The Budawangs at Easter

Wendy invited me to accompany here on a walk at Easter. She wanted to walk in either the Ettrema Area or the Budawangs. We did not decide which area until on the drive down. Our favoured option was Ettrema, but on the way down there was a fair bit of rain and we thought the Budawangs with its abundant camp caves may be the better option in the conditions. As it turned out – it did rain each day – but only at night.

View from Sturgiss Mountain

We turned off the Nerriga Road and followed minor roads that led towards the Endrick River. It had been a long time since I had visited the Budawangs from that side and since then the access has changed. The road we were following went to a locked gate, but nearby was a sign with a map showing bushwalking access to Morton National Park. We could park and follow markers through private land to the Endrick River and then enter the park.

We set off walking a little after noon, and soon arrived at the Endrick River. We crossed and the followed along a road (Red Ground Track) heading towards Quiltys Clearing. For a road, this was not bad walking. The weather was OK and there was a lot of interesting things to see – a forest of  beautiful stringy bark trees, lots of small orchids to find, numerous critters – small bugs and some aboriginal sharpening grooves.

On the way, we passed many nice campsites, including the large Quiltys Clearing, and scared off a group of kangaroos. We then crossed the river again and joined the Endrick River Firetrail. We ended up camping right on the firetrail near a small creek, a bit before Piercy Clearing. It rained lightly overnight.

The rain had stopped by the time we got up, which was convenient. We walked towards The Vines, but overshot out the turnoff for the track to Hidden Valley. We only checked our location a bit further on when we saw a small camp cave nearby. This turned out to be Camp Rock. So we back tracked and headed back to a patch of rainforest which we had passed through and thought must be The Vines. On the way back we also visited Red Johnnys Cave.

The Vines was an interesting place – the site of an old sawmill. There were plenty of signs of logging having taken place many years earlier. There was also quite a bit of fungi out in the leaf litter on the rainforest floor.

Just up the hill from The Vines we noticed the track turn off we had missed on earlier. It was much more obvious when travelling west. A short way along the track, we also located a turn off track for Quiltys Mountain – we would use this on our return.

More rainforest walking as the track, really an old logging road, crosses several creeks. And then it emerges into more dry forest. We then found the turn-off to Hidden Valley. This was a good place for lunch.

It was not far from there to Hidden Valley. Just before the you reach the valley, we arrived at a small campsite close to water dripping from an overhang. We were able to get plenty of water here from small pools.

Hidden Valley

Next, we headed into the Hidden Valley and started exploring. A few days before the trip, I can remember Henry Gold, the well known wilderness photographer talking about Sturgiss Mountain. He had said it was “interesting” on top. This was a big incentive to climb the mountain. We explored around the Hidden Valley a bit and eventually located a faint pad that took us to the Dark Brothers Cave at the head of the valley. The pass to the top starts nearby. We found a few old cairns, that led to a rough scrambling route to the plateau top of the mountain.

It was certainly interesting on top, with a lot of strikingly singular rock formations. It would be well worthwhile returning in better photographic light and having a good look around.

That night, at our camp, just after getting into our sleeping bags, we were startled by a very strange call. It sounded human – like a girl or child calling out with a funny sound. But the noise seemed high up in a tree. We tried spotlighting but the call was now further away and then stopped. After the trip, I am inclined to think it may have been made by a sugar glider. More light train overnight.

On Easter sunday, we headed back along the track towards The Vines. This time, just after lunch, we turned off up the track to Quiltys Mountain. It was not far following a faint track to the plateau top and we made our way to a good lookout. Great views of Sturgiss Mountain and beyond. We kept following the rough track to reach a Bora Ground. This was a large open area of rock shelf. There were quite a few arranged rock structures including a large circle and some animal shapes. It seems that visitors to the area back in the 1930’s reported two large circles and no mention of animal shapes.

We then returned to The Vines and I had a look around for more fungi. Wendy went off to explore the area near Red Johnnys Cave.

Next, we start walking back along the Endrick River Firetrail and crossed the river back to the Red Ground Track to camp at Quiltys Clearing. This was a very attractive place. Again light rain overnight.

More road walking back to Wendy’s car on the last day. This time, it was quite overcast and a bit misty – pleasant walking conditions. We had lunch back at the car before heading home.

It has been a long time since my last visit to the Budawangs. Too long! It is a very beautiful and spectacular place. Thanks to Wendy for organising the walk and inviting me along. More photos are on my website here.