09/04/2026
Gadget and meeeeeeee
How about we pack and picnic and do a run through Koombanda this afternoon, says Kylie.
TBH I’d enjoyed a rare lazy morning so it took a bit of a prod to get me going. But finally, Sure, says I
You get the canyon gear ready, I’ll pack the food. Should we take wetsuits?
Na, says I. There are only two short swims. Lets go light and do an Undie run.
Cool but pack my rashie just in case.
And in no time we are off.
The cutty grass on the way in was cutty but we make our way down and find Tom’s pass that avoids the abseil out of the side creek
Some easy creek walking down the pretty uppersection and we get to the first abseil. I set the rope and Kylie leads the way.
I’m trying to avoid the plunge pool. She calls. It’s slippery. Oh F$#%! there’s a snake!!!
A bit of swearing ensues.
Are you Ok?
I’m wedge directly above it. I can’t move. I must have almost stepped on it
I gingerly descend down to wedge myself in next to her.
And down there on the rope end a very cold and not very happy little Tiger Snake stares up at us.
Bloody gate keepers
What are we going to do?
You need to bridge out and jump into the pool.
what if it comes after me?
If anything you are going to scare it back towards me.
The thing about baby snakes is just about everything eats them. And most of those things swoop in from above. So sitting above one like this generally a good way to get it very defensive.
Contary to the popular myth that Australian venomous snaked can’t climb (they all can) tiger snakes are great climbers.
The side of the canyon was very slippery though which was preventing it coming up to us but this made bridging out over it f#$5ing difficult. 1 slip and we’d be landing on the poor little dude, which wouldn’t end well for either party.
Kylie carefully bridges out and jumps.
Success.
Now my turn.
Not quite as graceful but neither snake or human were harmed.
woot woot.
and we make our way down to the drop into the gorgeous chamber that Koomband is renown for
And one more quick swim and the canyon opens out and we make our way down to the old Coal mine and set up a picnic.
All in all a great little afternoon outing.
Do the thing: Alex Honnald.