Green Gully Track October 12-15, 2012
The first significant hiking outing since moving to the mid-north coast was a very welcome outing.After dusting off the hiking/camping gear and replacing some of the misplaced or failing equipment, it was a matter of getting the head in gear for 4 days of hiking in some pretty steep terrain.
The Green Gully Track is in the Oxley Wild Rivers National Park - near Walcha in New South Wales.
It is gorge country - there is no other term for it. The hike covers a loop of about 65km over 4 days, with camps being located at old huts built by the families that used to run cattle in the area.
The first (and last) night are at the Cedar Creek hut which is more like a house than a hut. Located at almost 1100m above sea level, it can (and did) get quite cold there, but the hut had all the mod-cons of home to keep us warm and happy. Electricity (generated by wind and solar), hot water, gas, fridge, weather station and water tanks.
We were able to store food here for the final night of the trip - a huge relief after 4 days of hiking to have a hearty meal.
Cedar Creek Hut
Daryl, Ben, Dan, Paul, Simon - Ready to depart
The first day's hike was just short of 18km along the Kunderang Trail. It was over mostly flat terrain with a few hills and a side trip down to Colwell's Yards - an old set of cattle yards from many years before.
The first day's hike leads to Bird's Nest Hut, which is about 950m above sea level. This hut is very aptly name, due to the fact that there was a bird's nest in the pit toilet structure.
The hut was built many years ago by the O'Keefe family and has been maintained by NPWS to keep the termites at bay and to keep the story of the family who built the hut alive. The huts are also stocked with camping stretcher beds, camp chairs, pots, cutlery and gas burner to make the hiking easier by not having to carry all the extras.
Bird's Nest Hut
Actual Bird's Nest
After a very cold night and a little bit of breakfast, we packed up for the second day of hiking - this time to Green Gully Hut. The second day of hiking is 15km in length and is largely off-track. Initially, a climb up the ridge line to the highest peak in the area - the Bird's Nest Trig at about 1200m above sea level. From there, the track follows a management trail for a couple of kilometres as the descent into the gully begins.
The Rocks lookout offers some pretty awesome views out over the gorge that will be our home for the next day.
The final few kilometres of the descent is again, following a ridge line, this time downhill - and very steeply downhill. Dropping something like 500m of elevation in just 3km. From here, another kilometre or so along Brumby Creek to the Green Gully hut (about 350m above sea level), which is pretty much a carbon copy of the Bird's Nest hut, without the bird's nest.
View near the Rocks Lookout
Dan at Brumby Pass on Brumby Creek
Green Gully Hut
At lower altitudes, the overnight temperatures were far milder and day 3 began with great weather for following Green Gully Creek upstream. 13.5km in length, the third day of hiking is basically a choose your own path along the creek. Due to a fairly long dry spell in the region, the creek didn't have lots of water in it and the temperature was quite pleasant.
The creek meanders through the gorge and offers plenty of opportunities to spot wildlife such as brush-tailed rock wallabies and red-bellied black snakes.
Many creek crossings later, we arrived at Colwell's Hut, the third and smallest of the old huts on the trip, which is about 450m above sea level.
Walking in Green Gully Creek
Stopping for a break at Green Gully Canyon
A bend in the river where floods have carved out the rock face
Colwell's Hut
Another great night's sleep in another well-equipped hut and we were off for the final day's hike, back to Cedar Creek hut at 1100m above sea level. This meant a pretty serious day of climbing. 17.5 km to travel today, pretty much all on management trails with the first section climbing 600m in 3km. The trail joins Kunderang Trail after about 7km and we turn right to walk the last 10km back to Cedar Creek hut, backtracking the first 10km that we did on Day 1.
A tough climb
Enjoying a drink on the deck at the end of 4 days
The area is quite remote and very quiet and NPWS have done a great job of telling the story of the families that ran cattle in these areas. The huts and facilities that are provided make the equipment list a bit shorter and the packs a little lighter. A very enjoyable trek and it is highly recommended.
