Popeye Canyon Lower

23/11/2025

Jason, Kris, Hywaida, Kylie and Meeeeeee

Continued on from Banks Canyon

It teemed down overnight at camp. But our trusty tarp kept us cozy and by morning the sun was peaking through the clouds.

We had said goodbye to Levis and Monica and talked ourselves into another short canyon while we were out here.

Kylie, Jason and I had visited the top couple of sections of Popeye Canyon as a day walk a few weeks earlier which had some pretty bits in it, and so we were keen to have a look at the lower section.

I cooked up a plan to head straight down from camp to the grid reference that the Jamison guide lists as the start of Popeye (a kilometre or so below the upper section).

We start down a ridge in between two faint gullies. These soon join to become a stoney bottom creek that tumbles over a substantial cliff line. We only brought a short rope with us today so make our way a bit further long the left hand bank and find a way down into what we came to christen MCPCC. Mega Clear Path Creek Canyon.

heading out to enter via the upper section may have been easier.

Anyhoo we find ourselves in Popeye creek. It’s not looking like much but H and K don light wet suits.

Looks like there’ll be some more creek walking, I’ll suit up later, the rest of us say.

10 steps later, literally, like literally 10 steps babes, we round a bend and the creek drops into a tunnel like canyoney section.

This would be the theme for this section of Popeye. boulder hoping interspaced with tunnels and cavey bits. A few abseils and short swims
and awesome company

but not much quality canyon.

Plenty of weirdness thou

we head all the way down to the…… it hurts to say it…. Dingo *fugging* Creek for the final 10m of “canyon”

The plan is to head down said creek to an exit Kylie had mapped out opposite gateway canyon. I’m hopeful this section is similar to the bit below HITW and we can just float with the current.

There was a bit of floating.

A bit of boulder scrambling.

Some scrub bashing.

And lots of sinking knee, sometimes hip, deep into fine sand to have it defy the sand traps and fill the bestards.

I still have sand in places sand has no place being.

Still, it’s a wild and beautiful part of the Bungleboori system worth visiting. Once.

The bottom of Gateway canyon was a welcome site

The walls lining the creek had gone from broken slopes to towering cliffs and I’m wondering just how tricky this exit is going to be.

Surprisingly it’s straight forward, cutting back along a gentle ramp to a not too steep nose that avoided the cliffs altogether.

Nice one Gadget

All in all a fantastic weekend out in the wilderness with my kind of people.

just what the doctor ordered.

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Clark Gorge

05/10/2025

Mariano, Letilda, Liliana, Dave, Jason, Kristo, Hywaida, Kylie and meeeeeee

After the epic that was Landers Falls today was all about the chill.

A quick visit to the Blue Pools and a wander down Clark Gorge to Cooleman Falls.

a cozy looking cave
We try not to put Jason on a pedestal but out just happens
Kylie checking out the crystal clear pool

and we head off with the crowds of tourists down the gorge
the multipole river crossing were slippery and the water cold
but generally it was easy going and very beautiful
with lots of spots to stop for a swim if you were that way inclined
and it leads us down to the 15m tall Cooleman Falls.
we grab some photos and have a picnic
And then, lead by Kylie and Hywaida we couldn’t help ourselves. We had to go for a swim.
It was invigorating or sum fink

Then we made our way back out the way we came

Adventure Collectors collecting adventures
with a dash of silly
its a little know fact that Jason is born anew out of a cliff every day ©Mariano
he then bathes in a mountain stream to complete his powers

And recharge and refreshed we head back to camp.

Lost City

Access: Easy access to the start of the trail. Dirt roads but well maintained at time of writing

Navigation: Navigation is fairly straight forward. Signposted tourist trails

Map: Lithgow

Time: There’s various options but give yourself a couple of hours

The name is inspired by the resemblance of the spectacular towering pagodas to some fabled lost city, The lost city has been a well known favourite to 4WDers, rock climbers and avid bushwalkers for years but recent works by NPWS has improve accessibility and the area now has a family friendly loop.

While not as shady or rainforesty as the Grand Canyon loop at Blackheath it more than make up for it with towering cliffscapes and industrial heritage

Getting there: 

There are a couple of options of where to start, The Northern Lookout (Traditionally more well known) and the Southern Lookout (up until recently more of a local secret.)

Drive out of Lithgow via Atkinson Street and continue up State Mine Gully Road.

(Halfway up the steep hill (Dobbs Drift) there is a parking area on the left and it’s worth a stopping for a quick side trip to have a look here.)

Drive to the top of the hill. The first turn on the left as it flattens out will take you to the southern car park.

Alternatively continue along and onto Glowworm tunnel road. Take the left fork at the Bungleboori Picnic ground, then left again. this will take you to the Northern car park.

Suggested Walks.

Easy 1: Start at the Southern Lookout and enjoy the expansive views over toward the lost city. Follow the main trail down to Marrangaroo creek then return the way you came.

Easy 2: Start at the Northern Lookout and enjoy wandering through the amazing pagodas. Follow the trail down Marrangaroo Creek then return the same way.

Through Walk: Do a car shuffle and walk between the 2 lookouts. I’d suggest starting at the Northern Lookout and walk to the southern lookout via the main trail.

Southern Loop: If you don’t want to do a car shuffle but want a loop rather than an out and back I’d suggest starting at the Southern Lookout. Descend via the miners track then come up the main trail. This provides views over some old mining heritage and takes in a nice waterfall (best after a bit of rain) then a more gentle climb out along the gorgeous Marrangaroo Creek.

The Full Box and dice: If you want to take it all in I’d suggest parking at the Northern Lookout. Walk down and up to the Southern lookout via the main trail then descend the miners track back to Marrangaroo creek and hence back to the Northern Lookout not the main trail.

Of course if you don’t wish to tackle the stairs it’s worth just visiting the lookouts.

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mugii murum-ban

31-08-2024

Dick, Kylie and meeeeeeeee

A long, long time ago… Well, not that long ago!

Ok it’s nearly 40years ago which sounds like a long time when I think about it but I was and young whippersnapper out on a Jeep trip with dad and his mates. Day 2 we visited a bloke by the name of Col Ribaux.

As well as being a fellow connoisseur of ex-millitary vehicles, 4wd drive enthusiast and diamond miner, Col was an all around top bloke, legendary character and, the “Guardian of the Mountain.”

After admiring the assortment of old Jeeps, trucks and tracked personnel carriers he fired up one of the old tanks and we followed him up the steep pass through the cliff line of what we knew as Airly but is more properly Airly Turret (Confusingly there is Mount Airly slightly to the West, then Airly gap, then a small bump call Airly Mountain then Airy Turret on the way up to Mount Genowlan (Not to be confused with Jenolan, different spellings of the same aboriginal word for high point/place).

After the steep drive up and a look around the mine we camped the night out at Genowlan Trig.

Col has since passed and the area with it’s plethora of Aboriginal and European heritage sites and stunning natural beauty has been taken over by National Parks and named, Mugii Murum-Ban after local elder Uncle Charlie Riley. Mugii being a type of owl and Murum-Ban being eldest sone.

While always a favourite spot in 4wd circles it’s a bit further from Sydney so hadn’t attracted the bushwalking crowds of the Blue Mountains. That’s changing as walking clubs and fellow bloggers discover just how magical the place is.

Anyhoo, in the ensuing years I’ve driven passed it a lot and even driven up Mount Airly a time or two but it was time for a return to Genowlan.

Kylie and I had scoped it out a couple of weeks prior on a day when she also flew over it with Capertee Valley Helicopters. Remembering the steepness of the road and the old rock steps I opted to park part way up and walk. Finding the road recently graded and, while still steeeeeeeeep we thought it easily doable in the triton.

And so we came back and Dick joined us.

Plan for the day was to have a look around the old mines, enjoys the views and check out some of the slots the walkers had cottoned on to.

First stop Ultimate Slot.

From where we parked I was expecting a bit of a scrub bash but

There a bit of a trail here, called Kylie

We follow a well defined trail for about 2mins and… BAM

The entrance
It’s like a giant version of the Cracks of Doom
©Kylie
©Kylie
Magical but bloody hard to do justice to with photos

After phaffing about for ages we head back to where we parked and head in on the other side of the road. In less than 20 steps from where we parked we were in the “Grotto”

©Kylie
There’s a bit of old rough and ready mining infrastructure in the Grotto. Col and Brian had pumps set up in the pool to supply water to the diamond mine operations.
It’s a beautiful little micro canyon and the colours are stunning

Back to the cars and we head back up past the main diamond mines. Our next stop was Gnomes pass, AKA Ladders Defile. This is another slot/micro canyon that Col had set a series of Ladders in to make it easier for his kids to get through. He also added a bit of a fairy tail touch.

The old ladders make it easy to negotiate the slot which soon opens out to a amphitheatre that would make a great spot for a picnic.

We scramble up onto the pagodas and admire the views

We then continue out to soak in the views from Point Hatteras

Me and Dick taking in the view across to Genowlan Point and down towards the Capertee River ©Kylie

And to round out a relaxing but rewarding day we poke around the old mine site

All up a nice soulful day exploring some of the more easily accessible sites and barely scratching the surface of what Mugii Murum-Ban has to offer.

Rough diamonds might sometimes be mistaken for worthless pebbles. T Brown.

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Flynny’s freaky fiftieth

09/11/2024

Lots of truly awesome people and meeeeeeeee

Talking about dragging out your birthday.

This was suppose to happen before Christmas but a big rain event had NP jumping at shadows and closing things down.

Even though it stayed dry for the next 4days the parks were still closed and we had to postpone.

Until now.

Yeah baby

First up pizza and beerios at Evans lookout.

Oh, and as a 70s child a 70s theme seemed to make sense.

These lads
They really are a legendary bunch of humans

After posing and yakking and general shenanigans we make our way down the Grand Canyon trail under a setting sun and drop into the slot to say g’day to the glowworms.

I always forget the walkin/walkout to canyon ratio for Grand blows but it is a pretty little slot in any light
Night canyoning is a different experience
Space girl
Traversing under worms.
Dick glows as much as any worm

I really am lucky to be surrounded by amazing people and it was a great night.

And backing it up the next morning with a trip through Twister and Rocky Creek was a great idea

Entering the maw
It’s hard to describe just how much I love rocky creek.

How could the weekend get any better?

I’m glad you asked

Fill what’s empty. Empty what’s full. And scratch where it itches. A Roosevelt Longworth

BACK oh and once again I’m raising money fir the Westpak Rescue Helicopter so please consider a donation

https://events.rescuehelicopter.com.au/fundraisers/craigflynn4470/ride-to-fly-mtb?ref=ch_3OgHr5GahKCZcNZi01MSVvC3&fbclid=IwAR2HpMIMIPLSkYgjQ7914vsMgaoxePzKQX7JlmQIhV9Et_3eczfOn_x9eNY_aem_AdSnFIOmbhqGmIM7rXWREq3CfjoW0zgMe_wylqWDRkL6vk7rLPlk96xlzNEUPCg85x0

Strange Beds and Sleepy canyons

21-05-22

Loz, Kylie, Madie and meeeeeeeee!

I believe all canyons are worth doing once and actually get some satisfaction of checking out those rarely visited ones. They are normally low quality scrub bashes but in this day and age the feeling of being one of the few who have been somewhere is rare.

I felt Whores Bed canyon would be one of those.

And too be honest I’m glad I didn’t do it mid drought. On a cold misty day after 6months of wet weather it was a pleasant little trip.

The company made it better.

It was Loz’s first canyon so to give her the true Flynny experience we changed plans last minute, hadn’t done any research, parked in the wrong spot and started down the wrong trail.

Classic

Anyhoo we eventually deduced we weren’t heading into the correct gully and reversed out. Some of us scoffed a quick hot chocolate. And then we corrected previous mistakes and dropped in right at the anchor

Looks dodgy and wet.. Aweome ©Kylie
Madie giving her mum a final pep talk… or threatening vengeance. One of the two
Demons disguised as cherubs
©Kylie

And then it was over ©Madie

There are bolts here but they are oddly placed and looked like they would give a difficult pull down so after a bit of deliberation we opted for a traditional anchor ©Madie

And that pretty much it. Shorter and a bit easier than the near by Boars Head trip (for which this one is a play on words) but in these conditions it’s a prettier trip.

And the walk back up the Devils Hole isn’t too bad either

Of course some of those worth doing once canyons are actually worth doing again with the right company or weather conditions. Thus back at the cars the day was young and still had adventure written on it so we slipped across the Darling Causeway and dropped into Karamah.

Somewhat fittingly Karamah is a first nations word meaning “Sleep”.

Like a most of the canyons in that area it has some nice bits and 1 very pretty chamber.

This one has the crappiest single bolt anchor that I take the sling off every time and switch to a natural anchor. This is last time I was single roping with a fiddlestick this time I double roped. That water is deep enough for a good dunk and cold….. The double rope made for some tricky bridging action
Lucky I somehow manage to stay dry and no video was taken ©Kylie

The main chamber is a bit of a pothole. Pretty in good light but I’m glad it wasn’t flooded today.

and a short section of canyon follows

they are all worth doing once: Shit Flynny says.

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BILLABONG

Mandy Beth and Meeee

03/01/2022

Mandy hasn’t abseiled for a few years, she lost the passion so when she asked if I’d take her out I got a so excited that I didn’t explain the 2 options she proposed, while short trips were actually 2 of the more awkward abseils…

Anhoo after a week that involved Danae, Rocky, and a quick afternoon running throu Empress 3 times squeezing another little canyon in sounded like just the ticket

Beth decided to join us and off we went to a pretty but short little canyon near Clarence

Off through the flannel flowers we go
It’s tight, twisty and very slippery
But very pretty and a nice spot for a dip on a hot day

and what better way to finish it off with

I have loved the stars too fondly to be fearful of the night― Sarah Williams

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Tigersnake

Izy, Leo, Madie and meeeee

I sometimes cop a bit of playful shit for living in Lithgow but it wasn’t not a bad LGA to be locked down in

Dates stopped having meaning but at one point We did a quick run through Tigersnake canyon then picked up the dogs and did a lap of Rydal XC track.

It was pretty cool

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