Donkey Mountain in the Wolgan Valley (Wollemi National Park – Northern Blue Mts) is a most interesting and spectacular place to visit. It was a good place to go to celebrate Rik’s birthday and Wendy finishing off her job. It is also a place where you can and should take your time and explore the many pagodas and miniature canyons that are found there.
On this trip we climbed up one end and then had lunch. After lunch we traversed the mountain. We were always close to the skyline – it was easy and very enjoyable scrambling in places and all easy route finding.
Donkey Mountain
At the far end – we found a very sheltered place to camp in a room like chamber between pagodas. To get in and out of the chamber you had to go through narrow canyons.
Camp on Donkey Mountain
After setting up camp – we climbed back onto the tops for a session of photo-pfaffing. On the pagodas are to be found some very delicate and intricate rock formations. We stayed up till sunset.
Back at camp – we enjoyed a great dinner – starting with a savoury platter and then a main course largely provided by Chuin Nee who had brought plenty of steaks and snags. Desert was provided by Wendy who had cooked a very nice cake.
Next morning, some of us got up very early to photograph the dawn. There was no special lighting (it was dull and overcast) – but it was still nice. Then after breakfast – we spent a few hours exploring the maze of pagodas and narrow fissures, cracks and slot canyons that bisect them. Some were very tight to negotiate!
We then packed up and started on another traverse of the mountain. It is very short and this does not take long to do. On the way we stopped for lunch – and were lucky to finish our lunch before rain hit us.
Donkey Mountain is a great place to visit. But it is a very fragile and delicate place. All of our party had visited the mountain two years earlier – and some changes were apparent. These were not good changes. Some of the rock formations had been broken by careless feet. Bushwalkers should know better and tread with the utmost care. Also – we found some ducks (rock cairns). There is no need for such things on Donkey Mountain. Route finding is easy. Cairns placed as route markers take away the challenge of finding your own way through. They also lead to track formation. Could all visitors to this wonderful place please respect the environment.
More photos can be found on my main website here.
hi David
how hard is it to find the campsite pictured? heard it’s a bit of a labryith in there
any tips for exploring?
Its not a big area on top – so not that difficult to find various places. But note that Donkey Mountain was very badly burnt out and is currently closed. And this closure could be in place for a fair while. It is a delicate environment – and time is needed for vegetation to grow back to hold the ground in place.