Last weekend I did a nice walk from Mt Victoria to Blackheath via the Grose Valley. This is a relatively easy and quite delightful walk that can be done utilising public transport.
View from Victoria Falls Lookout
I caught a train to Mt Victoria and then walked a short distance back down the Great Western Highway to the turnoff to Victoria Falls. Then it was a 5km fire-trail bash to the lookout and then a descent to Victoria Falls. The lookout offers a fine view, and would be a good place to camp. The falls are also impressive but what I found very pleasant were some small cascades not far downstream. The camera came out and I spent some time photo-pfaffing.
Then it is an easy walk on a good track to the Grose River which you meet at Burra Korrain Flat. I continued down the Grose and stopped for lunch about 1km downstream. Then more easy walking to Little Blue Gum to camp. Here is a preview of what to expect further down the River at the proper Blue Gum Forest. There are plenty of nice Blue Gums and the usual Grose cliffs towering above.
The Grose River. Boulders and River Gums...
The Grose River
Little Blue Gum
After a pleasant night, I continued the next day to Blue Gum Forest and again the camera came out to try and capture the majesty of the trees. It was a nice fine morning – and pleasant conditions for walking but not necessarily the best light for taking photos.
The Grose River
Blue Gum Forest
What was charming was the flowering wattle. This was in abundance along Govetts Creek. Glowing gold! I exited the valley via the track to Evans Lookout and had lunch on the viewpoint near where the Horsetrack climbs up through the cliffs. Rather than walk back to Blackheath via Evans Lookout Road, I went along the cliff-top track to Govetts Leap and then along the Braeside Track to the back streets of Blackheath. This was a good route.
A very pleasant weekend in the bush!
More photos can be found on my main website here.
Nice post Dave, great photos, especially loved the first cascade shot.
Hi David,
Just found your website. Beautiful photography and easy o read and enthralling commentary.
I hope you can help me with the following queries.
Is there an established path down the length of the Grose River to it’s junction with the Nepean? If so how many days are required from Blue Gum forects to the junction?
Thank you for your assistance with the above.
Guy
There is a track all the way down the Grose River (on the true right side) – called the Engineers Track – but it is now quite overgrown and hard to follow in places. It was built a long time ago for part of a railway survey. I’m not sure how long it would take you to walk down the river – anything from 2 to 4 or 5 days depending on your speed and the river conditions.
Dave