Wollangambe Canyon - Upper Tourist Section - track notes

24/12/2005 - report - photos

13/01/2001 -

The Wollangambe River passes through numerous sections of canyon on its way to the Colo River. The two most popular sections lie below Mt Wilson, and are excellent lilo trips on a summer day. The notes below describe the upper tourist section, often called Wollangambe 1.

Park at the fire station at Mt Wilson, and follow the fire trail around behind the fire station. Turn left on to another fire trail at the T-junction after 200m. Past the top of the hill, the main trail swings right and then crosses another fire trail. There is a "Wollangambe River" sign at the head of a foot track opposite that you should follow. At about 2km a track branches left below a large (10m) sandstone outcrop. Avoid this and continue past another sandstone pagoda on your left. As you near the river, the track swings sharply left. Head upstream along the cliffs above a gully for 200m until you can climb down a steep corner on tree roots into the gully. Follow this down to the river at AMG545912.

Follow the river downstream. There are many long deep pools, so lilos and wetsuits are advisable. There are a number of points early on where you can climb up the cliffs on the side of the canyon for jumps to about 8m. Check the depth carefully. Further down there are a few large boulder scrambles to negotiate. There are no abseils.

It is worth having a look up Water Dragon Canyon which comes in on the left at AMG554913. It is cold and dark, but spectacular.

The usual exit is found at a beach (AMG559914) just upstream from where a large log bridges the canyon about 7m above the river. Climb up the right hand side of the gully, and then up rocks and tree roots (a bit exposed). Follow the track back to a fire trail. Turn right and follow this back to the "Wollangambe River" sign and from there back to your car.

Alternatively continue downstream past a 2m scramble or jump (be careful if you jump) to the sharp left hand bend at AMG562914 and climb up to the right. This track joins up with the other track above before it hits the fire trail.