This trip will be part of the Kangaroo Valley Extravaganza 2025. You can't sign up to this trip directly. You'll need to request to come to KVE. If you have been invited to come to KVE, check the trip allocation calendar to see if you're going on this trip. If you are coming to KVE, and you haven't been allocated a spot on this trip, but you really want to join, email Bill McAlister (bushwalking officer on the contacts page).
We are planning an exploratory paddle across from around Tallowa Dam, up Paul's Lookout, then Purnoo, then possibly other lookouts off the plateau as time/interest allows. After crossing, very steep, off track uphill leads to an old firetrail (seen on All Trails/satellite) that we can use to get up to the lookouts and then back down to Sawyers Spur and Tallowa Dam Campsite. Then paddle across again to head up ridges/gullies in one of the few cooler burnt (from 2020 fire) areas to reach what will probably be the cars at the Three Views firetrail turnoff (small car shuffle ideal). Options to padde to/from Sawyers Ridge if Pauls Lookout direct route is too tricky.
Challenges are untested steep/scrambly bits, scrub/regrowth. Aim is for fairly short paddles to get to cool places for slightly or more than slightly challenging/exploratory/spectacular walking.
Some of the route/tracks can be seen at the east end of Caoura Ridge Firetrail: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/australia/new-south-wales/caoura-ridge-fire-trail
Expecting some tough sections on this walk, allowing a long day to get it done (~8hrs?), as:
- We are going off track and bush bashing to ascend to the first lookout, with possible similar pushing through thick vegetation on the way down and again on the way up the road after re-crossing;
- We are going to carry packrafts/lilos of variable quality and break down paddles all the way, which could be quite heavy.
- You might get fully wet if you're packraft buddy rocks the boat too much
Departure: We'll depart from the designated meeting point at the KVE campsite at ~8:30am.
Return: We expect to be back by sunset.
Please Bring:
- Water for ~8 hours
- Sun protection
- Good hiking shoes
- Long pants, gaiters if u need
- A packed lunch
- Roomy backpacks for carrying rafts etc
We probably want a brief pre-trip meeting on Thursday night or Friday morning depending on participants' time.