Why Don't We Do It In The Road? Canyon - track notes

• 31/03/2007 - report - photos
• 04/12/2005 - report - photos
• 23/02/2003 - report
• 02/02/2002 -

Why Don't We Do It In The Road? Canyon, often known as Serendipity Canyon, is a relatively short canyon on the south side of the Wollangambe. It is popular because of its easy access, relatively large number of abseils, and the fact that it can be done fairly safely in inclement weather. It was named by Tony Norman, a Beatles fan, who was in one of the first parties to visit the upper section of the creek. It is commonly known as Serendipity Canyon, an alternate name given by Glen Robinson. The lower part of the creek was well known to parties visiting the Wollangambe.

Park at Cathedral Reserve at Mt Wilson. If you intend to go upstream to exit, you could park at the fire station at Mt Wilson, as the walk in/out is much the same distance, but possibly a bit easier. Either way, follow the main fire trail to where the Wollangambe Lower Tourist Section (Wollangambe 2) entrance track turns off. Follow this track for about 1km to a fork where the track to WDWDIITR veers off to the right. A couple of hundred metres after here there is another fork. Left goes to an exit (see below), so take the right fork. This winds around and down to the start of the canyon.

There are a few options at the start of the canyon. One is to cross the creek and abseil 14m in two stages down the right of the waterfall. Be wary of the two sharp stumps pointing up from the halfway ledge. A 30m rope just reaches here. Then there is a scramble off a ledge on the right, or abseil about 3m.

Alternatively you can bypass both abseils on the left and drop in a little further down. However, it seems a slight waste to do it this way.

Almost immediately there is a 10m drop into the creek proper from a tree on the right. From there there is a reasonable creek walk of around 45min to the main canyon section.

The first drop is around 8m down a waterfall. Aim to stay to the right, particularly if there is a lot of water. It is not too far to the second drop. You can abseil from tapes around a tree a couple of metres further back, or jump about 4m. Someone will need to check the depth first. The last drop is an easy abseil or a tricky jump. You need to know where the ledges are underwater, and unfortunately they are under the easier jumping zones. It requires jumping rather close to a wall.

It is then a short scramble to the end of the canyon.

There are a number of options for exit. You can go downstream, in which case proceed as for Wollangambe Lower Tourist Section (Wollangambe 2). Lilos are a good idea as this is a reasonably long option.

If you go upstream the easiest way out is from a ledge to the left, about 100m upstream, just as the canyon bends to the left. A path leads up the obvious gully and then up the ridge, where it joins back to the entrance track not far down from the fire trail. It is also possible to traverse left along ledges (a little exposed) to this exit from the end of WDWDIITR if the water level in the Wollangambe is too high for wading upstream.

Alternatively you can go further upstream to the normal exit track from the Upper Tourist Section (Wollangambe 1). There is a somewhat tricky climb up of about 2m before you reach the exit beach. The exit is just after you pass under a log bridging the canyon.

A nice canyon, although rather short, and with a longish but pleasant creek walk between abseils. It is better (but incorrectly) known as Serendipity Canyon, so I have tried to give its original name here.