Koombanda Canyon - track notes

• 01/10/2023 - photos
• 10/03/2019 - photos
• 01/10/2005 - report - photos

Koombanda Canyon is an attractive but short canyon flowing in to the Grose River from the north near Bell. It features a couple of short abseils and a couple of chilly swims.

Heading west on Bells Line of Road, turn left on to Darling Causeway at the intersection at Bell. Continue for 2.9km, turn left on the Canyon Colliery Trail, and park.

Walk across the bridge over the railway line, and turn left on the fire trail for 1.5km to a clearing (GR 467875, Mount Wilson map).

Leave the fire trail and contour around the south side of the hill (the 1085 point on the map) keeping north of the major tributary, and drop in to the tributary that joins the main creek at GR 473872 (Mt Wilson). There may be some scrub getting into the trib. Follow the trib down to a waterfall where it enters the main creek, and walk down an easy gully to the left of the drop. There are tapes in a tree to the right, but abseiling at this point is very optional. Head down the creek for 400m to the start of the canyon.

The first abseil is about 7m, and then there is a swim of about 20m. The second abseil is shortly after. This is up to 13m - but probably more like 8m - from a long sling from a tree high up on the right hand side into a deep dark cleft. You finish in waist deep water. There are also rocks on the ledge from which a cairn anchor could be constructed. The final drop is only about 3m, and can be abseiled or hand-over-handed. It can also be jumped if you check for rocks first. A chilly 10m swim follows, and the canyon ends shortly after.

Continue down the creek for 700m until you reach a bridge, at the old colliery. Follow the road back up the hill, with good views of the upper Grose Valley. There are several landslips, and one section that is tricky to negotiate, as the road has been completely washed away. Cross a bridge over a cutting, and then cross the railway line at the same bridge you came in on to get back to your car.

Alternatively you can head up Kamarah Gully and on to Kamarah Ridge, and thence back to the road. If you take this exit, you would need to leave a second car on the Bell Rd near Kamarah Ridge, or enter via Koombanda Ridge.