by david510 » Fri 03 Aug, 2012 4:38 pm
Nattai river passes
For those who get bothered by blackberries, stinging nettles, snake bites, broken bones from slippery crossings and other unpleasant happenings in the Nattai River the following list of passes may provide a way out. The exits at The Crags and Mount Flora are omitted as they are private property. Starting from the south and four figure grids for rare passes because I don’t want to be too accurate and lead people to places they don’t want to be. Lake Alexandra via Gibbergunyah creek, Sixty foot Falls, Gibbergunyah Trig, Forty Foot Falls, Wonsons 1 (6488), Boxvale Incline, Wonsons 2 (6390), Wonsons 3 (6391), New Craig’s (6292), Hidden Creek to Mount Waratah (6293), South Helipad, Needle saddle via North Helipad, Rocky Waterholes Creek (hard), Mel’s Pass (6000), Starlights, Troys, Wanganderry Lookout (hard), Nattai Road, Russ Pass (5410), Beloon Pass, Hill/Peachey Pass (5410) [not possible without guide]. There are other passes further down the Nattai onto Wild Goat Plateau and Wanganderry Plateau but these lead into forbidden Schedule 1 country. I am aware of one D of E party that arrived at the vicinity of Smallwoods Crossing and were not allowed to walk out along the Sheehys Creek Road. They had to be ferried out by NPWS.
I have always enjoyed the walk from Mittagong to Starlights because the Hidden Creek camping spot is great and a visit to Russels Needle is always rewarding. I now go up at Mel’s Pass instead of Starlights because I like to stop off at Ahearn Lookout.
Most people leave the Nattai at Vineyard Flat to go to Yerranderie but those interested in history can walk further down to the sites of the O’Brien’s and Franklin’s huts. Beware, however, because an inadvertent entry into Schedule 1 can be very costly and it is possible that Franklins may be out of bounds.