EASY GORGE WALKS, CAVES, HOT SPRINGS - Yarrangobilly, Kosciuszko National Park

This is an opportunity to enjoy very inexpensive but absolutely wonderful heritage accomodation in Kosciuszko National Park, and share a huge value-packed weekend of easy-moderate walks through dramatic gorges, rock formations, a secret cave, sparkling blue pools, waterfalls, starkly beautiful alpine plains, and a luxurious dip (if you like) in the thermal springs.

.

THE PLAN

FRIDAY NIGHT

- Relaxed drive to Yarrangobilly Caves House, which is 480km or 6 hours south of Sydney. We will be in contact with everyone in the week before the trip to organise how best to carpool everyone from around Sydney on this friday evening.

- Chill out in the classic mountain accomodation, and get a good night of sleep in your own separate room.

SATURDAY

We make a big group breakfast together at 7am, then drive 45 minutes to Blue Waterholes to spend the day on two amazing but easy bushwalks:

- In the morning we follow a flat track (4km total) between the dramatic walls of Clarke Gorge and have lunch on top of an impressive waterfall. The trail follows the creek through the gorge, so expect to get your feet wet up to your knees as we cross it several times (it's not hard or scary, just take your shoes off each time and walk across the easy shallows, or bring an old pair of shoes that you don't mind getting wet).

- In the afternoon we will head up Nichols Gorge, taking the 6.5km loop between mysterious rock formations, and explore inside an INCREDIBLE dark cave. Then walk up an easy slope of 40 metres to emerge from the gorge onto the alpine plateau and sit with a hot drink while the setting sun pours golden light over earthy tussock grasses and wind-gnarled snow gum trees. Finally, it is 1 hour walk in the settling darkness across the high plains to return to the cars.

- Drive back to Yarrangobilly Caves House to prepare group dinner. BYO drinks.

SUNDAY

- Maybe a wake-up dip in the thermal pool (it is 27 degrees all year round), prepare group breakfast from 7am.

- Then we head out to walk the Yarrangobilly River and Castle Cave trails. Total walk distance is 6km, but hugely value packed. We follow the very impressive Castle Gorge with dramatic rock faces, and stopping at the South Glory, North Glory and Castle Caves. Though we probably won't do the paid tours with the rangers at these caves, just visiting their entrances with huge vaulted archways, fenestrated ceilings, and carved limestone walls is impressive and fabulous photography potential. At the far end of the trail we'll stop for lunch by Yarrangobilly River, enjoy the peace and cool our feet in the bubbling flow, and circle back to Caves House.

- Finish in the afternoon making coffee and snack at our Caves House, last chance to dip in the thermal pool, and check-out of our accommodation.

- Drive back to Sydney to arrive about 10pm.

.

COST SHARING

We have already split the cost of the accomodation and food evenly - thank you everyone for your very prompt payments that allowed us to secure the house booking.

As mentioned, it will be impossible to cater for everyone arriving late on Friday night, so feed yourself at the highway truck stops on your way down. I will shop to get us a very decent supply of fresh food for the weekend to last until our departure from Yarrangobilly on Sunday afternoon. BYO drinks (alcohol is fine as long as you don't drink on the trail).

For the car pooling, we have two cars going to fit the eight of us, and we will be in contact in the week or two before the trip to organise when and where to pick each other up. As already agreed, we will split costs evenly among the four people in each car to cover petrol and highway tolls Sydney to Kosciuszko and return, and any national park vehicle day entry fees. Please bring cash or do PayID transfer to settle up when we figure out the final amount at drop off time back in Sydney on Sunday evening.

.

LIABILITY DISCLAIMER
By your RSVP to this event you agree to the conditions of membership and participation which you can read in the "WHAT WE'RE ABOUT" section HERE.