Near Tallong, Southern Highlands NSW
Distance: NPWS list it as 3.5km return, we got 5.3km return
Duration: Listed as 3.5 - 4.5 hours and Grade 5, we took a bit under 3 (and we took our time mucking about in the creek)
For our 10th wedding anniversary, Richard and I had a short getaway at Kangaroo Valley and decided to tackle a walk that we wouldn't be able to do if we had the kids in tow.
Badgerys Spur walking track is just south of Tallong in the Ettrema wilderness area, and is a steep, chossy, loose track that drops 500 metres in just 2.5km. The bushland is open and scrubby making it one to avoid on very hot days and the track, although not really marked, is relatively easy to find.
Climbing on all fours down this big sharp conglomerate bluff at the start you think, 'ah righto, this will be slow going!', however the track soon evens out (but remains steep all the way down).
Halfway down the hill we came to a stand of the biggest xanthorreas I've ever seen; these towered above our 6ft frames and there were thousands of them clinging to the side of the hill, many of which had healthy flower spikes.
With lots of loose shale and rocks underfoot, the track is slow going even on the way down; even for a mountain goat such as myself I was concerned about gravity winning so we had the brakes on most of the way down resulting in shaky quads by the time we got to the Shoalhaven river at the bottom.
The river was beautiful, lined with casuarina trees and strewn with well worn rocks, which had perhaps tumbled down from as far as Cooma where the Shoalhaven river begins. Dozens of huge aqua blue dragonflies perched on the rocks but despite my stealthiness I couldn't get close enough to get a photo. The river was clear and running well despite little recent rain, so it looks like it would be fine to drink after treatment. There was a small flattish grassed area in a natural clearing that I assume would be a camping spot, although lugging ones camping gear back up the hill would be hard going.
This was one of those walks where you don't quite know why you chose it but you're glad that you've done it once you get back to the car!
Distance: NPWS list it as 3.5km return, we got 5.3km return
Duration: Listed as 3.5 - 4.5 hours and Grade 5, we took a bit under 3 (and we took our time mucking about in the creek)
For our 10th wedding anniversary, Richard and I had a short getaway at Kangaroo Valley and decided to tackle a walk that we wouldn't be able to do if we had the kids in tow.
Badgerys Spur walking track is just south of Tallong in the Ettrema wilderness area, and is a steep, chossy, loose track that drops 500 metres in just 2.5km. The bushland is open and scrubby making it one to avoid on very hot days and the track, although not really marked, is relatively easy to find.
Climbing on all fours down this big sharp conglomerate bluff at the start you think, 'ah righto, this will be slow going!', however the track soon evens out (but remains steep all the way down).
Halfway down the hill we came to a stand of the biggest xanthorreas I've ever seen; these towered above our 6ft frames and there were thousands of them clinging to the side of the hill, many of which had healthy flower spikes.
With lots of loose shale and rocks underfoot, the track is slow going even on the way down; even for a mountain goat such as myself I was concerned about gravity winning so we had the brakes on most of the way down resulting in shaky quads by the time we got to the Shoalhaven river at the bottom.
The river was beautiful, lined with casuarina trees and strewn with well worn rocks, which had perhaps tumbled down from as far as Cooma where the Shoalhaven river begins. Dozens of huge aqua blue dragonflies perched on the rocks but despite my stealthiness I couldn't get close enough to get a photo. The river was clear and running well despite little recent rain, so it looks like it would be fine to drink after treatment. There was a small flattish grassed area in a natural clearing that I assume would be a camping spot, although lugging ones camping gear back up the hill would be hard going.
There was lots of cool fungi down near the river.
Also this little dragon didn't look well unfortunately... he wasn't there when we passed him on the way back.
This was one of those walks where you don't quite know why you chose it but you're glad that you've done it once you get back to the car!
Can't say I'd do it again but it was peaceful, remote and had some great views, and we certainly worked off the 3 cakes we'd had earlier that morning!
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