Moroka Gorge & Snowy Bluff

[andrewbish]

Hi all

Recently got back into bushwalking after a (20 year) break - better late than never.

My daughter and I headed off to the Alpine areas to walk up to Mokoka Gorge over the last weekend. Original plan was to continue on to Shanty Hollow and then Snowy Bluff; however, aborted at Moroka Gorge (about 90mins walk past the First Falls) as my young hiking partner developed a bad cough and the track was starting to get quite challenging from that point. Actually, it took me a bit to work out that there was no track as such for the next stage and instead a river-side scramble was the go.

Has anyone on the forum done this walk recently? I am keen to hear some thoughts on the track conditions and the 'challenge level'.

Regards,
Bisho

[north-north-west]

Interesting.
Snowy's been on my 'To Do' list for three years, and keeps getting put off due to weather and/or work issues. I'd love to camp out there when it's under snow.
There's a good description of the route in Glenn van der Whatsisname's book (which I can't find right now, probably out in the car). From memory there are two off-track sections - apart from about 500m of riverside scrambling to get to Kent Ck - first from the Gorge up to the old logging road (which is, as far as I know, seasonally open to 4WD traffic), and then from about 1.5 km past Shanty Hollow out to the summit and cliffs. That second section is very easy going, being open, grassy, and more or less flat, with a disscernable footpad most of the way. According to the book, the climb up isn't too bad, navigation being fairly straightforward and the scrub not too thick provided you keep away from the creek. Nor is it very far - from the Kent Ck junction to the road is about 700m. The trick, apparently, is to mark your turn-off point for the return to make sure you begin the descent in the right place.

We'll see who gets there first.

[andrewbish]

Gday, NNW.

Thanks for the reply. The book you are referring to 'Bushwalks in the Victorian Alps", by Glenn van der Knijff. (Can't understand why you couldn't recall the last name ). Snowy Bluff is Walk 33 in the book, which I carried on the route. You are spot on in regard to Glenn's description of the route from Moroka Falls. I guess what I am looking for are comments from walkers who have been to Snowy Bluff more recently, to validate or add a bit more detail to the route beyond Moroka Gorge.

One thing I found was that the track from the First Falls (which BTW are stunning) seems to be quite new. It is basically a route where the Parks guys have cleared the foliage, but not actually cut in a level path, so you are walking across the slope for a lot of the time. It got me wondering what else may have changed.

Cheers, Bisho

[leithel]

I attempted this walk with my partner in April last year. We too were surprised to find that the track past the falls no longer exists (due to bush fires) It was a terrible day and was pouring down with rain. We bush bashed our way up the gorge using my GPS, roughly following where the track once was. Navigating the gorge in the wet weather wasnt much fun and my girlfriend really wasnt enjoying herself. It was her first time off track walking. When it was time to descend back down into the gorge we couldn't find a safe route back down to the bottom of the gorge again. I was happy to keep going and find a a spot to clamber down over the wet rocks. My girlfriend wasnt so keen, so we turned around and went back to the camping area at the start of the walk and spent the night there and did some day walks in the area the following day. I still really want to go back and complete this walk.

This is the second time I have had weekend spoilt by Parks Victoria not posting track/road closures on their website. Drove for 5 hours before xmas to find that a bridge on the Howqua Tracks/Brocks Road no longer existed. All the closures of the tracks off Howqua track were listed on Parks Vic website, but no mention that this bridge no longer existed and it was clear that they had been working on this new bridge for quite a while

[andrewbish]

Crikey! I at least had a cleared trail to follow. I hope the experience didn't put the GF off hiking for good

I too would like to return so it's looking like a 3 way race (with NNW) to get there first.

[leithel]

'Bushwalks in the Victorian Alps' is great book isnt it?

[judhiker]

I'm hoping to take a couple of mates to the gorge and snowy bluff in Feb (most are seasoned walkers, there's one newbie), was the bush bashing brutal? Do we need to bring machetes? I have also read the book's description and according to it, one side of the river is 'easier' to walk than the other? can we walk in the river instead? after 90 minutes, do you know if you were even close to kent's creek? Were the river levels high? Any help would be appreciated. thanks.

[andrewbish]

The left (south) side of the river looked like it could be scrambled down. We got to about 1/2 km from Kent Creek. River level seemed normal.

Good luck.

[north-north-west]

You stay on the track side of the river until you're just past Kent Creek. I wouldn't try to walk in the river, especially with all the rain we've had lately. I'm even a little dubious about the wisdom of trying to cross it at the moment, but I haven't been in there recently to check. Was planning to go this weekend, but I now have to work tomorrow.

[andrewbish]

Got next Monday off Going to use the 3 day weekend to head back to Moroka and complete the Snowy Bluff return trip.

[andrewbish]

So I got to do the Snowy Bluff walk over the weekend & Monday. I have to say that this is one of the hardest things I have had to do.

The track starts with a pleasant trail through delightful bushland to the wonderful First Falls.

I then followed the marked trail to the Moroka Gorge area. (I moaned a bit about this section in my first post to this thread - little did I know about the fun that lay beyond this section )

The next section involved rock-hopping and river bank scrambling for 500 metres down the Moroka River to where Kent Creek enters. Slow going. Saw one Copperhead.

It was at this point that the 'fun' began. The route involved heading uphill through thick vegetation. It took me ages to bash through it. The 'Bushwalks in the Victorian Alps' book suggests this section from Moroka Gorge takes a couple of hours - I took twice that. On a brighter note, I was very pleased with my new WE Canvas gaiters (thanks folks in the Gaiters forum thread!), which saved my shins - big time.

(Out of images space - will continue on another post)

[andrewbish]

(Continuing track report from previous post)

Another image from the section from Kent Creek:

I then walked the 4 km along a 4WD track to Shanty Hollow. Got there at nightfall.

The next day I followed the 4WD track up to Mt Dawson. Nice spot.

Next came Dawsons Ridge to Snowy Bluff. This was very challenging, due mostly to the thick vegetation that was present over most of the route. A machete would not have been out of place! Mostly I just crashed through and hoped my gaiters would take care of things that sting, scratch and bite (which they did - although the shock cord was torn out from under both).

Samuel L. Jackson would have some choice words to describe this stuff!

Snowy Bluff when I got there was a great place for a rest, but to be honest I was a little underwhelmed. Maybe I was just tired and cranky.

Heading back along Dawson's ridge I tried taking a route roughly along a 1300-1320 contour, well below the ridge top, and found this to be much easier going, with less vegetation to battle with. There are some great views to be had from the ridge top, but it's quite hard yakka up there.

It was a relief to get back to Mt Dawson. I was also very thirsty - I only took 2 litres of water for the day, when I really needed closer to 4 litres, particularly given the warm conditions (high 20s). A lesson learned. The little creek near Shanty Hollow was a welcome sight!

It was a long day - I had left camp at 9am and returned around 8pm - 11 hours, for a trip that is suggested to take up to 6.5 hours. I am probably not the fastest walker around, but I would still recommend to anyone heading to Snow Bluff that you should allow plenty of time for each stage.

The next day basically required me to head back down to Moroka Gorge and out. All went well until I made a nav error and headed up the wrong creek, bush bashing all the way. It was 40 mins before I realised my mistake. I couldn't stomach back-tracking through the thick vegetation, so I did a wide traverse. The new route was easier, but longer - it was 2 hours before I got back on track. (My iPhone 3GS with MudMaps app was invaluable throughout the hike and was vital in this off-route stage.)

I made my way back to First Falls where a swim in the cold water there did much to put the world right again.

[Jimmymaff]

Hi Andrew,
I was up at Moroka gorge that weekend. I saw your name in the intentions book and left my name and mobile number for you to ring me if you made it. I was wondering how the regrowth was on dawsons ridge and how you would go with water is it was quite warm. Great to hear you made it and had a safe trek. It's rugged county up that way.
James

[andrewbish]

Hi, James!

Sorry - missed your message in the intentions book.

Actually, my wife actually got a call from the Moe police on the day I was returning - apparently someone saw my car at the Horseyard Flats campsite and felt that I had been out there too long ( - they were half right!) - that wasn't you, was it?

Anyway, I 'enjoyed' my bush-bash on Dawsons Ridge so much that I recorded some of the experience for posterity. Here it is on YouTube.

Cheers,
Andrew

[Jimmymaff]

Hey Andrew,
Nah it wasn't me that notified the police. Once I noticed that collingwood sticker on the back of your car I didn't really care if you made it back lol. (long time Saints man here). That utube vid really shows what the regrowth is like on a lot of the routes in the high country at the moment. *&%$#! thick. Only 2 lts of water on a 11 hr day, bet you had your tongue hanging out back at camp. Next time take another hiker (sucker) along with you so they can enjoy the misery haha. Happy Hiking James

[andrewbish]

Oh yeah, the Pies...wife's car, in fact..me - I'm a shell-shocked Cats supporter.

[north-north-west]

Hmmm. I had been thinking about this for Easter, but you're rather putting me off. It's not supposed to be that scrubby up on top.

[andrewbish]

Hey NNW, the really crappy part is along the crest of Dawsons Ridge. I did find however that a route roughly along a 1300-1320 contour, well below the ridge top, was much easier going. Take lots of water.
Andrew

PS RE your sig...in my uni days, the saying was more along the lines of 'Imbibo ergo sum'

[north-north-west]

Students.

[MartyGwynne]

Wow great effort in going that way Andrew.
I have only walked into the waterfalls at Moroka George camped then back out.
Have been to snowy bluff from the bottom of the Moroka. I call it the Moroka fire trail as it is marked on an old map, turn left not long after turning right at Arbuckle Junction and head along to doolans plain (I think that is what it is called) and then head left till you get to a gate (you may need 4wd to get all the way to the gate) it is a bit of an old 4wd track so some 2wd's may not get back out..
Pack on and walk down the track to the Moroka river, about 1 hr walk or so and so very very down down down. good camp site at the river and just a day trip up the other side to the top of snowy bluff and back to base camp or a good 2 hr slog back up the hill to the car.
Or head upstream to where there is a track called McMillans track and walk up that which takes you somewhere near playboy creek and back to the start of the track near the doolans plains turn off.
Sorry for being a bit vauge on this part as it was 12 years since I did it and could not find the track anyway so we bush bashed through scrub re-growth from a fire the previous year or so ago, hence McMillans track markers were burnt out. It is a very pretty part of the country and not too far out there. Just got to watch for deer hunters sometimes around there though, so don't wear your deer skin clothes.
Marty

[andrewbish]

Hi Marty

Had a look at the route you describe in the Bush Maps Vic map for Snowy Plains, Mt Kent & Lake Tali Karng. There are map notes about various areas being burnt in 1998 - that would put the dates about right for your trip!

There is no obvious track from Moroka River to Snowy Bluff, so I'm guessing your bush-bashed up Snowy Bluff Creek.

Sounds like a blended hike from Doolans Plain to Snowy Bluff to Shanty Hollow to Horseyard Flat would be a decent 3 day car shuffle to do.

Cheers, Andrew

[MartyGwynne]

Hey Andrew, the route I took up to snowy bluff was once I got to the Moroka river (via the old Moroka fire trail), that is the old 4WD track which goes near straight down the hill then splosh you are at the river (a very good swiming hole/camp site). You then head south along the 4WD (probably mostly overgrown now) alongside the river for about 3-400 metres then you used to get to another camp site (used to camp there when I went there by 4WD) here you cross the river and head south east 'ish' until you can pick up a spur which takes you up to the little creek which has a water fall above where the first camp site at the river is on top of the cliffs.
From there you followed a bit of a foot pad along to the edge of snowy bluff where the views were good but they may be a bit burnt out nowadays. You sort of followed this along till you were nearly overlooking the Wonangatta valley/river then you could walk to the peak of Snowy Bluff.
I write this from memory from about 12 years ago, which has probably blocked out the hard parts of that trip. I am sure it was not too easy as two of our group of five stopped at the water fall till we had bagged our peak and returned a few hrs later.
PS the water fall only runs when it is raining so it may be hard to see it when it has been dry for a while.
I must go back there one day and case it out again. I do hope there are just as many snakes there still, it just wouldn't be the same without them there....
Marty

[paidal_chalne_vala]

I was up at Moroka river/ Horseyard flat a few weeks ago. The track to the first falls is good but after that there is no track !!We didn't go any further. . The weather can and did change rapidly for the worse. Our two wheel drive cars had some hairy moments getting out of the deeply rutted and waterlogged access track back to the Moroka road. It is wild country for sure.

[wildlight]

Hi paidal_chalne_vala
Next time you're there, look carefully as the walking track takes its last swing for the falls as the track descends. You'll see a pile of crossed sticks, "blocking" the old walking track into the rest of the gorge. Can't say how obvious the track will be past that point- but if you keep following the river, and stay on the left side heading downstream, you'll be good.

Hi Marty and Andrew

It seems there are a few of us with memories from our earlier hikes. There is a gully head marked on the north face of the Snowy Bluff, around the 1300 meter mark on Tamboritha Moroka. I was up there when we had the first of the really dry summers, years ago, walked up from Wonnangatta River. That gully had a spring which was flowing very well, near it was a cave in the cliff which was big enough to camp in.

**edit** Andrew, sorry in the daydreaming I forgot to mention- thanks immensely for your posting of photos. Some of the less scenic ones present the most confronting reality- SCRUB! Excellent choice of images to accompany your post. Thanks for sharing.**/edit**

Great walks, great days. Wonderful to look back on, more magical to anticipate tomorrow.

Safe steps, all.

WildLight.

[dplanet]

Have both maps:
Vicmap Tamboritha – Moroka, 1st ed 1992, topo map scale 1: 50k , AGD 1966 and
SVmap Tali Karng – Moroka (Outdoor Recreation Guide - Bushwalking),1st ed 2010, 1: 50k, GDA94

The findings are: the access to Snowy Bluff and the eastside of Moroka River Track (was a 4WD), the track starts from a gate, has been converted into a walking track led to a campsite at the Moroka River Track junction.

According to the Tali Karng – Moroka map, the access to Snowy Bluff can be reached from two directions with the southeast via Dawson Ridge – Shanty Hollow – Moroka Gorge – Horseyard Flat and the southwest via a new route access from the Moroka River Track junction.

The access via Dawson Ridge has been popular due to the gorge and waterfalls. Therefore, it has been much discussed. From my understanding, the current issue is the scrub on the ridge. It looks rather open on the 2010 map; but with recent rains, it has been changed.

The southwest access starts near the Moroka River Track junction (an alternative to get to this junction is via Wonnangatta Road - 4WD Moroka Junction Track – and about 8km to 10km foot track that is about 3km NNE of the bluff).

From the Moroka River Track junction (the campsite), the access route heads south for about 150 meters, turns left and walks east up a knoll, down to Snowy Bluff Creek, then climb NNW up up a spur with contour lines from 600m to 1300m.

As someone mentioned, if car shuffle allowed, a challenging and rewarding walk can be done. That’s an extended walk of several days inc. exploring waterfalls (and fly-fishing): Horseyard Flat – Moroka Gorge – Shanty Hollow – Dawson Ridge – Snowy Bluff – Moroka River Track Junciton – Moroka and Wonnangatta Rivers junction carpark (about 3km NNE of Snowy Bluff).

Enjoy my research and look forward to the return return return to the gorge and the bluff, etc..
dz

[dplanet]

Made it to Moroka Gorge over the long weekend. The river at noon was a bit high and fast flowing and my friend was not interested in river crossing; therefore, our plan to go to Dawson Range, one of the routes up Snowy Bluff was cancelled. Will return for it on another time. It took time for us to find a campsite with good views of the river and the gorge with cliffs. We spent the next one and a half days walking downstream, rock hopping, rock scrambling, and bush bashing to explore the gorge and waterfalls and were lucky to spot on a platypus zig zagging along broken rocks to get into the river. It was a nice, wild and peaceful place, apart from the sounds from the waterfalls flowing in full strength and the high winds during the nights. See a photo below.

[MartyGwynne]

Hey I managed to get back and stomp down the old 4wd track to the lower Moroka river, camp the night (I did't get there till late) then walked up to snow bluff and back out the next day.
Lots of deer around there, almost caught a few trout.
The walk up to snowy bluff was a bit harder than when I first did it (OK so I am now a bit overweight and no where near as fit) there was no discernible footpad any more to follow so just blundered away up the ridge (nearly gave up)and then got to the spot I remembered had lunch then walked back out. That took me from 8:30 till 6pm to walk up to snowy bluff have lunch then back to camp and back up and up and up the old 4wd track (which by the way gets used as much as it used to be used via the gate by-pass track).....
Very happy to have done it again and the swim in the Moroka river was very welcome if a little chilly but not by Tassie standards.
May get around to putting a photo on maybe.
Marty.

[dplanet]

Congratulations! Do you think the old 4wd track is fine in a low ground 4wd? Looks like Dawson Ridge route is better option to head up Snowy Bluff. Less steep up and down unlike the way you did. It would be more enjoyable if a 5 to 7 days allowed to explore the Moroka. Am getting slow too. Perhaps, getting old. A brave you took the plunge into the river. It was so so cold.

[MartyGwynne]

Hey the old 4wd track is supposed to be closed to anything but management vehicles, but people do sneak in.
I used to drive down it about 30 years ago when it was open and it was a tough track, so no you are not allowed to drive down it. But any car can get to the gate I have even driven my old 307 Peugeot down there (you may need to the something to cut and drag trees off the track and maybe a shovel if you get a bit bogged) you would have to stop a few hundred meters away from the gate (not to far to walk!).
If you did the walk down on day 1 then walked up to snowy bluff day 2 then walked out day 3 it would make it much more pleasant.
I have even walked out the long way via Macmillan's walking track though the track was hard to find as such some off track navigation was required to get to the older old old 4wd track which was/is very overgrown and not much travelled. Then following the main road back to Doolans plain track and back to the car (stashed the packs and walked fast for the last 8-10 kms).
As I said the water was not too bad compared to tassie in summer!!!!

[MartyGwynne]

Ho Hum here is a photo or two so you can gauge the track down the steep hill and the path to follow (no not a path but the way up) to Snowy Bluff.
Even a shot from the best photo shot spot on Snowy Bluff, one day I will have enough energy left to go to the north east side of the bluff.
AndrewBish there is a good view part of SNowy Bluff other than the peak which is worth the effort to get to and yes you do get tired and cranky getting there it is very overgrown up on the top bits.
It may be a bit cold and snowy up there now.