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 |