Blue Mts

Whirlpool

| flynny101

20/12/2025

Gadget, Wisey, Brooke, Clare and meeeeeeeee

There’s some great side canyons along the Wollangambe with the most popular ones clustered around Mt Wilson.

Of those accessed from the Fire Shed there are a couple of outliers that get less traffic due to being a little harder to get too.

Whirlpool canyon is one of these.

Expecting a stinking hot day and a long scrubby walk in we meet early and head off.

The others had obtained a GPS trace of the entry, I had my usual plotted way point for the canyon start and sometimes/usaul/mostly wackily off gut feel…

Banter made the walk in pass in a flash, well not really but it was surprisingly simple, even if I did get completely turned around at one point, thankfully Clare and Kylie kept us on track. Though when H suggested we try a short cut I was all in.

It was also relatively scrub free(ish)

Slipping down H’s side gully hoping to cut off a fair bit of the GPS trace.

And soon we find ourself at the start of the canyon.

©️Kylie

We weren’t expecting much out of this one but a short abseil gets us into a surprisingly nice slot.

Kylie sussing out the first abseil

There was some interesting anchor set ups and a couple of the abseils have very tricky starts. This problem solving aspect is part of what I really enjoy about canyoning.

Don’t get my wrong, on popular trips where hordes of foot steps compact tree roots and pulling rope after rope wears grooves in the rock well placed bolts are a Good Thing (TM) but they do take something away from the overall experience of problem solving. That’s probably not a major draw for most, but for me it’s a big part of it.

Anyhoo that’s off topic.

Back in the land of dodgy anchors, we check each one carefully (as you should every time). Replace what needs to be replaced and carefully consider the remnant dodginess

The canyon starts with a crystal clear pool snaking through a beautiful twisted hall. Just moments before this shot Brooke was battling diner plate sized spiders like a knight slaying dragons ©️Kylie
The canyon had some pretty sections where the slot would close in
More monsters!
The water was so clear and the yabbies plentiful.
Happy canyoners
A couple of the abseils involved awkward over hanging ledges and careful rope placement was needed to protect from dragging across sharp edges .©️Kylie

Before lone you could feel the warmth chimneying up from the ‘Gambe

H leads the way down the last abseil and soon we reach the Junction with the Wollangambe

But the day is not over. Our exit is about a kilometre and half downstream.

Having pretty much traced this enigmatic river from its source at Clarence to below Mt Irvine on various trips over the years I reckon this bit is the most stunning section of the ‘Game

Deep walls and beautiful pools.

That’s said it’s not easy going with deep sand and boulder hoping between long swims zapping your energy after an already longish day .

Having less foot traffic it’s also a lot slipperier in spots.

Just before our exit we catch a group from the central coast who had completed Geronimo.

We chat at the exit, cooling off at the sandy beach before making our way back up to the shed.

All in all a thoroughly enjoyable day but it was also a long day for a shortish canyon so I wouldn’t rush back to repeat the trip.

Whirlpool itself was nice and as stated it’s a beautiful section of the Wollangambe so worth doing at least once.

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Popeye canyon, upper

| flynny101

02/11/2025

Gadget, Jason and, me.

Popeye creek pops in and out of canyon sections along much of its course and it’s one I’d not done before.

A big Saturday trip had been foiled by thunderstorms and we just needed to shake out the cobwebs but couldn’t be arsed repacking ropes and stuff so thought why not have a look at some non abseil sections in Popeye.

Meeting at the crack of 10am, or there abouts we make our way in in no time.

We’d be entering the canyon a long way upstream of where the jamieson guide recommends but not too far from the increasingly popular Popeye falls.

The creek cuts a deep, promising looking cleft in the sandstone.

A short section of narrow u bends hide a pleasant little canyon.

There’s a bit of bridging to stay dry above the knees. But the water is a pleasant temp anyway

Not the figure 8 pool
It is very pretty.
Parts very similar to the Dumbano tunnels.

We are already impressed. the canyon opens up a bit and Waratahs line the banks.

Waratahs along a spur off Waratah ridge? Who would have thunk it

And soon we come to the falls.

Most visitors to here avoid the canyon bit and keep their feet dry by scrambling down the nose.

It’s a funky little waterfall through an arch in a side creek

We phaff about with photos for a bit, we have to pool all to ourselves., but then push on downstream to the next canyon section.

A bit wider and deeper it’s a nice walk through section
It’s nice

Again the canyon opens out. We believe it’s a 1km scrub bash down to the next bit so, happy with our easy day, we retrace our steps back up to the waterfall. A crowd of people are here now.

There’s an easier way in, says old mate sucking in a vape.

We came that way, replies Ellie very politely. We just had a look at some other stuff while out here.

We leave the guards and scramble out into the cliff top for lunch.

It’s a beautiful day.

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A grand way to juggle back into it.

| flynny101

08/03/2025

Gadget, Darcy, Charity, Jess, and meeeeeee

Maddy A was organising an introductory canyon trip for her friends and a couple of the 9D staff were coming up for it.

And, missing her former work mates Kylie was super keen to catch up with them.

Do you think you’ll be up for it? Asks she.

I’d been recovering for collar bone surgery and was recently free from the sling.

What are they doing?

Juggler

Hmm. I reckon I could handle Grand.

She is equal parts excited and cautious for me.

We meet Darcy and head to the car park.

There is a girl parking a very nice looking car a bit of a walk out.

We offer her a lift. Turns out she is Jess, a friend of Maddy’s who ends up joining us.

There’s a big group assembling.

Maddy gathers us in. We are splitting into 2 groups. Beginners will be with her

More experienced or those wanting to do Grand as well are with Kylie.

That’s Darcy, Jess and Chasity.

At the last minute I decide to join them in juggler as well

It was so good to be moving through nature with this amazing soul again.
Juggler can be a fun little trip
J

We are through juggler fairly quick and head for Grand. Charity has to get back to the big smoke so bids us good bye. The rest of us skip on

Kylie dropping to the slot
It’s a great little abseil into a very pretty slot
Just Jesting, Wild Elly, Darcy Dooley, and meeeeee
It was lovely moody light

We take our time descending the canyon and enjoying the company.

It was an awesome way to easy back into adventure life.

Grateful.

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Lower North Bowen

| flynny101

16/11/2024

Kylie, Jason, Matt, Jamelia, and me.

The “Gobsmacker” section of the North branch of Bowen creek is fun and spectacular.

And as a smaller day it was just the ticket.

Matt psyked

Woot
A little rain through the week had the water flowing nicely
Misty day made great light
You can see why it’s described as a mini Claustral
Fernilicious

And a steady hike back up to the hill. About 5hr car to car

They say a little bit of knowledge is a dangerous thing, but not one half as bad as a lot of ignorance.

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Marihuana Canyon

| flynny101

18-05-2024

Gadget and meeeeeeseeee

Go Go Gadget had been in a moon boot with a broken foot for the last six weeks and now she was out we thought we’d ease back into it.

Or sumfink

We’d thrown around a few options and settled on Serendipity canyon at Mt Wilson. But, um well, Unpopular opinion: I’ve never been a big fan of Serendipity. Just always thought it was overrated. Gadgets wasn’t a fan either.

So we changed plans last minute and headed to a little one off the Bells Line that neither of us had visited before.

Named after an elaborate pot plantation in the head waters that got busted in the 90s I had not given too much thought to Marihuana Canyon before and had low expectations but it was something new so why not.

Scrub bashing down we avoid the upper cliff lines but get to the lower cliff and decide to rope up.

And we shall never speak about the tiny shrubs we used for anchors ever again.

As I use to joke with my old mate Della, if it’s wider than your thumb it’s ok. We never did clarify if you held your thumb vertical or horizontal.

Anyhoo

We enter the creek a little high (see what I did there.)

But it didn’t take long to start getting pretty

And before long it drops into a stunning little canyon.

The water was so clear.

And soon we reach the junction with South Bowen

We work our way upstream through some very nice canyon section.

A wider section of South Bowen

TBH it was hard work making our way upstream so we got to our exit and hauled out.

He felt that his whole life was some kind of dream and he sometimes wondered whose it was and whether they were enjoying it: D Adam’s

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Lean in to it.

| flynny101

05/05/2024

Russ, Brook, Aimee, Jason, Madie, Leo and me

Yileen?

Why not.

Yileen is pretty after a bit of rain so today should be schaaaaaweeeet.

Plans were made and oddly not changed.

Gorillas in the mist.
There’s no such thing as bad weather only unsuitable clothing: Alfred Wainwright. Oh and idiots. Don’t forget the idiots.
It takes more than 1 idiot to get this stupid: Krispy

To be honest the water wasn’t too cold. Autumn is as warm as canyon water gets.

It was warmer in the canyon than on the ridge top walk in

Still there was a bit of ledge walking and stemming to stay out of it
Until there wasn’t
So I’ve often wondered if this drop could be bypassed by scrambling down the creek. Today Leo proved you can. Madie, Russ and Jason confirmed.
Ok the wind tunnel in the final hall was chilly.
Yileen is usually a trickle. Time it right and it’s sweet

And then we skipped back up the hill and caught up with Jen, Libby and Millie at the pub.

“To appreciate the beauty of a snowflake it is necessary to stand out in the cold.”

– Aristotle

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Malaita Point

| flynny101

20-04-2024

Ethan, Dick, Sonya, Aimee, Vince, Ed, Jen, Madie , Leo and Meeeeeeeeee

With cameos from Kylie, Hywaida and Kris.

Both Ethan and Dick had recently turned old(er).

What better way to celebrate than a post apocalyptic sci fi surviver trip?

Fittingly an eerie, dry mist blanketed the mountains as our gang of rabble rousers gathered.

This whole town is infested with killer cockroaches. I repeat: KILLER COCKROACHES!
Life clocks are a lie! Carousel is a lie! THERE IS NO RENEWAL!
6:12
Choice. The problem is choice
It’s a mad house! A mad house!
Shes the Last of the v8 interceptors
SOYLENT GREEN IS PEOPLE!
Multipass!!!
The future is not set, there is no fate but what we make for ourselves.
Lords of light!
Had I been informed of the impending apocalypse, I’da stocked up
M-O-O-N, that spells moon.
Ariel! Ookla! Ride!
We Have Come Here To Chew Bubblegum And Kick Arse, And We’re All Out Of Bubblegum

And that’s all I’m going to say on that.

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Water Dragon

| flynny101

17-02-2024

Gadget and meeeeeeeeee

We were looking for a quick and easy one for a lazy weekend and Kylie hadn’t done Water Dragon, A.K.A Kelvinator , before so we thought why not.

It’s been a while since I’d done it so we double check the notes and as usual Ozultimate is spot on with up to date track notes and condition reports.

We stroll down to the Gambie and skip up the other side.

It starts nice enough
Gadget dropping in
I’d forgotten how the colours pop in the top section
©️Kylie.

©️Kylie
Kylie on the main drop
It’s a nice place to be on a hot day.
Gadget entering the dark section
You know I sang the glowworm song. if you are not singing now I’m not sure we can be friends.

This section is accessible without abseiling by scrambling up from the Wollangambe .

Even after it opens out it’s pretty
Yours truly scrambling down the lower section ©️Kylie

It’s then a pleasant swim down the ‘Gambie for a long lunch at the exit before making our way back to the car.

And a quick stop at Winnie’s rock to admire the storm rolling over the Wollangambe Wilderness.

I think I made a better boy than I do a man, I admitted ruefully to the wolf.- Fitz to Nighteyes. Robin Hobb.

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Flynny’s freaky fiftieth

| flynny101

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