Cathedral Rock (x2!), Montagu Thumbs and Wellington Falls
Posted: Mon 09 Mar, 2009 8:42 pmThought I'd give a description of the hike I did today.
Started the day at about 6:45 at the end of Betts Rd down at Neika (parked the car across the bridge next to the river).
Was hoping to get some good early morning light for some photos in the riverbed (mini waterfalls, cacades etc...) but unfortunately there was a lot of cloud/haze.
From the carpark I hiked along the well worn track to the river. Spent about 30mins taking various photos. Gorgeous spot. Would be interetsing to see it after a heavy rain. Rejoined the track that at this stage was parallel to the river and followed it to the point at which it cut left and up the hill towards Cathedral Rock (I was doing the loop clockwise, but you can do it the other way...although I wouldn't recommend it as I'll discuss later!).
The track made 4 or 5 switchbacks as it ascended the mountain. Very steep, but as it was early in the walk I was feeling pretty good. Still had to stop for a few breaks though! Was very impressed when I finally saw Cathedral Rock peeking through the trees. Looked very intimidating!
Where the track levels out at the base of Cathedral ROck there is a big rock cairn marking the track to the top. At this point is gets EXTREMELY steep! It was very damp in places and was quite slippery. There are some fairly large rocks that you need to scramble over just to make it a little more difficult!
Very tough climb, but the reward was well worthwhile. I couldn't believe the views you get at the top! Unfortunately it was still hazy, but still got some reasonable shots.
If I hadn't stopped for photos at the bottom I reckon it would have taken me 1-1.5 hours to get to the top.
It was at this stage that I made my first 'rookie' mistake of the day!! After having a snack I stupidly didn't think to check the map just to confirm where I had to go next. As I looked north to the Montagu Thumbs I thought, "There's no way you can walk across there. I'll walk back down and rejoin the track that will take me around to the Thumbs...". So off I went, all the way back down to the plateau (managing to fall once on slippery tree roots! no serious damage though) and continued along the track. After about 10-15mins the track was still heading west and it was at that point that I rechecked the map and of course realised that I was walking on Betts track which doesn't go to the Thumbs at all!! Instead, I worked out that the track does actually keep going from Cathedral Rock. That of course meant that I had to reclimb what was the steepest track I have climbed in my life for the second time in an hour!!! I was not happy...
Anyway, continued across to the Thumbs. On the map I have it doesn't look like the walk undulates much at all. Wrong!!! It took me ages to get across (probably in part due to the fact I was completely stuffed from the earlier adventure!!). Spectacular views though again from the top of the Thumbs.
I had planned to walk to the top of Mt Montagu, but as I was feeling so buggered I thought I'd give it a miss and proceed around to Wellington Falls.
Along the way I passed a group of walkers who recommended that just a little bit down the track was a turn off that would take me to a hut with a great view up a valley. Sounded like a good plan! I made the required diversion, but after about 15mins of walking down a slowly steepening hill I ended up giving up and turned around. Maybe it was just around the next corner...who knows...
The track to Wellington Falls diverts from the main track at a place with a large rock cairn (no signs though to tell you where it goes). It was at this point that I really got a little nervous. Almost immediately the ground changes from heavily vegetated to partially vegetated with lots of rocks. The first couple of track turns were well marked by little stone cairns but then came a spot where I just couldn't work out where the track went next! After circling for about 20mins I eventually worked out that it continuedup over a large patch of rocks and continued in a roughly east-south easterly direction (I added a stone cairn for the next walkers!). Between here and Wellington Falls the track disappeared numerous times in a similar fashion and it took a bit of trial and error to find the right path. Eventually though the rocks disappeared and the path was easy to follow down to the Falls.
Wellington Falls were simply awesome!!! I rested my weary feet in the icy cold water that flowed down from about a half dozen tiny waterfalls upstream. Downstream was one massive waterfall!! Had some lunch (by this time it was about 1:30 I think) and repleneshied the fluids and had a little snooze by the water. Very relaxing! Took some photos (trying out the new ND filter!) before again packing up to finish the last stretch back down to the car.
The start of the path on the other side of the river is not obviously marked, but is down towards the large waterfall (basically as far as you can safely walk on that side of the river bank). This path was by far the best I have walked on in a long time. Probably well maintained due to the large number of walkers walking to the falls from the Springs. Very easy going until the point where it cuts the road to the Springs and continues down the ridgeline.
At this point the path basically follows a water pipe down the ridge all the way to the bottom. This equated to about an hour or so of constant crab walking down the hill (due to the steep slope and extremely loose and dangerous surface). It would have to rate as one of the most monotonous and annoying walks I have ever done!! I would hate to have to walk that track either a) in the rain, or b) in the opposite direction as it would kill even the fittest of walkers I reckon!!
Eventually got to the bottom. You need to make a hard right almost as soon as it reaches the flat section, and cut across to the rocky river bed (saw my first snake here...massive black one...scared the !@$# out of me!!). This final section of the walk involves about an hour of rock hopping down the riverbed as there disn't appear to be a path amongst the trees. As I was well and truly knackered at this stage I very quickly got tired of having to constantly pick a path through the loose rocks. It's a beautiful spot, but by that stage I wasn't feeling very inspired!!
Eventually you will come across a very large rock cairn that marks where the track starts on the river bank. The track makes one very brief diversion back onto the river bed, but then goes onto land again all the way back to the car.
All up it took me about 10 hours. The general guide is that it should take 7-8 hours. Given the fact that I made a few unnecessary diversion I'd say that I probably could have done the walk in 8 hours. Poor weather would have a big impact though I suspect.
Despite the strenuous nature of the walk, I'd give it a 9 out of 10 as Cathedral Rock, the Thumbs and Wellington Falls were absolutely spectacular!! It only loses a point for the poorly marked track and the dangerous pipeline section. A very long day, but thoroughly worth it (not sure if I'll carry my tripod on a similar hike in the future though...those extra kilos were killing me by the end!!).
I hope this helps!!
Started the day at about 6:45 at the end of Betts Rd down at Neika (parked the car across the bridge next to the river).
Was hoping to get some good early morning light for some photos in the riverbed (mini waterfalls, cacades etc...) but unfortunately there was a lot of cloud/haze.
From the carpark I hiked along the well worn track to the river. Spent about 30mins taking various photos. Gorgeous spot. Would be interetsing to see it after a heavy rain. Rejoined the track that at this stage was parallel to the river and followed it to the point at which it cut left and up the hill towards Cathedral Rock (I was doing the loop clockwise, but you can do it the other way...although I wouldn't recommend it as I'll discuss later!).
The track made 4 or 5 switchbacks as it ascended the mountain. Very steep, but as it was early in the walk I was feeling pretty good. Still had to stop for a few breaks though! Was very impressed when I finally saw Cathedral Rock peeking through the trees. Looked very intimidating!
Where the track levels out at the base of Cathedral ROck there is a big rock cairn marking the track to the top. At this point is gets EXTREMELY steep! It was very damp in places and was quite slippery. There are some fairly large rocks that you need to scramble over just to make it a little more difficult!
Very tough climb, but the reward was well worthwhile. I couldn't believe the views you get at the top! Unfortunately it was still hazy, but still got some reasonable shots.
If I hadn't stopped for photos at the bottom I reckon it would have taken me 1-1.5 hours to get to the top.
It was at this stage that I made my first 'rookie' mistake of the day!! After having a snack I stupidly didn't think to check the map just to confirm where I had to go next. As I looked north to the Montagu Thumbs I thought, "There's no way you can walk across there. I'll walk back down and rejoin the track that will take me around to the Thumbs...". So off I went, all the way back down to the plateau (managing to fall once on slippery tree roots! no serious damage though) and continued along the track. After about 10-15mins the track was still heading west and it was at that point that I rechecked the map and of course realised that I was walking on Betts track which doesn't go to the Thumbs at all!! Instead, I worked out that the track does actually keep going from Cathedral Rock. That of course meant that I had to reclimb what was the steepest track I have climbed in my life for the second time in an hour!!! I was not happy...
Anyway, continued across to the Thumbs. On the map I have it doesn't look like the walk undulates much at all. Wrong!!! It took me ages to get across (probably in part due to the fact I was completely stuffed from the earlier adventure!!). Spectacular views though again from the top of the Thumbs.
I had planned to walk to the top of Mt Montagu, but as I was feeling so buggered I thought I'd give it a miss and proceed around to Wellington Falls.
Along the way I passed a group of walkers who recommended that just a little bit down the track was a turn off that would take me to a hut with a great view up a valley. Sounded like a good plan! I made the required diversion, but after about 15mins of walking down a slowly steepening hill I ended up giving up and turned around. Maybe it was just around the next corner...who knows...
The track to Wellington Falls diverts from the main track at a place with a large rock cairn (no signs though to tell you where it goes). It was at this point that I really got a little nervous. Almost immediately the ground changes from heavily vegetated to partially vegetated with lots of rocks. The first couple of track turns were well marked by little stone cairns but then came a spot where I just couldn't work out where the track went next! After circling for about 20mins I eventually worked out that it continuedup over a large patch of rocks and continued in a roughly east-south easterly direction (I added a stone cairn for the next walkers!). Between here and Wellington Falls the track disappeared numerous times in a similar fashion and it took a bit of trial and error to find the right path. Eventually though the rocks disappeared and the path was easy to follow down to the Falls.
Wellington Falls were simply awesome!!! I rested my weary feet in the icy cold water that flowed down from about a half dozen tiny waterfalls upstream. Downstream was one massive waterfall!! Had some lunch (by this time it was about 1:30 I think) and repleneshied the fluids and had a little snooze by the water. Very relaxing! Took some photos (trying out the new ND filter!) before again packing up to finish the last stretch back down to the car.
The start of the path on the other side of the river is not obviously marked, but is down towards the large waterfall (basically as far as you can safely walk on that side of the river bank). This path was by far the best I have walked on in a long time. Probably well maintained due to the large number of walkers walking to the falls from the Springs. Very easy going until the point where it cuts the road to the Springs and continues down the ridgeline.
At this point the path basically follows a water pipe down the ridge all the way to the bottom. This equated to about an hour or so of constant crab walking down the hill (due to the steep slope and extremely loose and dangerous surface). It would have to rate as one of the most monotonous and annoying walks I have ever done!! I would hate to have to walk that track either a) in the rain, or b) in the opposite direction as it would kill even the fittest of walkers I reckon!!
Eventually got to the bottom. You need to make a hard right almost as soon as it reaches the flat section, and cut across to the rocky river bed (saw my first snake here...massive black one...scared the !@$# out of me!!). This final section of the walk involves about an hour of rock hopping down the riverbed as there disn't appear to be a path amongst the trees. As I was well and truly knackered at this stage I very quickly got tired of having to constantly pick a path through the loose rocks. It's a beautiful spot, but by that stage I wasn't feeling very inspired!!
Eventually you will come across a very large rock cairn that marks where the track starts on the river bank. The track makes one very brief diversion back onto the river bed, but then goes onto land again all the way back to the car.
All up it took me about 10 hours. The general guide is that it should take 7-8 hours. Given the fact that I made a few unnecessary diversion I'd say that I probably could have done the walk in 8 hours. Poor weather would have a big impact though I suspect.
Despite the strenuous nature of the walk, I'd give it a 9 out of 10 as Cathedral Rock, the Thumbs and Wellington Falls were absolutely spectacular!! It only loses a point for the poorly marked track and the dangerous pipeline section. A very long day, but thoroughly worth it (not sure if I'll carry my tripod on a similar hike in the future though...those extra kilos were killing me by the end!!).
I hope this helps!!
) I feel like giving that track another try. Hopefully this time I'll get through to wellington falls. Any tips?
