An easy day trip from the Blue Mountains, Kanangra-Boyd also has quiet campsites among the snow gums at Boyd River if you want to get away from it all. There are also intrusive igneous rocks from the Carboniferous period. Splendour Rock is a truly spectacular place, a prominent rock outcrop from where panoramic views of the southern Blue Mountains can be beheld. Click on thumbnails for large images - Fullscreen ( Fullscreen Requires JavaScript) What I Learnt Hiking K2K in a Day - We Are Explorers In conclusion, you need to consider the following when assessing in your own mind the level of difficulty of the walk: Please check the photos of the route and the detailed distance and elevation charts provided to you in your information pack when deciding if this trip is suitable for you. The trail heads steeply north down the obvious ridge, finishing at Kanangra Creek where you can fill up with water. Your email address will not be published. 54km: 12 hours: 24 hours: K2K Leaderboard: K2K2K (K2). Katoomba to . Well, plans should always be fluid and ours didnt quite go as expected. The K2K, or the "Katoomba to Kanangra" walk is a ~ 60 km trail (from the Katoomba train station to the Kanangra Walls Car park), which takes the bushwalker on a scenic traverse through the Blue Mountains National Park and the Kanangra-Boyd National park via the Coxs River. Good navigation and prior knowledge of the route is therefore essential. Cloudmaker and Guouogang are eroded remnants of Ordovician quartzite. Kanangra-Boyd National Park | National Parks - Oberon Australia ", "The trip was great - I have never hiked this part of the Blue Mountains and it proved spectacular! On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. I was able to download it straight into a gps app I downloaded the other day! We eventually found the Pass and while having lunch at the top of the Pass, a Bush Club group arrived and told us about a lovely campsite at the River. If you have a large group you may be able to avoid the car shuffle by splitting in two, and doing the walk in opposite directions. There looked to be an old trail which followed the For directions, safety and practical information, see visitor info. You'll want to make sure you spend some time at Kanangara-Boyd lookout which overlooks Kanangra Walls and Mount Cloudmaker, Kanangra Waterfall Walk (which only takes about 30 minutes), the Mount Emperor loop (epic for bike riders) and Boyd River campground which is fitted out with vehicle access. Information submitted on this form, including any personal details, will be a matter of public record and will be stored in the Department of Planning and Environment (DPE) records system. Bring your camera when you visit Kanangra-Boyd lookout. Tom crossing the cold Coxs River By submitting this form, you consent to the collection and use of your personal information in accordance with this policy. The trip overall was not overly formal, pretty low key and provides an experience that allows you to challenge yourself whilst feeling safe. The 2019-2020 bushfires significantly affected the area and since the fires much of the track has become overgrown, and the path is indistinct and difficult to follow. couldn't raise my arm above my head. It is exposed and some people may feel insecure on a vertical rockface with no more than metal spikes to hold onto with hands and feet. The walk became abit of a forced march to the cars and the promise of some dry clothes. The river should only be about knee deep at this point. Stop at the top of the steps and peer out over Kanangra Deep to Kanangra Walls, and in the distance, Mount Cloudmaker, which is often circled by mist. The first day is the longest in distance of the entire walk. our arrangement to meet the others worked. Its a good idea to let someone know where youre going and when you plan to return. It offers expansive and majestic views over the Kanangra Walls and Mount Cloudmaker, which - as its name suggests - is often ensconced in the fog. Keep your eyes peeled for echidnas and lyrebirds, particularly during summer. crack. Rumble. English: View from Kanangra-Boyd lookout over Kanangra Walls and Mount Cloudmaker, Kanangra-Boyd National Park, New South Wales, Australia. Katoomba to Kanangra hikes are currently scheduled for: One of the rewards of running trips like the K2K is the people you meet on the way. Eucalypt forest with western plain species, such as yellow box and white box, are found in areas of rainshadow. Mount Cloudmaker (from Kanangra Walls) | Kanangra-Boyd - BeyondTracks [2] The Kanangra-Boyd National Park is the most southwesterly of the eight protected areas within the World Heritage Site. The first part of the walk was quite easy, being out along the However, Blue Mountains nature - Conservation Wilderness - Kanangra-Boyd Wilderness Shot on Fuji Velvia ISO 50 using a Nikon F801 and an AF 24mm f2.8 lens. The best place to soak in this splendour is the Kanangra-Boyd Lookout; a viewpoint that is easy to access. Presumably this was to try to reduce erosion on the A short walk upstream is our campsite in a lovely peaceful river flat among casuarina trees. Maps: Gangerang (Dunphy) Kanangra 8930-3S. Kanangra can be challenging, particularly for a novice bushwalker File:Kanangra-Boyd lookout, Kanangra-Boyd National Park 10.jpg We followed Shane to the Cave and were reunited with the rest of the party, and 20 others from Sydney Bushwalkerswho were also camping in the overhang. The Boyd Plateau is slowly recovering from logging, and is the highest land in the World Heritage Area. Once on the ridge, head on the track to Mt Moorilla Maloo. and found Tom and Nicole. Or continue on down a short set of steps to the lookout platform for an even better view. Gabes Gap is the low point on the walk, the path through the gap is steep in both directions. Many parties have run into trouble over the years, and walkers need to be competent navigators. On the Boyd Plateau, the misty mountain forests of brown barrel, messmate, ribbon gum, black sally, snow gum and mallee predominate. 01 Jan 1939 - "Trail-Side Museum" - Trove The size of the group will be capped at 8 clients, and the trip will not proceed unless a minimum number of 5 clients sign up. There is a logbook on Mt Cloudmaker, dedicated to the memory of Kathleen Jones. This area is unforgiving and there's not water on route to Mt Cloudmaker. Although we saw evidence that others had also taken our route, there wasnt a track and we were really just route-finding across the plateau trying to avoid burned out hakea. slippery bottom of a cold river in the fastest time possible. Kanangra-Boyd is always open, but may have to close at times due to poor weather or fire danger. thought was an early hour, only to find it full already. Mittagong to Katoomba Bushwalk | David Noble Blog But 'screw that' we thought. a walking stick - You will then receive a full information pack containing everything you need to know to prepare for and attend the trip. It is up there with the Overland Track in Tasmania and the Milford Track in New Zealand for beauty but more isolated and much harder. Develop new skills, learn how to prepare for your next hike and remain safe while navigating the trail. For details on how to get to Kanangra Walls, see the information in the Kanangra Walls region, to the right. At the end of the plateau you descend Tarros Ladders, a series of metal spikes down the cliff face! From the unfenced lookout, an easy 10 minutes walk from the Kanangra Walls carpark, you can peer out over Kanangra Deep to Kanangra Walls and in the distance, Mount Cloudmaker, which is often circled by mist. suppose a good pair of hiking boots may just come in handy at a point Nicole in scrub near Mt Moorilla Maloo. The second lookout overlooks rugged ravines at the head of the gorges and Kanangra Falls. My expeditions are always held in a spirit of friendship and respect between all participants. slushy. [5], About 1,000 flowering plant species occur in the Blue Mountains, in some 40 plant communities. There was also time for a (slightly) longer walk to a point overlooking Kanangra Creek not far from Kanangra Falls. If it is not practicable for you to do training bushwalks prior to this trip then any form of long walk with as much hill climbing and descending as you can practicably manage would place you in good stead for this trip. [5], The complex geology, climate, fire regime, and topography has enabled a wide variety of ecosystems to develop. After breakfast we continue the walk. As a bushwalk, the Mount Manning (Bucketty) to . Join a group of like minded people to hike this iconic route with the reassurance of it being led by an experienced guide. This will be arranged by me as part of my service to you. The man's car was found yesterday in the Kanangra Walls car park with his mobile phone and personal items inside. Near the top of Mt Strongleg the trail Please adjust your search criteria and try again. The carrying of your pack and gear - you need to carry your own gear and food. At a large clearing about 1km on to the tops, the trail divides, and becomes narrower. are available from the Lands Information Centre, map shops, and most outdoor - Seymour Top Avoid a turn off to the right to Dance Floor Cave and ascend a short climb on to the plateau proper. We quickly put up tents and then scattered in all directions, some having a swim in the river, and some sussing out Gingra Creek and some getting the fire going and drinking cups of tea! I didn't have any After a bit of The main Upper Silurian limestone belt, in the Jenolan River valley to the north-west, is 300 metres (980ft) thick, 8 kilometres (5.0mi) long and located in a valley 460 metres (1,510ft) deep. The plateau is traversed by the Kanangra Walls Road and can be accessed either from Oberon or Jenolan Caves. Most of us rocked up to Boyd River Crossing on Friday night and were greeted with a blast of cold air when we got out of our cars, there was frost on the ground when we woke next morning. Kanangra to Katoomba requires a long car shuffle. Kanangra to Katoomba - Athol Abrahams (SUBW), Kanangra to Katoomba - Australian Plants Online, Kanangra to Katoomba - David Thurstun (SUBW), Kanangra to Katoomba - Shoalhaven Bushwalkers, Kanangra to Katoomba - Horst Bardhof (archive.org). Views were incredible and area was not heavily trafficked.perfect spot to have a picnic and enjoy the view. Does this hike info need updating? The track out along the plateau crosses a number of rocky clearings, but is fairly wide, obvious and well-maintained. Descent off of the plateau was difficult to find. Kanangra Walls lookout gave spectacular views of the walls and the rest of the hike along the top - Kilpatrick Causeway, Craft's Walls, Mount Berry, Gabes Gap, Mount High and Mighty, Mount Stormbreaker, Rip, Rack Roar and Rumble knolls and Mount Cloudbreaker the highest point in the distance. Your trip intentions will be emailed to your emergency contact. Follow the fire road along Narrow Neck. The national park is bounded to the north by open farmland; to the east by the Coxs River, the Blue Mountains National Park and the Kowmung River; to the southeast by the Yerranderie State Conservation Area; to the south by the Nattai National Park and the Wombeyan Caves Road; to the southwest by the Blue Mountains National Park; and to the west by the Kowmung River, the Jenolan Karst Conservation Reserve, and open farmland and extensive state forests that surround the town of Oberon. My first venture along parts of the Katoomba to Kanangra walk was a day hike from Kanangra Walls to Mt Cloudmaker in 1982. Then there is the final up and down (but more up than down) around Rip, over Rack, around Roar and over Rumble, before you reach Mt Cloudmaker. The scrub that used to be a fight to get through has been somewhat tamed by the sheer number of walkers. Kanangra to Katoomba - K2K is a 47km, grade 5 hike located in the Kanangra-Boyd National Park, New South Wales. I want to provide you a pathway that will help you regard the bush as your home, the place you go for solace, to get away from it all, and to learn self reliance and confidence. Arranging all transport and car shuffles single-handedly, and meticulously detailed pre-trip information and arrangements, he had everything covered Thanks again for all your efforts, although I'm sure I've missed a couple of things ", - Amanda on Facebook after K2K September 2018, "Ashley I think you have already taken some of my thoughts as a testimonial, however I hope you don't mind if I use this space to add some thoughts to questions that had no room for additional thoughts. Kanangra Walls to Crafts Walls: By Sydney Explorers our story Nifty footwork is required over the rocky knolls quaintly namedRip, Rack, Roar and Rumble. I did not realise how beautiful and rugged some parts of the Blue Mountains could be and we walked through the heart of it all. Wednesday afternoon's walk, from the Kanangra carpark, took us first to the Kanangra Walls Lookout (spectacular views of the Walls and Mount Cloudmaker), the nearby Thurat Walls Lookout and then to Kalang Falls - many steps! On the last day the knolls past Mt Cloudmaker (Rip, Rack, Roar and Rumble) are steep and stony and care must be taken on the trail there. It climbs steadily to the fire tower at Bushwalkers Hill and then descends to the narrow point of the Neck. Kanangra-Boyd is always open, but may have to close at times due to poor weather or fire danger. However, in the middle of June it also Several species listed on Schedules 1 and 2 of the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 (NSW) are found in the Wilderness Area including: The powerful owl (Ninox strenua), squirrel glider (Petaurus norfolcensis), yellow-bellied glider (Petaurus volans), tiger quoll (Dasyurus maculatus), and brush-tailed rock wallaby (Petrogale penicillata). Great trail with incredible views from the plateau.