Trip: Hatchers Hollow and Redcliff
Creek, Kanangra Boyd NP, 23-25 April 2005
Party: Jo Boyd, James Bucknell,
Melanie Gallagher, Simone Gava, Iain Goodrick, Trudy Lynch, Emilie Pacquin, Ashley Burke
Many in this group were new members, so this trip was an
opportunity for us all to meet new people as well as to spend the weekend in
first rate bushwalking country.
The company camped on Friday evening at the start of the
uni rover trail, and our first encounter with the local wildlife was during the
night, when a leech attached itself to the inside of Trudy's lip. But by
morning the well fed leech was gone, and it was time to gather around the fire
for breakfast.
We set off down the uni rover trail and at Lost Rock
enjoyed our first views of the Kowmung gorge, with morning mist providing a
distant backdrop to the panorama. We then proceeded on to Mt Savage and at
Sombre Dome pulled up for lunch. Our lunch spot was atop steep bluffs and
offered views of the Kowmung river being shouldered
along its course by ridges of varying shades of green. Rust coloured ground
visible on the north facing ridges gave the scene a semi arid look, which in
this time of climate change is only to be expected.
After lunch our descent to the Kowmung was via a steep
quartzite ridge that faced the sun so we were rather hot by the time we reached
the bottom. Many of us seized the moment to take a refreshing dip in the Kowmung
as a curtain of shadow became drawn across the large pool there. Then it was a short
walk upstream to the acreage known as Hatchers Hollow. This expanse of open
woodland, with its minimal ground cover and magnificent stands of timber offers
superb camping. Here we established what would be our base camp for the next
two nights. Iain, Jo and I went on a late afternoon excursion to check out a tight
river bend and some surrounding bluffs. We returned to camp just before dark.
As the light faded we took up our positions by the fire
and there was the occasional pop as corks departed the necks of bottles. A bright
moon rose. We all enjoyed a relaxing evening.
Next morning all of us except James headed off up a ridge
and into the headwaters of Redcliff Creek. James
stayed behind and spent a relaxing day around camp. The rest of us reached the
headwaters of Redcliff Creek via Redcliff
Ridge by around 11:30 and began heading downstream. This was a beautiful creek
with an open quartzite bed and a dense and pristine forest canopy. We made easy
going and had lunch at the base of a 15 metre waterfall, although there was
only enough water to provide a dribbling flow of water down the rock face. Soon
after lunch we arrived at a much larger waterfall and a series of cascades that
we skirted around. Then the creek flattened out and we entered more dimly lit
rainforest. It was here that we identified our first Stinging Tree, fortunately
not the hard way.
There was more Stinging Tree further downstream which we
were careful to avoid, but the trees were of great interest to everyone,
especially when accompanied by stories of their potent sting which can leave
stung skin numb for months after contact with their large round leaves.
Back at the Kowmung we met James and all enjoyed another
bracing drip in the river. We returned to Hatchers Hollow and any remaining
corks were removed from bottles and discarded. They would no longer be needed
as this was the last night. Tonight the moon was full and the whole of Hatchers
Hollow was bathed in white half-light.
Monday's walk started with a spectacular climb up Despond
Ridge. Tremendous views of the Kowmung snaking its way through rugged country
below us were had from various vantage points. A long climb onto the
The trip concluded with a drink at the Hampton Half Way
House, where we relaxed at the end of an excellent weekend with a great group
of people.
Ashley Burke