bush

Aphrodite Abseil

| flynny101

30/05/2026

Hywaida, Ed, Kylie and meeeeeeeeeeee

The Pool of Aphrodite is a well published spot in the Gardens of Stone that doesn’t get lot of traffic due to it being a bit of a scrub bash to get to.

Yuri referred to it as the Heaven pool (Thanks Matt M for that info) but Keats officially named it Pool of Aphrodite with the geographical naming board.

When they published it in the Gardens of Stone Guides people would bash their way around from the more popular Pool of Diana, But it was a long, leg slashing slog.

A while ago I punched a more direct pass down through the cliffs oposite it but got foiled with a last little cliff I didn’t have rope for.

Anyhoo a few weeks ago Gadget and I had a rare spare afternoon and as she hadn’t been to the North Bungleboori Arch we thought why not go for a quick look at that and then pop over the ridge to see if we could make it down to Aphrodite.

The Arch is spectacular.

We scramble down to the bottom of the arch and phaff around with the camera for a bit before heading back up to drive a bit further down the road to see if we could work our way down to the Pool of Aphrodite.

We work our way down to the cliff edge with a fantastic view to the slot that hides both the pool and the waterfall that feeds it. But for the life of me I couldn’t find the break in the cliff had got me so close many years ago

©️Kylie

Kylie pulls out the topo and studies it momentarily. I reckon theres a pass upstream on the other side that will get us there, says she.

We slip back up to the car and drive around the head of the gully.

Her pass was a winner and before long we are at the pool.

It’s barely shin deep, a little underwhelming as far as pools go. But it’s a pretty spot.

Looking up at the slot cutting through the towering cliffs above we agree it would make an amazing abseil. The satelite image suggested there might be a small slot above it.

Keats describes it as being fed by a 30m waterfall. It’s a lot higher than that.

We file it on our list of things to do when we have nothing to do.

Which brings us to today. We had a big overnighter planned but circumstances lead to it being canceled and suddenly we had nothing to do.

And on top of the things to do when we have nothing to do list… that abseil.

A last minute, late night invite was thrown out to see if anyone else would like to join us and to our delight both Ed and Hywaida were keen.

We were expecting it to be a short trip so it was close to 11am when we roll into our car park.

It’s a 600m bash down the ridge, skirting the swamp until a pinch in the cliffs force us into the thickests of scrubs.

Ed resorts to his tried and tested method. Turn, use his pack a a shield and throw himself backwards into the wall of vegetation.

I’ve missed scrub bashing with Ed.

In no time he had bulldozed us a path to the top of the falls.

Unfortunitely there’s no slot above them. Also more scrub and a slippery slope is preventing us from getting a good look at the drop.

Facing a wall of scrub and a slippery rock slope about 5m from the edge ©Kylie

We slip up the pagoda next to it to get a view over the impressive slot dropping into the pool somewhere below.

A loooooong somewhere below.

It’s a substancial cliff and the best anchor tree is a long way back from the edge We start to wonder if our ropes are long enough.

We decide to set up and send the first abseiler to the edge to get a better look.

Belatedly I realise I’m the first abseiler!

I’m not scared.

Honest.

Ensuring I have my ascenders at the ready I get on our 75m rope and work my way down to the edge. It’s set as single strand with the 60m attached to the other end in case they need to lower me further.

I can see the pool, calls I.

It’s an impressive if somewhat intimidating drop.

Does the rope reach? Call they

I can’t see, theres a slope to an overhang then maybe a ledge. I’m going to head down to see.

Living up to Aphrodite’s name its a lovely, beautiful, and pleasurable abseil.

Alternating between steep, near verticle slabs and long overhangs.

And the 75m reachs with about 6 or 7m to spare.

The top of the slot feels like it wraps around and encloses you before funneling out. After 5 days of drizzle there is enough flow that you can’t really get out of the spray. Prefect on a late Autumn day.

And just like that we are all down.

All that’s left now is the traverse around to the exit gully and a quick punch back up to the road.

A grand micro adventure indeed.

“Not knowing is half the fun,” Aphrodite said.

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Claustral Photo journey

| flynny101

22-03-2026

Brooke, Jason, Gadget and me.

When Brooke invited us on a Claustral trip we thought why not.

Whe she said she’d like to take her time and enjoy the ambiance I thought it a perfect excuse to take the camera and phaff about.

Of course thta meant I became the slow one. but I’m good with that.

Jason dropping into the blackhole

After the more challenging nature of the classic Haast Pass canyons we visited last month the simplicity of Claustral was surprisingly pleasant.

Just being able to switch off and enjoy being immersed in it beauty.

Plus I had a break for rope duties, winning.

But enough words this was a photo trip

Sometimes I wonder why I bother with a camera when Jasons Samsung phone gets shots like this. I know my camera has HDR and I can exposure bracket and stuff that gives more control but the phone does all that automatically ©Jason

relight, relight and relight again

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The following photos are ©Jason

The next lot are ©Kylie

Canyoning up north

| flynny101

01/01/2026

Kylie, Jason, Beck, Robin, Alex, Dane and meeeeeee

We were in northern NSW and it was too good an opportunity not to have a New Years Day play date with Jason and his QLD crew.

Every one else had done this one before but it had been on Kylie and my wish list for a while.

Pictures of it pumping in previous years had us frothing.

However, recent photos look like a trickle.

A storm the night before got our hopes up.

We meet at the top secret location (note: location may not be top secret) and skirt private property boundaries to access our canyon.

The storm had done nothing. Nothing !

The creek was dry as a nuns nipple.

Well not quite. There was water flowing, just

Jason wondering where the water went.
Alex on rope while Dane waits
Kylie thinking, well at least it’s a little wet
It might be a trickle but still pretty
Taking on Vecna
Robin wondering if he should avoid the pool or plunge in

There is a teeny tiny lathe you can unclip and jump from

Coming last I made an error. I didn’t unclip it just did the usual Empress release the brake hand and jump.

I knew my centre mark was just beyond the anchor.

I figure I jump out and when I reach the end it will pull the pull strand with me.

I’ve done that before, but I unclipeped first.

This time I’m sailing through the air, there’s “a bit” of a jolt snap the plastic lug it was tied to and the end of the rope recoils up And is now on a teeny tiny ledge 4metres above the pool.

Up I jug to retrieve it.

Lessen learned, double check your centre mark, especially when doing abseils exactly as long as half your rope. And keep an eye on your end of rope markers

I have marks at the 10 and 5m points to let me know I’m getting to the end. I didn’t even look for them. Dumb arse.

Anyhoo all good, no harm, rope retrieved. Let’s never speak of it again.

One more abseil and she’s all over.

Beck doing it in style
Only slightly rinsed but Happy canyoners

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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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Kosciuszko 2025

| flynny101

We were keen as mustard to give the new Alucab camper a proper test out and as luck would have it Kylie had organised a long weekend of adventures in and around Long Plain, Kosciuszko NP.

Rocking into Cooleman camp late Friday night it was so good to just pop the top and be able to crawl into bed

A near full moon blazed out potential milky way or comet shots.

We get a good night sleep but are up early for what would become and epic adventure in Landers Falls.

©Hywaida
There is something about sitting around a camp fire debriefing a big day
Sunday we got a sleep in and take advantage of sunrise in the Alucab

Then it was off to Clark Gorge for a more touristy micro adventure.

before returning to camp to chill out and dry off

not sure what’s that’s about

And we round the trip off with a slightly less cold dip in the Yarrangobilly thermal pool

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Wild Wet Wollemi Wilderness 1

| flynny101

2025 Anzac Day long weekend.

Kylie and meeeeeeee

This trip nearly didn’t happen. I’d been coughing up a lung and had full body aches after Ashcroft Ravine. I was ummming and arrrring about calling it off, especially when the weather looked to be turning wet and cool and the rest of the crew pulled out due to illness and work commitments.

How about we do a shorter over night trip? says Gadget.

Um I’m not sure says I

Come on this has been on your list for ages, says she, Let’s pack the bags and decide later in the week.

I started improving and once the bags were packed it seemed silly to repack for a shorter trip.

Anyhoo

In 1904 or there abouts the bush poet, vagabond and phrenologist, Cecil Poole wrote a description of the creeks in the area we were headed “The term gorge is not applicable to the creeks of this district. They are true canyons.”

Early cattlemen, ruffians, vagabonds and rogues knew the wild, twisted beauty of this section of the Wollemi. Not as intricately as the natives who had travelled its passes and decorated its walls for time immemorial, but well enough to know it was a maze of ravines, canyons and complex spurs.

Still, being further from Sydney and with lots still to discover closer to train lines and highways the area was largely overlooked by modern canyon explorers.

Until, that is, legendary bushwalker, ecologist, and all round nice bloke, Roger Lembit, was leading a midwinter bush walk in the mid 80s and ventured down what he thought would be an easy pass and instead stumbled on a deep slot canyon.

With no ropes or waterproof gear they opted not to venture down. Instead, they retreated and found a spur that took them to the bottom where they camped the night. The next day Ian Wilson and Michael Donovan opted to brave a cold pool at the end of the slot and ventured up, finding an astoundingly beautiful slot canyon. (It has a total of 0 abseils but I still put it toward the top of my list of favourite canyons based on shear beauty.)

This sparked an explosion of canyon exploration in the area and it was soon found to be densely packed with canyons. Some more scrubby creeks but many containing high quality slots.

But all that is neither here nor there nor anywhere in between.

The fact is I’d barely dipped my toe into this region but had day dreamt of one particular canyon situated off an isolated spur, well off the beaten track. I was well overdue to go for a look.

As luck would have it both Kylie and myself had an extra long weekend to do just that.

We made a late start Thursday afternoon.

happy at the start

The walk into our first camp is along an easy fire trail. However, I soon had a bit of a niggle on my left heal. It’s been so long since I’ve had blisters and it was such an easy walk I didn’t even register that might be what was happening. Needless to say by the time I stopped to check it was too late.

Idiot.

But really, blisters! After a couple of kilometres!! I can’t remember the last time I had bloody blisters!!!

Anyhoo we press on.

We reach the usual camp site to find a family already setup. They had been there for the full week and the kids, 7 and 5, excitedly regaled us with tales of the canyoning adventures they had experienced. Legends have done more wilderness canyons than most adult canyoners.

We set up and snuggle in for the night. Gadget did an amazing job researching our light weight over night gear before settling on the Sea the Summit Escapist Tarp and Spark sleeping bags. I’ve always been a fan of the Nemo sleeping mats. It makes a great combo

Friday

Morning dawns and we have a lovely breakfast, repack then head off for our first canyon

Having done canyons either side of our target for today I had high hopes of it.

I pick a spot to leave the road and Kylie navigates down ridge.

Shelob was guarding the pass but we weren’t scared. Honest.

We gain the creek surprisingly easily and follow it down.

It soon drops into a narrow canyon.

With a bung shoulder I opt to abseil things I would usually scramble but we get down soon enough.

The expected chest deep pool had silted up to be ankle deep so we forewent the usual circus tricks of trying to bridge across and skipped on through.

Well, not skipped. The boys warned us last night of a brown snake lurking near the first pool so we went a bit cautiously.

No sneaky snek was spotted but the canyon snaked on.
then opened up a little
and closed back in
cameras at 10 paces
the walls soon open out to a wider canyon.

The slot had been nice and all but not mind blowing and a lot shorter than I was expecting. Compared to others in the area it was a bit of a fizzer. And we were still a fair way off the junction of the main creek below.

the gullies were brimming with ghost mushrooms. These glow in the dark but we’d be camping hours away so won’t be back to check.

We follow the the widening gully down, boulder hopping and creek bashing to the major creek below

A pretty spot for a picnic or sumfink

Long sidetrack: The names of the creeks around here have such evocative names, but that could have been very different had we had a different Surveyor General intent on mapping the state.

Major Mitchel, of the pink cockatoo fame, was by all accounts a bit of a cock. Invariably described as pigheaded, arrogant and boorish he was the protagonist in Australia’s last recorded pistol dual with soon to be NSW Governor Darling. None of this old west quickdraw Hollywood bullshit. The combatants stood back to back, marched out 10 paces, turned, and like the civilised gentlemen they were, took turns having a shot. Flinch or get shot (obviously) you loose.

Mitchell having thrown down the challenge by slapping Darling with his glove had to go second. Darling took a shot and missed. Michell then took his shot and knocked Darling’s hat off so was declared the winner.

Anyhoo none of that is important to this side story other than I found it fascinating. What is important is Mitchell also had a redeeming factor in that he insisted that, where possible, aboriginal place names were to be used on his map.

When an early sketch was sent in by one of his under surveyors making a nearby creek with the local land owners piss take of a name “The Upper Nile” he basically fired back words to the effect ‘stop being a dickhead and find the bloody native name for the creeks, and if you can’t do that don’t name them at all.’ (probably so he could name them after Macquarie or some shit…)

And thus we have the Coricudgy, Umbiella, Numietta, Coorangooba, and Capatee. (pronounced Kay-pa-tee by the locals and originally spelt Capata on the sketch map )

Of course we still have the Bogee Nile and the Capertee Nile…. but that’s not important either.

Too get back to the story, we’d be using another high camp tonight so we’d need to cart water up. Enough to get us up, cook diner, breakfast, and at least part way through the canyon the next day.

We fill up and start up a creek that should allow us to scramble out at the top. However, a couple of tangled tree falls at the bottom and Screw this shit, says I. I’m going up there.

And we forge a pass up the nose onto the spur.

A break in the cliff line lets us gain the spur with just a short, easy rock climb.

And Kylie leads us up the spur avoiding some minor cliff lines by simply skirting around them.

Up top we have astounding views including this one over the Numietta looking towards Pantones Crown at the other end of the Capertee Valley. This spot put us in mind of battleship spur in Carnarvon Gorge.
And sunsets over the stunning peaks. With Tayan Pic, Grassy Mountain, Mount Coorangooba and many others appearing in a 270° panorama on the other side of the peak.

Continue on to

Saturday

Waterworks Gully/Dam 1

| flynny101

Access: A nice walk along fire trail up a gentle gully. Short section of dirt road to car park.

It is a dog friendly walk but is popular with families so please keep your pooches under control and clean up their poo.

Navigation: Navigation is straight forward

Time: 30min out. 30min back

Waterworks gully is a pleasant walk up the gully beside Farmers Creek. There are a few creek crossings to navigate. With a bit of care and finesse you can keep your feet dry at normal water levels but if the creek is full expect wet shoes.

Getting there:

Follow Bells rd all the way to the end and continue onto the dirt road.

You can park

1. On a cleared area to the right just after the tar ends as per Ida Falls

2. A bit further on at the water treatment plant (don’t block the access gates)

3. Further past the treatment plant if you don’t mind a few puddles and rougher road.

The walk follows the road as it winds its way up the gully to Dam 1

Contrary some non local belief, Dam 1 is the lower dam. It was built in 1896 and is no longer used to store water.

The gully bellow the dam is flanked by towering cliff lines, occasionally defaced with graffiti, some historic some less so.

The cliffs on the right are undercut in places and a bit of exploration will show the remains of old humpy’s used by the workers and the remains of the foundation of the foreman’s cottage.

Eagle eyed folk might even spot the infamous T Lawson rock

This has been a source of mystery to generations of locals with wild rumours about satanism, Masonic rituals and even it being a memorial to a horse.

However some sleuthing by this Author and others seems to have solved the puzzle.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/Comk8oiGcKugxUMi/?mibextid=K35XfP

For those more adventurous souls there are plenty of side gully’s, most of which give access the the tops, to explore and it is possible to go passed the dam wall and continue up the the base of dam 2

Return: The way you came in

Note: The great outdoors is an ever changing place. Bush fires, changing weather, vegetation growth and forestry activities can all effect the trail conditions and thus the difficulty of the walk. These are a rough guide only and are by no means meant to be a definitive guide . They do not replace the need adequate map reading and navigational skills

Note 1: Taking care  While reasonably well known these spots are still wild places and care needs to be taken around cliff edges and on the steep trails.  Carrying the right gear as well as having adequate food, water and clothing is important. Always tell someone where you are going and when you expect to get back. Emergency beckons (PLBs) can be hired from Katoomba Police for very little.

Note 2:First aid A basic first aid kit is essential bit of kit whenever heading into the Aussie bush. A basic first aid is highly recommended

Note 3: Maps and Navigation Having the right map, a compass and knowing how to read them is very important when heading into the bush. If you are new to bush walking joining a club or accompanying more experienced walker for you first few outing is a very good idea. I found practicing map reading on well defined trails was helpful when I started out. The Maps mentioned are the 1:25000 series. They can be purchase at Lithgow tourism information center, from outdoors shops or online for around $10 each. Note 4: These are wild and beautiful places, respect them. If you are able to carry something in you can carry it out. Don’ be a tosser. Leaving your rubbish behind is a sure way to ruin it for every one else.

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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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Crikey

| flynny101

18-11-2023

Continued from Bubblebath

We have a lazy start to the day.

We weren’t expecting the others until 9:30 at the earliest and given our slow going on the ridge we decided to wait til 10.

A couple of cooeees and we thought we heard a faint reply. I slip up the gully a bit to guide them down. More cooees and whistle blasts but no response.

Back at camp we scratch a note in the dirt and head for Crikey. it’s 10:30.

We cross the ‘Boori (dingo creek) and start making up way up the opposite gully. It’s full of dead fall and scrub. It’s slow going and we’d already had a late start.

I spot a break in the cliffs and decide to try to climb out. Kylie is skeptical but we escape the gully and make heaps better time along the ridge.

Dropping into the creek at Kent’s entry (well downstream of Jamieson’s grid reference) we encounter walls of dead fall. So much.

It was a real punish. by the time we get to the canyon we are bruised and bloody and just a little over it.

There are several breaks in the cliff further down. I’d suggest future party’s explore their way down the spur and drop in closer to the canyon proper.

Anyhoo Crikey is deep and dark and our timing wasn’t conductive for photos but Kylie managed to get a few crackers

We reach the ‘Boori…. Bloody “dingo” creek.

We are bashed up and exhausted from battling the dead fall, sticks and scrub.

My memories of my previous trip to crikey was some hard going up the creek to get back to camp.

We have lunch and start making our way up stream

Somehow we pick our way up the banks and avoid strenuous swims or boulder hopping.

It’s about 4:30 when we reach the base of the pass up to camp. We strip out of the wetsuits, wash down in the creek and dry off in the sun before making our way back up.

Below camp we call out and are delighted to hear Dick reply.

Camp.

Unfortunately Sunday morning dawns with me and Kylie having grumbling in our belly’s.

I’m careful where I collect water from and have never had issues before but that’s all we can put it down to.

A bit of running off into the bush and we decide it’s best to skip canyoning today and head back to the cars.

It’s a shame for Dick and Monica to walk all the way out and miss the stunning canyons but it is the wisest choice.

It was a tough walk out. Kylie did it real tough. She’s a trooper.

We have a tough next couple of days. It hit us hard.

Anyhoo

There is a hidden message in every waterfall. It says, if you are flexible, falling will not hurt you!”
― Mehmet Murat ildan

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