Trips

Pipeline Canyon is a very good canyon just off the Pipeline Track between Newnes and Glen Davis. It features two sections of canyon. Most parties visit only the lower constriction, entering via a side canyon.

Access

See here for information on how to get to Newnes. The notes assume starting at the Newnes Hotel.

It is also possible to walk in from Glen Davis via the Pipeline Track, to the saddle above Green Gully, and to join the route below there. Due to the long walk out, this is best combined with an overnight camp on the tops or at Newnes.

Route

Entry

From the Newnes Hotel, walk or drive north along the road to the Little Capertee campground. Cross the ford on Little Capertee Creek into the campground and follow the track along the left bank of the river for 2km to the bottom of the Pipeline Track to Glen Davis (signposted). There are some tracks leading to the left, away from the river, and these should be ignored. Crossing Petries Gully may involve wet feet. The bottom of the Pipeline Track is reached just after the Petries Gully crossing. Climb up to the top of the hill on the track. A sign points to a good lookout about 100m walk to the south.

Returning to the main track, continue along to the watershed, where there is a National Parks sign about Starlight Canyon.

There are a couple of entry points you can use.

For the upper constriction, follow the Starlight Canyon track off to the right, up and around the small hill to the east. Cross the next two saddles, and drop down from the slopes of the hill aiming for the bend in the creek around MGA452278 (AMG451276, Mount Morgan). There is a bit of a scramble to get down the bottom of the hill. Some parties may end up needing to abseil. Walk down the creek to the first canyon section.

For the lower constriction, a shorter route in (distance-wise) drops into the tributary to the right of the Pipeline Track at MGA446271. This is about 150m before you reach the watershed. There are 3-4 abseils before you reach the main creek. These used to be short, but a treefall on the second has resulted in a new anchor with 27m drop from high on the left - though this could be split into two shorter drops. Note that this way joins the main creek just after the lower constriction starts.

Notes

If you have taken the upper entrance, the first section of the canyon is not far. This has a number of easy climb downs, but no abseils, and is dry. There is an impressive narrow section with massive coachwoods stretching all the way to the top of the slot. The creek then opens up for a while before the next canyon section.

The lower constriction starts with a short climb down, and some bridging to avoid pools, otherwise a short swim. The tributary mentioned above enters after the first climb down. Not far on there is a 10m abseil into a pool, and then a 6m abseil down a log. A long flat section of canyon follows, with a few wades, and just as the canyon starts to open out a bit, there is another abseil.

This is about 15m, followed by a 4m drop off bolts. There is a short swim, or deep wade. Then there is another 5m drop, with an overhung start off bolts. The final abseil is about 12m from bolts on the right, down to the end of the canyon.

Exit

Head right under the cliffs on an exposed track, until you hit the Pipeline Track, which you can follow back to camp. Keep close to the cliffs to avoid a lower track on hairier ledges.

Comments

An excellent canyon. The top section is nice and worth a visit, and the bottom section is quite sustained.

Two 30m ropes are sufficient for about six abseils. A couple of the abseils had tricky starts, but bolting has made them easier.

With judicious bridging and traversing you can probably get away with wades just over waist deep. However, there are a few narrow sections that are usually silted up, which could become swims at other times. Experienced parties can often do without wetsuits.

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