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Three Winterbourne Daywalks  Back

These three daywalks explore the high country bounded by to the North by Blue Mountain Creek and to the East by the Macleay River . The majority of the walking is on old 4WD roads, now restricted to National Parks and fire control teams. They are arranged in increasing order of difficulty. All the legs have been walked, by moderately fit experienced people, in the times given. You might like to check your time against the first leg, and thus get an idea of how long the whole walk will take you.

Walk Type

Approx Daily Km.

Terrain

Fitness

DW- One Day Walk

BP (3d2n) – Backpack, 3 days, 2 nights

CC (2d2n)- Car Camp, 2 days, 2 nights

S - Short - Less than 10km
M - Medium - 10-15 km
L -Long -15-20 km
XL - Extra Long - over 20 km

1 - Graded track, some incline
2 - Graded track, hills, creek crossings
3 - Rough track, steep sections, creek crossings
4 - Off track, moderate terrain
5 - Off track, thick terrain
6 - Rock climbing and exposure

A - Low fitness
B - Moderate fitness
C - Good fitness
D - Good fitness with agility
E - High fitness level
F - Strenuous - experienced walkers only!

{Rated DW L 2 B }

An straightforward walk, through some attractive wet sclerophyll forest, all on 4WD tracks. CARE needs to be exercised when taking in the views on the clifflines near Steep Drop Falls- the edges are obvious, but the drop is sheer and considerable.

Travel (Maps 1:25 000 Salisbury Plains-(SP); Rowleys Creek-(RC); Winterbourne-(W)

Note: All Grid References in these notes use the Australian Geodetic Datum 1966, and the initials (in brackets) for the corresponding 1:25000 map.

From Armidale -22-Uralla – LEFT onto the Walcha road- 17.5- LEFT onto Hillview Road (SP)602 928 -11.5- RIGHT onto Blue Mountain Road (SP)690 888- 8.0 -LEFT onto Hazeldene Road (SP)750 857 – 9 - RIGHT onto Winterbourne Road (W)831 856 –2- Very sharp LEFT onto Tabletop rd (W)825 837 - 8- “Karori” ramp , gate to Easement (RC)896 830. Total distance from Armidale 78 km (about 1 hr 40 minutes)

From Walcha- (Winterbourne Road)- 24.5- RIGHT onto Tabletop rd (W)825 837 - 8- “Karori” ramp , gate to Easement (RC)896 830. Total distance from Walcha 32.5 km (say 30 minutes).

KARORIGATE 56J 0389619 6583020 1070 m

TTOPXROADS 56J 0391669 6582707 1112 m

STEEPDROPF 56J 0392027 6578410 1070 m

Walk (RC) = “Rowleys Creek 9236-2- (Sections A, B) LegKm TotalKm LegHrMin

E. along easement, then thru fence to Crossroads (RC) 917 827 ASL 1100 2.10 2.10 0.30

Apsley Management Trail E then S to (RC) 928 817 - turn/veer right 2.10 4.20 0.30

Continue on 4WD track +/- on contour around Baynes Mountain to junct.(RC) 927 807 1.40 5.60 0.20

Turn Rt. onto 4WD track , head S to junction at (RC) 924 802 (near dam) – keep left 0.70 6.30 0.10

Continue S to 4WD track end at (RC) 921 784. 1.80 8.10 0.25

Walk right(+/- West) CAREFULLY to Steep Drop Falls head (RC) 920 784 0.10 8.20 0.05 Return by same route 16.40 2.00 T4.00

Tabletop Hideaway to Tabletop Mountain

{Rated DW L 2 B }

Private Property – permission via Armidale Bushwalking Club

A forest walk with a couple of pretty dells, a bit of a climb to Tabletop, and a very pleasant walk across its long, grassy summit – delightful spot. Then an easy route down to a simple relict of old times, and back on the 4WD road for a pleasant walk around the Western base of the mountain and back to Tabletop Hideaway.

Travel (Maps 1:25 000 Salisbury Plains-(SP); Rowleys Creek-(RC); Winterbourne-(W)

Note: All Grid References in these notes use the Australian Geodetic Datum 1966, and the initials (in brackets) for the corresponding 1:25000 map.

From Armidale -22-Uralla – LEFT onto the Walcha road- 17.5- LEFT onto Hillview Road (SP)602 928 -11.5- RIGHT onto Blue Mountain Road (SP)690 888- 8.0 -LEFT onto Hazeldene Road (SP)750 857 – 9 - RIGHT onto Winterbourne Road (W)831 856 –2- Very sharp LEFT onto Tabletop rd (W)825 837 - 8- "Tabletop" homestead(W) 909 844 -5 (Left onto fairly rough 4WD road) to Tabletop Hideaway (W) 922 883. Total distance from Armidale 78 km (about 2 hours)

TTOPHIDEAW 56J 0392117 6588023 915 m

TTOPXHIDEA 56J 0395447 6586908 1035 m

TTOPSRIDG1 56J 0396349 6589574 995 m

TTOPSUMCAM 56J 0396232 6590631 1114 m

SALTHUT 56J 0395856 6590256 986 m

Walk(W) = "Winterbourne 9236-2- N

Sections

walk in section D, section E, section F, section G, section H-

return section I, section F, section E, section D) LegKm TotalKm LegHrMin

Tabletop Hideaway (W) 922 883 walk +/E through Gate at (W) 925 882 ASL 900 0.30 0.30 0.10

On 4WD rd, E and SE to Tabletop Management Trail at (W)954 869. ASL 1035 4.20 4.50 1.30

Left (N) on TTOP Management Trail to (W)963- 896- ASL 995 3.00 7.50 0.40

Leave road to right, follow ridge to summit of Tabletop Mountain (W) 965 902 ASL 1130 0.80 8.30 0.30

Walk along summit +/- N (views SW, E) to (W) 962 9076 ASL 1115 0.80 9.10 0.20

Walk SW down ridge to Road, Salt Hut ( (W) 959 903ASL 990 (Dam 200m NNW of hut) 0.60 9.70 0.20

Walk +/- South on road to (W)963- 896- ASL 995 1.20 10.90 0.20

Return S on TTOP Management Trail to (W)954- 869- ASL 1035 3.00 13.90 0.40

Right on 4WD rd, NW and W to gate at at (W) 925 882 ASL 900 4.20 18.10 1.30

W through gate and to Tabletop Hideaway (W) 921 880 0.30 18.40 0.10T6.10

Karori Ramp To Cocks Comb Return

{Rated DW XL 5 E }

This is a long day, for the fast and fit. However, all but about 3 of the 26 km are along a +/- level 4WD road, where you may make better time than the +/- 4 km per hour used in the calculation of this bit. Then you leave the road and carefully contour around the east side of Tabletop Mountain to Cocks Comb saddle. This section is a bit tricky. You need to climb up Tabletop South Spur, then head down and left to walk in the narrow gap below the great boulders that have tumbled down from Tabletop on your left and above the heads of the gullies that quickly deepen on your right.If in doubt, stay a bit high! The route dips down to the 1000 metre contour, then up a bit when you see the saddle. A good GPS and a lot of waypoints will definitely help here. Take extra care when visiting the Cocks Comb, as the rocks are a bit unstable- but the view is worth it.

Travel (Maps 1:25 000 Salisbury Plains-(SP); Rowleys Creek-(RC); Winterbourne-(W)

Note: All Grid References in these notes use the Australian Geodetic Datum 1966, and the initials (in brackets) for the corresponding 1:25000 map.

From Armidale -22-Uralla – LEFT onto the Walcha road- 17.5- LEFT onto Hillview Road (SP)602 928 -11.5- RIGHT onto Blue Mountain Road (SP)690 888- 8.0 -LEFT onto Hazeldene Road (SP)750 857 – 9 - RIGHT onto Winterbourne Road (W)831 856 –2- Very sharp LEFT onto Tabletop rd (W)825 837 - 8- “Karori” ramp , gate to Easement (RC)896 830. Total distance from Armidale 78 km (about 1 hr 40 minutes)

From Walcha- (Winterbourne Road)- 24.5- RIGHT onto Tabletop rd (W)825 837 - 8- “Karori” ramp , gate to Easement (RC)896 830. Total distance from Walcha 32.5 km (say 30 minutes).

KARORIGATE 56J 0389619 6583020 1070 m

TTOPXROADS 56J 0391669 6582707 1112 m

TTOPXHIDEA 56J 0395447 6586908 1035 m

TTOPSRIDG1 56J 0396349 6589574 995 m

TTOPSRID2 56J 0396530 6589819 1060 m

CCOMBSADDL 56J 0396947 6590532 1020 m

CCOMEAST 56J 0397316 6590675 1048 m

(Section A section C section E section F section J1 section J2 - return is the reverse)

Walk(W) = "Winterbourne 9236-2- N; (RC) = “Rowleys Creek 9236-2-S LegKm TotalKm LegHrMin

E. along easement, then thru fence to Crossroads (RC) 917 827 ASL 1100 2.10 2.10 0.35

NE on road to Map edge (RC) 930 836 ASL 1100 1.75 3.85 0.20

Continue to pass Tabletop Hideaway Road Junct. on left (W)954/869. ASL 1035 5.25 9.10 1.30

Continue on rd to the start of Tabletop South Ridge (W)963- 895- ASL 995 3.00 12.10 0.50

Leave road to right, take ridge to 977 954, then sl.down to CocksComb Saddle 969 905 1.20 13.30 1.00

Walk E up to Cocks Comb (W) 973 907- (Add extra for viewing time) 0.40 13.70 0.30T4.45

Return by reversing the route 27.40 4.50T9.30