These notes are intended to be used in
conjunction with John Siseman’s generally excellent book,
'Australian Alps Walking Track' (Pindari Publications 1998). Bear in
mind that Siseman’s book is now 8 years old and in that time
the 2003 fires have wreaked havoc through over half of the AAWT.
The notes are to be used as a guide
only; they are observations I have made during my travels and I believe
they may be helpful to future walkers. However I accept no
responsibility for any errors or omissions. I update this page from
time to time with information gleaned from hut logbooks, other walkers
and from rewalking sections of the track, so check in from time to
time. If you want anything to be
added to them, feel free to drop me an email. The notes were last updated on the 9th of July 2006.
All grid references given are using the Australian
Map Grid (AMG); for the new series of CMA maps you will need to add
200m to both the horizontal and vertical references (ie 123 567 becomes
125 569).
NOTE: In September 2005 storms lashed the Victorian section of the
AAWT, bringing down trees over tracks. Hence some sections of walking
track/route may be slow going. I have only walked the section from Mt
McDonald through to King Billies since the storms; I believe that trees
may have been brought down as far south as the Baw Baw Plateau and as
north as the Barry Mountains. Tree-covered ridgetops seem to be the
worst affected.
26.0km
Mushroom Rocks
The hut can be found by following a foot
track that starts near the ‘Car Park’ sign, heading
down the hill to your left. There is a tank at the hut for
water.
28.0km
Mt Erica
The track across the Baw Baws is generally
easy to
follow but has scrub growing over the top of it, so be aware. Gaiters
or trousers essential.
43.5km
Mount Whitelaw
The campsite for Stronachs Camp is found
on the left of the track, and is ‘marked’ by a
broken signpost.
50.0km
Stronachs Camp
The foot track isn’t too hard
to follow, but as it reaches the top of the ridge it is covered with
fallen mountain ash trees that have been blown over from where the
forest adjacent to the track has been clear felled. I suggest it would
be easier to walk through the logged area than follow the track, as
scrambling through fallen trees with a pack on is very slow going.
58.5km
Thomson River
The foot track is incorrectly marked on
the Mount Easton 1:25,000 map. It heads up the spur that starts roughly
opposite where ‘Whitelaw Hut’ is marked on the map.
The log crossing is decayed; crossing the river
could be interesting if
the water level is up. There is a wire rope handrail but I
wouldn’t trust it.
73.5km
Red Jacket
The official campsite next to the bridge
has been turned into a dustbowl by 4WDs. I managed to find enough room
for my tent in amongst the blackberries between the chimney base and
the river; you can get access to it from the AAWT post halfway between
the track junction and the bridge.
The hut mentioned on the side of the
road is fairly derelict, but has a dirt floor and so tents could be
pitched inside if it is raining.
85.5km
Mount Singleton
The AAWT follows the top track along
Champion Spur, before turning along a barely recognisable fire track
(signposted) for ~200m, crossing the lower track then heading down to
the Black River.
An alternative (and I suspect
quicker and easier) way into the Black River would be to continue
heading along the Champion Spur track for another 2km then heading east
along Link track, finishing down at the final river crossing.
95.0km
Black River
There is enough space for one tent where
the track hits the Black River. I walked along the river, which was
very slow, before heading over to the east bank and making my way
along; it was much faster to stick to the bank. If you are intending to
walk along the river I suggest that sandles be worn. There isn’t
a
huge amount of room at the last campsite; enough for two tents.
The track climbing out of the river
becomes very indistinct towards the top; the tapes are hard to find,
and I couldn’t see the place where it swings off the flat,
unnamed hill. I headed down into the saddle between the hill and Mt
Singleton, and found a fire track that had been recently bulldozed.
This heads steeply up to the top, passing occasional Alpine Track
markers
along the way.
108.0km
Skene Lookout
The distance for this section is 106km
from the start of the track, not 108 as in the book! The views from the
lookout have been pretty much obscured by snowgum regrowth.
109.5km
Rumpff Saddle
Water is found about 500m down the
overgrown fire track. The hut mentioned has been demolished, and the
water
in the dam at the Mount Sunday turnoff is very dubious.
122.5km
Mount Sunday
Received marginal phone service (Telstra
digital) near the summit; first service since the Baw Baws. The fire
track down to Low Saddle is overgrown, and indistinct at first. The
last section along the side of the spur is very overgrown and slow
going.
125.5km
Low Saddle
The water supply here is definitely not
reliable; with hindsight I would have picked up water at the sharp bend
in the fire track as described by Siseman. Water may be avaliable
running down the wheelruts of the vehicle track up to the Mt McDonald
turnoff; I encountered water within 500m of Low Saddle, even though the
'official' supply to the north was dry.
The foot track along the ridge to Mt
McDonald is indistinct, but it would be hard to get lost. The ridge is
rocky and fairly slow going.
133.0km
Mt McDonald
When descending off Mt McDonald, stick
to the ridge as best you can. There are false leads trailing off in
lots of places. The fire track that Siseman mentions has diminished to
a foot track, and has been badly affected by the recent storms. There
are a lot of trees down, and progress may be slow.
138.5km
The Nobs
There are some trees down between The Nobs and High
Cone, but not as many as coming off Mt McDonald.
In the vicinity of High Cone the track becomes
indistinct; either contour around the side of the hill or climb to the
summit, which gives good views towards Square Top and Mt Clear.
The track heading up from the saddle
between High Cone and Square Top is easy to miss. It sticks to the
crest of the spur from the saddle.
145.5km
Mount Clear
The track across the top of Mt Clear is
indistinct but becoming better defined now that the cattle grazing has
stopped. The
foot track down the very steep spur to the fire track is marked by
cairns and is easy enough
to follow; just head down!
166.0km
Mount Speculation
The foot track down off the ridge to
Catherine Saddle is very steep and covered with leaf mulch. I suggest
southbound parties follow the vehicle track around as it would be much
easier.
168.5km
Catherine Saddle
The dugout is mostly collapsed. The
track up to Mt Despair is well defined, but from the narrow saddle
mentioned in the book to Viking Saddle you need to keep your wits about
you. As most of the track markers have been removed people seem to get
lost in this area, and there are false tracks radiating off everywhere.
I ignored the tracks and stuck as close to the top of the ridge as I
could, hugging the base of the rock slabs, and didn’t have
any problems. Make no mistake though, the going is slow, and it is a
fairly decent day from Mt Speculation through to Viking Saddle. From
the rock cairn at the Razor turnoff (which is fairly easy to find;
it’s in the middle of a large rocky red patch on the side of
the hill) the track is easier to follow, although there is a bit of
fallen timber across it.
174.5km
The Viking
The ‘track’ from the
summit down to Barry Saddle is the hardest section for navigation of
the whole AAWT. Track markers can be found in places, but
that’s about it. Stick to the top of the ridge as best you
can, roughly hugging the trees. After ~1km the edge of the Viking will
be reached; you will know it when you get to it as the northern side is
fairly steep, although lacking in the cliffs! There are a few track
markers along the top of this edge. Now you need to search for a rock
cairn, with two small logs ~50cm long sticking out of it. It is located
~200m along the edge from the crest of the main ridge. As Siseman says,
it is essential to find this cairn before continuing. From the cairn
the ‘track’ goes straight down a shallow, steep
gully. Head along the gully for ~500m, (or where the steepness wears
off); the ‘track’ picks up the slight spur to the
left of the gully. Do not stay in the gully or take the right-hand spur
as this will lead you into trouble. From here the track is almost
followable, but still fairly indistinct. It sticks to the high points
of the slight ridge down to Barry Saddle.
178.5km
Barry Saddle
The water in the tank at Barry Saddle
isn’t 100% clear and has a slight taste to it. Within 2km of
the saddle you run into the area burnt by the 2003 fires; get used to
the sight of black, dead trees as you are in the burnt stuff pretty
much all the way to Tharwa!
187.0km
East Riley Road
The ‘indistinct fire
track’ that climbs to the summit of Mt Selwyn South
is very
indistinct; a foot pad at best. Just head straight up to the top.
195.0km
Mount Selwyn
The foot track has been obliterated by
the fires, but the ridge narrow and easy to follow. I avoided the last
hill before Selwyn Creek Road.
200.0km
Selwyn Creek Road
The dugout is nowhere to be seen, and
this is a fairly marginal campsite. Just a note, the only places I got
water in the Barry Mountains were Mt Speculation, tank at Barry Saddle,
tank at GR 844952 and Selwyn Creek Road. I didn’t try
to find water anywhere else, so can’t comment on
the other places that Siseman mentioned. The creek down the grassy fire
track at Selwyn Creek Road was flowing very well when I got there, but
it had been raining a fair bit in the days previously. I think it would
take a long dry spell for this water source to be dry.
205.0km
Mount Murray
The track along the ridge has been
largely obliterated by the fires, but walking is pleasant. I avoided
the last hill before The Twins by dropping down to the vehicle track.
212.0km
The Twins
The track up to The Twins is largely
gone, but just head up and you will be fine. The track that descends
down from the east summit to the road is largely obliterated, but the
saddle would be hard to miss.
214.5km
Alpine Road
The long slog along the Great Alpine
Road is not a highlight of the trip. If you can’t hitch a
ride, give the Dinner Plain Taxi Service a call on 0427 000 702.
221.0km
Mount Hotham
Accommodation is cheap at Hotham off
season; I scored a room in a ski lodge for $30 per night. Give Chris
Gordon at Mt Hotham Lodges a call on 0408 327 590.
230.0km
Cobungra Gap
Basalt Temple is well worth a visit, and
Youngs Hut is a very pleasant place to camp, although it is off the
track a bit.
235.0km
Mount Jim
Mt Jim, whilst not looking very
impressive from the High Plains, is worth climbing. You can get
magnetic deviations of up to 120° at the summit.
242.0km Cope Hut
Wilkinson Lodge was burnt down in early 2004.
258.0km
Ropers Hut
Ropers Hut was burnt in the 2003 fires,
and should be rebuilt as it is the only shelter to the north of Mt
Nelse. From the hut the track is marked by tapes as it is covered with
waist-high grass underneath the burnt snowgums; it is better defined
lower down.
261.0km
Big River
The campsite on the south side of the
river must have disappeared, but on the north bank there is enough room
for several tents.
270.0km
Mount Bogong
I strongly recommend going out to the
West Peak, as you get great views of Mt Beauty nestled in the Kiewa
valley and an impressive view of The Staircase and the summit.
275.5km
Maddison Hut Site
At the point where the foot track and
the fire track meet near the top of Mulhauser Spur there is a sign
saying ‘Mt Bogong – 8km’. This is out by
quite a few km, so southbound parties shouldn’t get their
hopes up!
288.0km
Big River Saddle
The dugout is gone, and water is found
to the south-east of the saddle ~50m from the road. The track that
heads up to Mount Wills is a little hard to follow up near the top.
291.5km
Mount Wills
The hut on top is well worth staying at;
it has a pot belly stove and a sink! Water is available from the tank.
Mt Wills is very pleasant, with granite boulders and living snowgums
around the place. I had marginal phone reception here; the last I had
until The Pilot. The track off the top is hard to find at times; it
becomes a fire track to the west of Mt Wills South and heads down
through open forest.
297.5km
Omeo Highway
The track along the ridge is easy to
follow, but the foot track down to Gills Creek is fairly obscure due to
fire regrowth, and there aren’t many markers.
302.5km
Gills Creek
The track out of Gills Creek is also
obscure, but there are enough markers to follow.
Toms Link Track comes to a junction with
‘Wombat Track’, which isn’t marked on the
Benambra-Leinster 1:50,000 map. From here it is 300m down to Four Mile
Creek, and the track has been recently closed by a bulldozer.
317.5km
Mitta Mitta River
If
more substantial shelter than a tent is required then I recommend
heading to Kennedys Hut. It is a log cabin perched above the river, and
has sleeping platforms, carpet, a couch and a pot-belly stove. The hut
is marked but not named on the Benambra-Leinster 1:50,000 map at GR
586253. To get there walk back along the AAWT from Taylor's Crossing
for 1km, then turn right and head along the 4WD track for 500m. I haven’t walked the section
from here to Mt Murphy (I was subjected to 12hrs of heavy rain and
bailed out to the Benambra Hotel), so I can’t comment on it.
But from what I have seen the country will be burnt, meaning that foot
tracks will most likely have disappeared. Apparently there is a water
tank on Johnny’s Top now, so this may make things easier.
365.0km
Buckwong Creek
The huts mentioned were burnt in the
2003 fires, but one was being rebuilt when I went through there.
I’m no botanist, but I think the thickets of trees Siseman
mentions have been cremated.
There is no track for the next section,
only markers, which are generally easy to follow. The
‘track’ follows up the gullies to the crest of the
ridge.
368.0km
Misery Trail
The Mount Misery Road (Macs Creek Road)
isn’t marked on the Suggan Buggan 1:50,000 map. I
couldn’t see any views from the steep escarpment, but there
were some tantalising glimpses of The Cobberas from back up at the
ridge. The ‘track’ in this section is not much of a
track. The markers contour around the side of the hill before petering
out, and I then headed down the spur to the faint saddle, and from
there I followed the tea tree lined gully to Dead Horse Creek. Markers
are hard to come by in this section it seems.
375.0km
Dead Horse Creek
There is a campsite at the junction of
Dead Horse Creek and the gully that I followed down from the saddle;
the flat Siseman mentions is a further 200m downstream. I contoured
along downstream, and after crossing Smoke-Oh Creek came across a very
well defined brumby pad with AAWT markers on it. This heads up around
60m vertically then contours around the hill, eventually dissipating in
a grassy area between two creeks. I lost the markers not long after and
headed up to the crest of the ridge, and followed it down to the road.
378.0km
Limestone Creek
The distance from Dead Horse Creek to
Limestone Creek is a bit off; as the crow flies it is 3.1km, so the
actual distance would be 4km, not the 3km as stated. I opted not to go
up Stony Creek, and instead went the long way around via Limestone Road.
386.5km
The Cobberas
I feel sorry for everyone who misses out
on these mountains whilst doing the AAWT; they were one of the
highlights of my trip. Cobberas No 1 and Cleft Peak are spectacular. If
I had the option of climbing The Pilot or the Cobberas, The Cobberas
would win every time.
405.5km
The Pilot
The Pilot was the first phone reception
I had since the summit of Mt Wills.
412.5km
Tin Mine
The area around Tin Mine Huts is
unburnt; a real oasis in the sea of blackness. Well worth spending a
night here to remember what the unburnt high country looks like!
438.5km
Dead Horse Gap
From Dead Horse Gap there is a foot
track running along the Thredbo River to Thredbo Village. At the
village accommodation can be pricey, as the resort is open all year
round; I got a bed in a shared room in the YHA for ~$25 a night. From
Thredbo you can go up the chairlift for ~$20 and hammer along the metal
boardwalk with the tourists to Rawson’s Pass.
The route that Siseman suggests up onto
the main range is fine, but I suggest people take an alternative route
up to the Rams Head Range. Walk up to the top of the gap, and locate a
foot track heading straight up the side. The foot track fades out near
the base of South Rams Head, but you are in amongst the snow grass by
then, and walking is easy. The range itself has rocky outcrops
everywhere, and is very scenic. Head towards Mt Kosciusko, and you will
eventually see the iron boardwalk on your right.
448.5km
Mount Kosciusko
I suggest that you try to get to the
summit before 10am, or after 4pm. Any time in between will see hundreds
of tourists milling around wearing inappropriate clothing and whinging
about the climb; it is a sight to be avoided at all costs in my opinion!
465.0km
Mount Twynam
Currently the section of the Main Range
between Mt Anton and Dicky Cooper Bogong is closed, which means a
detour via Guthega Village and Munyang Power Station. From Mt Twynam
head toward Mt Little Twynam, then follow the slight spur down towards
Illawong Lodge. There is a foot track which should be found at the end
of the steep descent, and this leads to a bridge over the wild, infant
Snowy River. Illawong Lodge is locked, however a small refuge about the
size of a large refrigerator is found underneath for those in need.
From the lodge a foot track heads down
to Guthega, and from there head along the dirt road to Munyang. This
road has very little traffic in summer, so hitching a ride may prove
difficult. At the
power station head up the power line track, which is a gentle climb up
past Horse Camp Hut turnoff to Schlink Pass.
479.0km
Whites River Hut
If time and weather permits I recommend going via
Siseman’s route rather than the official track along fire
trails. The easiest way up Gungartan is to head straight up the hill
from Schlink Pass, then skirt around to the summit.
481.0km
Gungartan
Phone reception is avaliable from the summit; the next avaliable reception is on Mt Jagungal. Tin Hut, located in a clump of
unburnt snowgums ~2km to the east of Gungartan Pass, provides excellent
camping and shelter if needed. Alternative routes to Mawson’s
Hut are to head along the Brassy Mountains (which have been devastated
by the 2003 fires) or follow the Valentine River down (the most
sheltered option).
484.0km
The Kerries
The walking is slow along this section,
but the unburnt sections are quite pretty. The foot track down to
Mawson’s has been obliterated by the fires, and the hut
itself can be hard to find in bad weather. Read the map carefully.
488.0km
Mawson Hut
This hut is probably my favourite on the
AAWT; it has a fantastic atmosphere from years of being used by ski
tourers and bushwalkers. Siseman’s route to Valentines is the
easiest, but if time is not an issue it is quite pleasant to head down
the Valentine River rock hopping until reaching Valentine Fire Trail
and the hut.
Southbound parties won’t
find
the six metre pole as mentioned in the book; it has gone.
As an aside, if your party is running
behind schedule it is possible to make up a day by cutting from
Mawson’s directly to Mackey’s. From
Mawson’s head up past Mailbox Hill to the Bulls Peaks (mobile
phone reception available here). From here a disused vehicle track (not
marked on the Jagungal 1:25,000) heads along the Great Dividing Range
to Cesjack’s Hut; good time can be made along this route as
it is fairly flat and pleasant going. From Cesjack’s head
over past Spencers Peak and down the ridge to the Grey Mare Fire Trail
near Diggers Creek; there is no track and fire regrowth has been rapid.
491.5km
Valentine Hut
The foot track past Valentine Falls has
been mostly obliterated by the fires, but don’t let it put
you off. Go along the river until it passes through a narrow slit, then
head over to the south and go down into the Geehi valley. Traces of the
foot track can be found just above the west bank of Back Flat Creek.
504.5km
Tumut River
The easiest route up Jagungal is to
leave packs here and follow a foot track up the valley and around the
south-west spur.
Derschko’s Hut provides good
shelter if required, but is 1.5km off the AAWT route.
508.0km Mount Jagungal
Jagungal is a must climb for all walkers; it
dominates the area and provides extensive views. Phone reception is
avaliable on the summit, but not at the summit post; head east for
~200m or so and good reception should be found.
511.0km
O’Keefes Hut
The hut was burnt down in the 2003
fires, but has been recommended for replacement.
513.5km
Farm Ridge
Crossing Doubtful Creek can be an
interesting experience after rain, as it rises quickly.
519.5km Mackeys Hut
In the 1993 edition of Siseman's notes he
describes
a better route to Happys Hut, taking walkers through more interesting
countryside and off the Grey Mare Fire Trail and Tolbar Road. I have
summarised the route here, and recommend it over the featureless road
bash. Most of this alternative route is off-track, but walking is
fairly easy as it is mostly on frost plains. Some climbs are required
but nothing of Victorian proportions! I walked this route in February
2006.
From Mackeys Hut head down the western side of Tibeaudo Creek, past some
cascades. Where the creek swings NE head north through the slight
saddle and down towards Diggers Creek. Around 100m from the saddle there is a prominent old water race that
runs around the side of the hill; follow it NE until the point where
Diggers Creek swings to the east. From here head NNW, crossing the
creek and heading for Boobee Hut site. The hut was burnt in the 2003
fires, but has been recommended for replacement. The site itself is hard to locate, and only the outline of the hut remains.
From Boobee Hut site head NE, skirting the edge of
the forest, reaching Happy Jacks Road. There used to be an SMA hut,
Happy Jacks Plain, at GR 340094 on the Khancoban 1:50,000 (not marked
on the map), but this was also burnt in the fires. Head north along
Happy Jacks Road to the track junction; leave packs here and climb Far
Bald Mountain if desired. To do this, follow the track around the side
of the
mountain, heading south to a saddle when crossing under the power lines
(not marked on the Khancoban 1:50,000). From here head west to the
summit, which offers one of the best views of Jagungal in the park.
Returning to the packs, head east, dropping down to
cross Happy
Jacks Creek. The creek is very picturesque, with rocky bluffs either
side, and further downstream it enters a gorge. The creek can rise
quickly
after rain and may make crossing difficult. Ford the creek and climb
eastwards out of the valley, skirting the north side of the rocky bluff
overlooking the creek. Continue eastwards, passing through a
slight saddle on the north side of a tree-covered hill, then contour
around along the south bank of the valley, before climbing slightly to
the grassy saddle at the
end of Arsenic Ridge.
At the grassy saddle two grassy wheelruts come up
from the south; continue north along an indistinct foot track, skirting
the treeline on the eastern side of Arsenic Ridge until Brooks Hut site
is reached.
Brooks Hut is recommended for replacement, having
being burnt in the 2003 fires. All that remains there currently is a
large rock chimney base and a dismantled toilet further up the hill.
From the hut site walk down to Arsenic
Creek and continue upstream; traces of foot tracks may be seen on both
sides of the creek. The creek opens out into a grassy plain, with two
rows of blackened fenceposts meeting in the middle. From the corner
post of the fence head NE for 500m, passing through some snowgums and
dropping down to Happys Hut.
528.0km
Doctor Phillips Hut
The hut was removed years ago by NPWS.
546.0km
Tabletop Mountain
Good phone reception is avaliable from the
summit, and for much of the walk to Kiandra thanks to a tower servicing
Mt Selwyn. Broken Dam Hut was burnt down in 1998, but has
been recommended for replacement.
550.0km Nine Mile Diggings
If time permits a side trip to the Elaine
Mine may
be in order. Located in the valley of Bloomfield Creek at GR 343212, it
was operated up to the 1930s. Many relics remain, including an old
steam engine, and many methods of gold extraction can be seen,
including sluicing, shafts and an adit. My notes for this side
trip are based on Harry Hill's, from his excellent book "Best Bushwalks
in Kosciusko National Park" (Kangaroo
Press, 1998). The side trip is off track through grassland and open
snowgum forest; allow 1.5 hours return.
Leave the fire trail at the saddle at GR 334207, and
head east
through the forest. A small carin should be found at GR 337205;
continue ENE to a rocky outcrop and a second cairn at GR 341206. From
here head north, straight down the hill; you will soon see a drystone
wall of a holding dam at GR 342208. This was used
as water storage for the sluicing hole below. 200m further east of the
dam, along a large water race, is a shaft dug to located the ore body
for the mine. From the dam wall head north, following a water race. The
South Bloomfield Sluicing
hole is soon reached at GR 342210; it is not as large as the Nine Mile
hole, but still fairly impressive. Continue NE, picking up a partially
overgrown bridle track down to the remains of
the Elaine Mine at GR 343212. In this vicinity there is a
water-filled adit,
building sites, ore trucks, a stack of partially burnt mine props, the
steam engine and, most noticably, a large mullock heap almost spanning
Bloomfield Creek. The mullock heap is dead straight, and the different
colours of rock give an idea of the makeup of the ground underneath.
Return to the fire trail by a similair
route.
It is quite pleasant to leave the fire trail around
GR 326217 and follow Four Mile Creek down through the gold workings to
Four Mile Hut.
554.5km Four Mile Hut
The foot track to the hut is indistinct after
the
creek crossing.
562.5km Kiandra
There is a walking track around the town site with
interpretive signs that is worth doing if you are interested in the
history of Kiandra.
585.0km
Murrumbidgee River
The river can rise substantially
after heavy rains, making passing difficult. From the river there
is no
track; a sign gives compass bearings. Pick up the row of old telegraph
poles and follow them until they finish, then head either to the Long
Plain Road or across to Millers Hut. From here there is no phone
reception until Bimberi Peak.
597.5km
Hainsworth Hut
I suggest that water is collected a fair
way upstream from the hut, as the hut is quite popular with horse
riders and there is no toilet.
The side trip to Old Currango is worth
it; the homestead has been restored and is fascinating.
If the need arises accommodation is avaliable at
Currango Homestead at very reasonable prices ($25 or $30 per night in
the main homestead). It is located around 10km from the AAWT, so not
really suitable for a side trip. Check out the Friends of Currango
website here.
613.0km
Blue Waterholes
Water should be treated here as it is
popular with tourists. As Siseman suggests, it is worth spending a day
looking around the area. Harris Hut was burnt down some years ago.
Another place that is worth a look in the area is the 'Devils Influx'
located at GR 481567 on the Peppercorn map; this is a place where two
streams dissapear underground.
630.0km
Murray Gap
There is a rough foot pad heading up to
Bimberi Peak; the route is marked by small rock cairns, but will
probably be lost on the way up. The foot pad will be found again at the
crest of the
ridge.
642.5km
Cotter Hut
The ‘less used fire
track’ that the AAWT follows breaks off near the fence, and
has a large log across it. The fire track from the river continues
around the south-eastern slopes of Coronet peak, and isn’t
marked on the Rendezvous Creek 1:25,000 map.
670.0km
Booroomba Rocks
I managed to squeeze my tent in up here,
giving excellent views of the city lights. The walking track from
Booroomba Rocks through to the road below Mount Tennant has been
reconstructed after the fires along a different route; contact the
Namadgi Visitors Centre for more information. Instead of the track
coming out along the Mt Tennant road it now joins the walking track
near Bushfold Flats further down the side of Mt Tennant. I haven't
personally walked this new section of track, but if it is anything like
the other walking tracks in Namadgi NP it is likely to be of a high
standard.
679.0km
Mount Tennant
The track heads down an old vehicle
track along the western edge of the spur, not along the top as marked
on the new Williamsdale 1:25,000 map.
683.0km
Tharwa Visitor Centre
The height marked in the book (1355m) is
a little optimistic; the real height is closer to 500m.
