have had to be on a bike for it, man that was an awsome track.

I never new the spanish steps by that name or even trail No5 until recently we always have refered to it as the "gully track" and campbells we called the "dip" but then again most of the trails up that way were and are still given their own names by 4WD, Bike riders, and walkers anyway.

Was up there on saturday and so many of the old tracks are gone couldn't do all I wanted as a huge chunk is closed for logging but still spent the day there and done over 200k.

 

[Tats]

Memories!

G'day Stilllookin', Hey it's great to hear from folk like you and Grit, who have seen the best times and have driven that much loved area. I still get upset when I remember the last time I went to Deep Pass and found that the NPWS had dropped heaps of small trees that were growing trackside, across the track to stop people driving in there. Back then it was the last downhill before the little muddy creek crossing, although they've probably closed off a lot more since. When one considers that the cleared area where we camped had once been a property that was cleared and the old house footings were still evident, then why? What could possibly be gained? It must have been to pacify the Greenies for some obscure and selfish reason! The same with the confluence of Annie Rowen Creek and the Wolgan River. The clearing where we camped was as big as two AFL fields. There was an old dead tree that each visiting club attached a club memento too to see who could put theirs up the highest. One bloke from the Nissan Club took in a ladder and placed a club memento right on the very top. I wonder if it's still there. Too far for me to walk now. Across the Wolgan River were the remnants of a cottage, and a well (covered with a bit of corrugated tin), and many other bits 'n' pieces and signs that someone had once lived there. I actually thought that I had found a grave site on one occasion, but I went back many, many times over the years and couldn't find it again. I remember back when Tony was alive and the track through his property was getting a bit rough. A few of us organised a small bobcat, and some willing pick and shovellers, and repaired that part of the track that came down from Devils Pinch, along the river and into his property. Gee, I could go on for hours. Maybe I should look out some pics and pop them on this thread for all to see. I'll wait until I get back from Denman.

Tats

 

[dave_sq]

Hey Darren
thinking of doing that trip in reverse during the school hols, any likely problems getting my freelander through?

Dave

 

[Darrenmidd]

G'day Dave,

You should have no problems , it's not really rutted anywhere and you should cruise through. I only have 230mm of diff clearance (though I do have a locker) and never even got close to having any issues. Just watch the bog hole at the end of blackfellas I pulled a vehicle out from there.

We had lunch overlooking the Wolgan Valley

The few steep inclines and declines are not rutted (near Bal Bone Gap)

The Bog hole - not treading lightly

Cheers
Darren

 

[dave_sq]

thanks Darren
My clearance is about the same as yours, no lockers but do have traction control. On that last photo, is there a 'chicken' track around the boghole?

Dave

 

[Blue Dog]

Hey Dave

You should have no problems doing the track form that direction just watch it if there is any more rain up there it can get a little slippery.
There is a side track on the bog in darrens last pic.

 

[grit]

That little pothole is getting bigger... Across the road to Newnes (left then right at end of Blackfellows Hand Track)Baal Bone adds some nice scenic highlights to your day, none of it is difficult, just watch some of those deeply rutted potholes back on blackfellows & Sunnyside Ridge tracks (all have chicken tracks).

 

[Darrenmidd]

yeah mate, as the others have mentioned there is another track, but that little pothole is a lot deeper especially to the left. One of our cars got bogged up till the front door. still avoid that and you will cruise around - have a great time with your family, I did.

 

[dave_sq]

Thanks for the info guys. Looking forward to it, I'll let you know how we go

Dave

 

[lost4wdclub]

where abouts is the powerline track that is often mentioned. Could someone post a google earth image of it please

 

[grit]

where abouts is the powerline track that is often mentioned. Could someone post a google earth image of it please

Powerlines is on the Newnes Plateau. I strongly suggest that you do not attempt it alone and / or without proper recovery gear. The track is long and some parts are not for the faint hearted. I would recommend doing it with someone that knows the track. Big Rock & the Wombat holes could easily see you belly up or cause the type of damage that would prevent you driving home. Not to mention the damage that could be done to the track that might see another one closed. I'll be back up that way within the next couple of weeks and several others on here are familiar with the area if you would like a proper introduction.

 

[rustygq]

If you looking for some medium to hard places i know a few around the colo area a few tracks run of comleroy rd they are worth the drive
cheers rusty
i must say u can bash a ceil or to if u try to hard LOL
all good tho

 

[grit]

If you looking for some medium to hard places i know a few around the colo area a few tracks run of comleroy rd they are worth the drive
cheers rusty
i must say u can bash a ceil or to if u try to hard LOL
all good tho

I've been up along Comleroy and Blaxland Ridge - I thought most of that was privately owned?

 

[dave_sq]

Hi Guys

just back from our little jaunt, no worries getting through, was carefull as I was by myself. My 7 yr old son had "one of the best days of my life"

thanks again

Dave

 

[Blue Dog]

The one off Comelroy rd is most likely the run to wheeny creek then through to mountain lagoon or to colo? some nice spots along there, it's only a short run. I did the mountain lagoon back to Kurrajong run on Sunday taking it slow and was only a 2hr round trip the track is a little more difficult doing it from the wheeny creek end as the up hill runs are steeper and the rutts come into play more.
There are a few side tracks to play on or bush walk, it's very nice area with great views over the valleys and a nice little picnic spot down at the creek it does tend to get crowded in the warmer months.
The creek floods and is unpassable after heavy rains in the mountains.

Like always when you go stick to the OPEN tracks and keep it clean this area has lost alot of the tracks over the past ten years.

 

[Darrenmidd]

G'day guys,

with some mates from the Delica Club I'm heading up to sunny corner, anyone got comments or heads up for the trip? We will have a variety of vehicles ranging from std to quite modified and drivers with similar range of experience. Cheers Darren.

 

[Blue Dog]

Yeah if you are going up this weekend have mud tyres and some recovery gear it will be slick from the rain the past couple of days.