Last week, myself and Digi Dave joined Chris and Suzie, who were on a visit from Germany, for some canyons in Wollemi National Park.
At first it looked like our plans could go awry, since Wollemi National Park, was marked as being closed on the Environment NSW website. Other nearby National Parks – Blue Mts and Gardens of Stone were marked as being open. However, it looked like this was a mistake. A NPWS worker had posted online that she had contacted the Blackheath NPWS office and been told it (Wollemi NP) was definitely open. However as it turned out, after we had headed off into the bush, we found on our return, that later, all National Parks in NSW were closed for walking due to extreme fire danger. Camping was still permitted and certain commercial canyoning.
This could explain why we met only two other parties – one in Rocky Creek (who assured us that Wollemi National Park was open) and one in Deep Pass Canyon.
Our first day down Rocky Creek Canyon was a very hot day – well into the 30’s. The canyon was an ideal place to be. We spent most of the day in the canyon – only coming back out in the late afternoon.
As well as visiting the canyon, a major objective (at least of mine) was to try and get some good photographs of the canyon.
We entered via Twister Canyon – always a good warm up canyon (if that is the right term!). Rocky Creek was much colder. It always seems to be a cold canyon. It was a bright sunny day – which made canyon photography quite challenging. In these conditions it is hard to avoid blown out highlights. I carried a tripod, and used it for some shots, but others were taken from from places very close to the canyon walls – to try and avoid bright sunlit areas that would burn out the photo. Here, a tripod would have been impossible to deploy.
We spent a fair time in the canyon, waiting for the light to change. We did get a few sunbeams coming in. Then through the final swim and find a sunny spot for lunch.
After lunch – back up through the canyon. The light had changed a lot – so more photo opportunities.
We camped that night at Barcoo Swamp. There was only one other party camping there – but they had a noisy generator and also let off crackers (or shots?) late at night.
The next day we drove along the Cameron Track to near the Natural Bridge and then set off for Deep Pass Canyon. We entered via the higher track. This leaves near the first carpark (and just near a “no dogs” sign). I think this track is the quicker way to the canyon. It enters Budgary Creek just above the River Caves.
Again – we spent a lot of time in the canyon. It was not as hot as the day before, but it was still nicer in the canyon than outside.
Late in the afternoon, after a short period of rain, we headed off to nearby Deep Pass Clearing to camp.
There are two places marked as “Deep Pass” on the map. The actual Deep Pass is the saddle – which is a deep pass. It is a transverse cut in the ridge with cliffs on both sides. A sort of chasm. One side does has a very steep (and now closed off) road going down into it. The other side is cliff for a long way (there are convenient passes near the saddle on both sides and a nice camp cave on the north side).
The other “Deep Pass” where most people camp and visit was referred to by bushwalkers, back in the 1970’s when I started walking as “Deep Pass Clearing”. Back then it was a permissive occupancy. One of at least least three in the Nayook Creek area (the others are the old hut in Nayook Creek near the Natural Bridge and the Yah Hut further downstream – both have since been burnt down by bushfires). Deep Pass Clearing had a hut with a very tall TV antenna. Not much remains of it now, except a few bricks and bits of the fireplace.
It is now a very pleasant and popular walk in campsite. NPWS provide a pit toilet – a good idea as it would be hard to find a place to dig a hole outside the catchment area of the creek. The small creek that flows through the clearing is the upper part of Nayook Creek. Not far above the clearing it flows through a small canyon. This is an attractive canyon – quite open and sunny. Its easy to negotiate in both directions – using bits of rope tied to bolts and stakes and dodgy log bridges that span deep pools.
As well as the canyon, there is a tagged cave downstream from the clearing as well as a number of large cracks in one of the pagodas. These are well worth exploring. There are several aboriginal art sites nearby – but not all are genuine apparently.
More photos are on my website. Here are the links –
Lovely photos Dave. We are supposed to be heading out to Deep Pass, Rocky, River Caves etc this coming weekend 17-20 Jan. (weather and NPWS permitting) and camping at Barcoo Swamp (never realised it had a name). I’ll show your pics to the others in the party when they get to Blackheath; they’ll be even keener to go.
The name “Barcoo Swamp” appears on a map of Carne’s that accompanied his report on the geology of the western coalfields – around 1905. So it is an old name.
Wow! Simply amazing images! How I would love to get back out that way again!
Hi Dave,
After visiting the Woolemi National Park this weekend, I have started to do a bit more research for our next visit. After seeing numerous pics of River Caves Canyon, including your beautiful shots, I thought I’d try and suss out information about how to get there. Any chance you could give me some directions how to get to the trail head? Or do you know of any links online that might help? Thanks so much. Kate
You may want to have a look on this page on Tom Brennan’s website.
Great! Thanks
Hi Dave,
I stumbled across your website while looking up places to go caving and canyoning, and your photos have inspired me to go and check out Wollemi National Park this holidays, so thank you!
I was wondering what kind of measures you take to ensure your camera equipment stays safe? I see you said you took a tripod along, so I’m assuming you had something a bit more serious than a little waterproof point and shoot…I’m wondering if you took a full DSLR and a few lens in? I’m an amateur photographer just starting out with a DSLR and I would really love to capture some images like yours, however I’m worried about potentially wrecking my camera with water.
Was there much swimming where it was too deep to touch the bottom?
Thanks again 🙂
For a discussion on keeping cameras dry you may want to look at my blog on Photographing Claustral Canyon.
You certainly need to be very careful with expensive cameras in canyons. It is best to have some previous experience with the canyon you want to photograph so you know what to expect.
For Rocky Creek Canyon – yes quite a few swims through deep pools. River Caves – only shallow wades, Deep Pass Canyon – you can, with care, avoid the swims (using logs etc).
Hi Dave, very inspiring trail reports! I enjoy reading your site a lot while planning a trip into the Blue Mtns and Budawang. My girlfriend and I do have experience in technical climbing / canyoning but unfortunately cannot bring our gear with us on the trip (apart from drybags..) – are there any non-technical canyons in the area that you’d recommend? We ususally like to tramp for 2-3 days but good day walks will do either, I guess. I understand Deep Pass Canyon might be a good non-technical one?
PS by the way, outstanding photography!!! 🙂
Yes – quite a few non technical canyons (swims, but no abseiling), such as Dargans Ck, River Caves, Deep Pass, The Dry Canyon, Rocky Creek Canyon, Hat Hill Canyon and plenty of others. Some such as the Grand Canyon, you can abseil in from the top, or walk (and swim) up from the bottom.