Lees Paddocks - first overnight walk hints please.

[Deb]

Hi all,
Planning our first overnight to Lees Paddocks in a week or so and would welcome any suggestions. Are there particular areas for camping or can we just find a suitable spot when we get there? Also, is this a fuel stove only area?
Are there any short side walks from here that you would recommend. Our plan is to walk in by mid afternoon and walk out the following day so we will have a few hours of daylight on both days to explore within this area.
Have walked in as a day walk some time ago but only to the first hut across the creek.
Thanks,
Deb

[Michael_Kingston]

Hi Deb

There are plenty of spots to camp. There is no formal camping area as such. I have camped near the creek just before the hut - if you want to keep your feet dry there is a log crossing just upstream from where the track fords the creek. If the weather is bad it can be handy to camp near the hut - that way you can spread out while you cook etc.

I am pretty certain that Lees Paddocks is fuel stove only but I am not sure - I only ever use a fuel stove when I walk so even when I have camped at Lees Paddocks I have not checked this out.

Regarding short walks from the hut - heading up the Mersey River is a nice option for a stroll. You can walk as far as the paddocks go without worrying about navigation. Any further and you need to know how to use a map and compass.

[Son of a Beach]

I am pretty certain that Lees Paddocks is fuel stove only but I am not sure - I only ever use a fuel stove when I walk so even when I have camped at Lees Paddocks I have not checked this out.

it's actually private property so Parks' fuel/fire rules don't apply. The owners are very kind in allowing fairly open access for walkers but I'm unsure of their views on fires. Of course fuel stoves are the safest option, in any case.

[Erica]

just got back from a trip into Lee's Paddocks. A nice place to either camp, or just go for a walk to, is the Reg Wadley Hut, upstream a bit further than the main hut at Lee's Paddocks. Not sure how far it is, as we fished our way up there, but its not that far...

[Drifting]

Erica- any signs of damage to cars in the lot? Were there lots of people there?

[Erica]

No signs of damage to the cars, but then there weren't really any cars... We went in on the 28th and stayed the night, only saw one guy (day walk) coming out as we were going in and no one else that day. On the 29th we saw a couple doing a day walk, and then 3 other groups (of one, two and two) all doing overnight walks. I was amazed at how quiet it was for that time of year and the beautiful weather that was predicted!

[Drifting]

Excellent- ta!

[CEyre]

We just returned from Lees Paddock area, two side walks are to the waterfalls Lewis and Oxley. They are only about 800 m apart and about 1km upstream from Pine Hut. The kids preferred the Oxley Falls because they could paddle around on the enormous rock shelf above the falls. As for parking your car, we saw no one the whole dayand no one passed the cars. The road in caused some damage though even though we parked about 5 km north of the entrance gate and we enjoyed the walk in.

[Joel]

Erica - how was the fishing? I was thinking of going up next week.

[Deb]

Just back from our first overnight into Lees Paddocks. We had the most amazing time! Not a cloud in the sky yesterday. Camped by the river in the first paddocks and did an early evening walk into the second paddocks - I think these were even prettier than the first. Spotted a couple of cute little quolls. On our way out this morning after crossing the creek we walked upstream to a gorge that we had heard about. We went for about 30mins and came to a really deep gorge and waterfall. We were able to (very carefully!) scramble down to the base of the gorge. It was fantastic.
Thanks for all the input on this site, it really helped us plan our walk.
Cheers,
Deb

[Drifting]

Sweet! I love quolls!

[Erica]

Joel - was the first time i'd been fly fishing, went with a friend that does a bit of fishing guiding though. think we got 4 little brown trout and had a bit more interest than that over two half days of fishing/exploring, there were a few around, but i was just happy with the learning/exploring a beautiful new place! took the rod into hartnett falls on the OT with the same guy a few days ago, ended up getting about 7 or 8 rainbows in just under two hours.. so that was a bit more happening!

[Joel]

Thanks Erica, sounds like a pretty successful first trip!

[Drifting]

The river at Pine Hut was swimming (haha ha ha) with trout as well.