Wanted a nice short and easy overnighter to introduce my sons girlfriend to the joy of hiking. With Mt Bushwalker track closed heading out to Gadara point and Ngaitung Falls was out, so decided to instead visit Rusden Head and explore, given I hadn't done this before.
A crazy easy walk in to the head, through very badly burnt plateau was done in an hour, leaving heaps of time to explore the head in all directions - made easier by the sparse regrowth. The main pass down to Wombat Ridge FT was easy to find, but didn't trust the rope that was there given it showed clear signs of fire damage. Checked out a couple of other likely passes, slots, view points, a waterfall and found several beautiful pools. No real wildlife seen other than millions of orb spiders and the slightly spooky sound of a tawny frogmouth calling in the evening.
Woke to a white out which quickly dispersed as the sun came up, leaving that spectacular view. Not sure why I hadn't done this walk sooner!
Lazy start but still back out by lunchtime Sunday so a really simple first hike, with a relaxed explore after lunch day 1 that has whetted the appetite for more. Easily done as a daywalk or if I went again I'd take a decent bit of rope and head down the pass and over into Pigeon House gorge.