The Asgard Plateau lies at the head of the Grose Valley, and can be accessed quite easily from the road to Victoria Falls Lookout. It is a beautiful and spectacular area and one that is generally quite easy for bushwalking.
Grose Valley from Thor Head
Bob and myself, set off down the closed off fire road that heads towards Asgard Swamp. A short distance before this turn off there is another that also heads off onto the Plateau. We used that the road for our return.
Asgard Swamp
We soon arrived at the first swamp. This one drains into Victoria Creek. A short way on is the second swamp. It drains into the Grose River with the outlet being between Valhalla and Thor Heads. Between the swamp and the road is a nice campsite.
We continued on a little further and found the turn off track to Thor Head. On our ay to the head, we passed the ruins of an old cottage or hut. All it is now is a pile of bricks and sandstone blocks. It is an easy climb on the track to Thor Head. This has a great view – possibly the best view of the four heads (Asgard Head, Thor Head, Valhalla head and Ikara Head). At the highest point are some really quite intricate and delicate rock formations. They provide a nice foreground to photos with the mighty Grose Valley providing the background. Rain was threatening, but this aded to the mood.
We the backtracked back to the road and continued on to the lookout on the side of Asgard head. More impressive views looking down the Grose Valley and up the Victoria Creek valley. It was easy to see the Silver Cascades and Victoria Falls. Just below the lookout you can see a perched lake. There are several of these under the cliffs of the Grose Valley.
View from the lookout on Asgard Head
We then headed back to the road and found the turn off to the track down to the old Asgard Coal Mine. This is another short walk down a creek and down a low cliff to the mine shaft. It is easy and safe to enter the mine – it does not go in too far. Not far from the mine is a coke oven.
We then climbed back to the road. On the way Bob noticed some letters carved into a rock ledge right on the track.
We then walked back to Asgard Swamp. On the way, just off the road are more ruins.
We then had lunch at the campsite. After lunch we walked back a short way and then headed cross country to the other road. This was only about 200 m away, up a short hill. On the way we passed a very nice rock full of intricate shapes.
At the road, we walked out to the end of the branch we were on – out to another great lookout – a large rocky area with views of Ikara Head and the Upper Grose Valley.
We then walked back and out the other branch to another lookout. The track continued to a climbing area at Ikara Head but we did not go that far. Instead, we turned back and walked back to the Victoria Falls Road and then a shot away along that to Bob’s car.
More photos from our walk are online here.