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Destinations > Blue Mountains
Blue Mountains
Issue: August 2001
Words by Gregor Stronach Photos by Renée Connellan and Gregor Stronach
Despite the cold and dreary forecast, a large and cheerful group assembled at the front gate of John & Julie Eggenhuizen's property on the outskirts of Lithgow early one Saturday morning, all kitted up for a weekend adventure through the picturesque Blue Mountains, west of Sydney. Yours truly, predictably running just a tad late, missed the pre-journey briefing, but was met at the gate of the property with a smile and the words "You must be the Overlander guy. Everyone else has gone...we'd better hurry to catch them up." And that's how we found ourselves following the dusty trail behind a Getabout 4WD Adventures Nissan Patrol on a whirlwind trip through the southern end of Sunny Corner State Forest and sleepy collection of farmhouses that make up Yetholme. We met up with the group as they assembled at Mt Ovens trig, just a short jaunt through the State Forest. Mt Ovens trig was once used as a jump-off point for hang gliders, before a particularly violent rainstorm washed the jump ramp away. Now, the spot offers little more than an excellent view over the back of the Blue Mountains to Bathurst, the western plains stretching far off to the horizon.
The gathering of 4WDs was as eclectic as the group of drivers - a range of vehicles being driven by folks of all 4WDing persuasion. A quick look around the clearing and a brief introduction was all that was necessary to gather information on our team for the next two days. First cabs off the rank were John & Julie, resplendent in matching sign written ST Patrols. Next came myself and Renée in the Overlander long-term Discovery Td5, followed by David & Jenny in their 80 Series, Hans and Linda in their Pajero, Paul in his Holden Rodeo and Tony, the proprietor of Opposite Lock's Prospect store with his family Elizabeth, Tyrone and Kylie in their Opposite Lock Nissan Patrol. Last but by no means least came Rick in his aging Troopie. A fine assortment of vehicles for a weekend through the mountains. We were all kitted out with UHF radios which were to be used to keep a running commentary on the countryside, and also to provide timely advice and guidance from John. After a quick radio check, we were on our way.
From Mt Ovens, we headed off down the Gulf Boundary Road, an access trail cut through the plantation forest of Sunny Corner, and a few track turnings later we were out of the vehicles and enjoying a quick morning tea under a canopy of pine trees. The entire area was alive with Monarch Butterflies, disturbed by the noise of the engines and flitting around adding an eerie beauty to the scene. Straight after morning tea, we stopped at a favourite spot within the State Forest. A steep slope that cut a straight path from one side of the valley to the other was before us, and under John's careful tutelage, everyone meandered down. For some of the group, it was just like negotiating the driveway to their homes, but for others who were less experienced, it represented the first real 4WD challenge they'd ever faced and there were more than a couple of white knuckles on the way down the ravine. Once marshalled on the other side of the valley, we were off again to a quiet clearing to enjoy a bite to eat for lunch.
The forest trails through this part of the Blue Mountains are by no means challenging, and we covered a fair bit of ground before we stopped to eat. We weren't the only ones using this bit of the forest that Saturday - the bush fire service was holding navigation exercises throughout the region, and we were often required to move to one side as the 4WD fire trucks trundled through on their way to the next checkpoint. Following our brief encounters with the fire service, we trooped up to the summit of a place John and Julie call Telephone Hill - the only spot for miles around that mobile telephones get any reception. With the magnificent view in the background, we took a group photo and piled back into the vehicles. After lunch we wandered through some more of the forest until we hit Dark Corner Road, one of the few sections of bitumen we were to see over the weekend. A right turn onto Daylight Creek Road and we were deep into the bush again, away from the pine plantations and into the old-growth forest, heading for the Turon River. Our route took us along the Pinnacles Fire Trail, a popular section of track that heads north through the Great Dividing Range.
Our campsite was to be found on the banks of the Turon River, on a private property owned by local character River Ron. Ron has lived on the property for years, isolated from the rest of the world with only a bicycle for transport. The years have taken their toll on Ron, who now benefits from the goodwill of the local community, including John and Julie from Getabout 4WD Adventures, who regularly drop off supplies of books and food. The house in which he resides is a marvel of bush engineering, set way back from the river. Carpet has been carefully laid straight on to the dirt floor of the house. The original house was washed away by a massive flood several years back, but its remains can still be seen. A pleasant night around the campfire was had by all, the idle hours whiled away with word games and a fantastic dinner provided by our congenial hosts. With everyone stuffed to the gills with campfire cooked food, we retired to bed looking forward to the next days' driving.
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When morning broke, the skies were again overcast and threatening heavy rain, but the light drizzle that had already fallen proved to be a boon to the trip - not enough to make the tracks impassable but just enough to keep the dust down. When everyone had packed up camp, we gathered around the remains of the campfire to decide which direction we would take for the day. After some small debate, it was decided that we would head off towards the Lost City, a favourite for many 4WDers and a spot we have featured before in the magazine, but one which I had never visited. Keeping with the spirit of the weekend, which was to allow novice 4WDers to learn the ropes when it was appropriate, the group tackled some sections of the track very slowly to let some of the other drivers hone their skills in preparation for a couple of nasty surprises that were in store along the trail. We set off along Baal Bone Road, and into the serene beauty of the Blue Mountains National Park.
It was during the morning that we came to the first major obstacle, a steep rocky descent that looked sedate enough, until the final ten metres were taken into account. A single rock slab, rain-slicked and tilted to a precarious angle, lay between us and our goal for the day. It was time to test the skills we had learnt throughout the previous day. One by one, the vehicles in the group picked their way gently down the slope. In the interest of allowing others to learn, I let my partner Renée do the driving over this difficult section. With John giving gentle, unhurried advice over the radio, the drivers were encouraged to select low-range first gear, and step down the slope. Excellent tips on choosing the right driving line were sent to the cabins via the radio, and everyone made it down to the bottom easily and without misadventure. For the first-timers in the group, it was quite obviously a real rush to experience this side of 4WDing. With everyone's confidence up, we followed the narrow trail through the bush towards our destination that afternoon.
There was one more quick detour onto the bitumen, then we were off into the bush again, following the tracks through some of the most amazing scenery New South Wales has to offer. The group stopped for photos again, the massive sandstone structures providing a dramatic backdrop. An hour or so from that stop, we came to the last big obstacle for the weekend, a large rocky incline that looked pretty tough from the bottom of the hill. We had weathered all manner of obstacles to get here, so it seemed just a little challenge for everyone involved. John muscled his way up in the Patrol, showing the best possible line, followed by the Overlander Discovery. The passage of the first two cars led to some necessary track maintenance, and piles of loose bush rock were carried into place and set firmly in the track by the willing hands of many volunteers. After the track was repaired to some extent, the rest of the group followed, again guided by John on the radio. Hans and Linda, total novices in their Pajero, were amongst the last to make it up the hill, but the smile on Hans' face (and the palpable look of relief on Linda's) when he made it to the top was one of the highlights of the trip. An instant convert to the 4WDing lifestyle was made that day, and I'm sure that Hans and Linda are now using their vehicle for it's intended purpose with confidence, and gaining a great deal of joy.
We then took off along a stretch of track which took us past a disused airstrip, where we ran into a group of Discovery owners out on a training drive. The training drive is offered as part of a new vehicle buyer's scheme by one of Sydney's Land Rover dealerships, and the participants in that group looked as if they were having as much fun as our group. Once past the group, we followed a track known as Powerlines, which predictably follows the powerlines that have been set through the park. We took a turn off, the track got a little rougher and then John's voice crackled over the radio. We were to engage low-range first, and crawl along the last 100 rocky metres of the drive to the Lost City. This amazing rock formation defies description, short of naming every possible geological feature within view. The entire ridge-top is an astonishing collection of weathered spires, jutting up into the sky and towering over the verdant valley below. The low cloud cover and mist that had rolled in as we arrived added to the atmosphere of the place, awing many into silence as the took in the view.
From the Lost City, we wound our way back to the powerlines, and followed the track towards the Zig Zag Railway station near Lithgow, our final stopping point for the weekend. A final, cheerful goodbye was said to everyone, with John offering a timely reminder that as we had been concentrating very hard during the day, we should take great care on the drive home to Sydney. Another Opposite Lock / Overlander Weekend Away had drawn to a close, but not without everyone agreeing that this was far from the last trip of it's kind that we would do together.
Words by Gregor Stronach Photos by Renée Connellan and Gregor Stronach
Despite the cold and dreary forecast, a large and cheerful group assembled at the front gate of John & Julie Eggenhuizen's property on the outskirts of Lithgow early one Saturday morning, all kitted up for a weekend adventure through the picturesque Blue Mountains, west of Sydney. Yours truly, predictably running just a tad late, missed the pre-journey briefing, but was met at the gate of the property with a smile and the words "You must be the Overlander guy. Everyone else has gone...we'd better hurry to catch them up." And that's how we found ourselves following the dusty trail behind a Getabout 4WD Adventures Nissan Patrol on a whirlwind trip through the southern end of Sunny Corner State Forest and sleepy collection of farmhouses that make up Yetholme. We met up with the group as they assembled at Mt Ovens trig, just a short jaunt through the State Forest. Mt Ovens trig was once used as a jump-off point for hang gliders, before a particularly violent rainstorm washed the jump ramp away. Now, the spot offers little more than an excellent view over the back of the Blue Mountains to Bathurst, the western plains stretching far off to the horizon.
The gathering of 4WDs was as eclectic as the group of drivers - a range of vehicles being driven by folks of all 4WDing persuasion. A quick look around the clearing and a brief introduction was all that was necessary to gather information on our team for the next two days. First cabs off the rank were John & Julie, resplendent in matching sign written ST Patrols. Next came myself and Renée in the Overlander long-term Discovery Td5, followed by David & Jenny in their 80 Series, Hans and Linda in their Pajero, Paul in his Holden Rodeo and Tony, the proprietor of Opposite Lock's Prospect store with his family Elizabeth, Tyrone and Kylie in their Opposite Lock Nissan Patrol. Last but by no means least came Rick in his aging Troopie. A fine assortment of vehicles for a weekend through the mountains. We were all kitted out with UHF radios which were to be used to keep a running commentary on the countryside, and also to provide timely advice and guidance from John. After a quick radio check, we were on our way.
From Mt Ovens, we headed off down the Gulf Boundary Road, an access trail cut through the plantation forest of Sunny Corner, and a few track turnings later we were out of the vehicles and enjoying a quick morning tea under a canopy of pine trees. The entire area was alive with Monarch Butterflies, disturbed by the noise of the engines and flitting around adding an eerie beauty to the scene. Straight after morning tea, we stopped at a favourite spot within the State Forest. A steep slope that cut a straight path from one side of the valley to the other was before us, and under John's careful tutelage, everyone meandered down. For some of the group, it was just like negotiating the driveway to their homes, but for others who were less experienced, it represented the first real 4WD challenge they'd ever faced and there were more than a couple of white knuckles on the way down the ravine. Once marshalled on the other side of the valley, we were off again to a quiet clearing to enjoy a bite to eat for lunch.
The forest trails through this part of the Blue Mountains are by no means challenging, and we covered a fair bit of ground before we stopped to eat. We weren't the only ones using this bit of the forest that Saturday - the bush fire service was holding navigation exercises throughout the region, and we were often required to move to one side as the 4WD fire trucks trundled through on their way to the next checkpoint. Following our brief encounters with the fire service, we trooped up to the summit of a place John and Julie call Telephone Hill - the only spot for miles around that mobile telephones get any reception. With the magnificent view in the background, we took a group photo and piled back into the vehicles. After lunch we wandered through some more of the forest until we hit Dark Corner Road, one of the few sections of bitumen we were to see over the weekend. A right turn onto Daylight Creek Road and we were deep into the bush again, away from the pine plantations and into the old-growth forest, heading for the Turon River. Our route took us along the Pinnacles Fire Trail, a popular section of track that heads north through the Great Dividing Range.
Our campsite was to be found on the banks of the Turon River, on a private property owned by local character River Ron. Ron has lived on the property for years, isolated from the rest of the world with only a bicycle for transport. The years have taken their toll on Ron, who now benefits from the goodwill of the local community, including John and Julie from Getabout 4WD Adventures, who regularly drop off supplies of books and food. The house in which he resides is a marvel of bush engineering, set way back from the river. Carpet has been carefully laid straight on to the dirt floor of the house. The original house was washed away by a massive flood several years back, but its remains can still be seen. A pleasant night around the campfire was had by all, the idle hours whiled away with word games and a fantastic dinner provided by our congenial hosts. With everyone stuffed to the gills with campfire cooked food, we retired to bed looking forward to the next days' driving.
read on below advertisement
When morning broke, the skies were again overcast and threatening heavy rain, but the light drizzle that had already fallen proved to be a boon to the trip - not enough to make the tracks impassable but just enough to keep the dust down. When everyone had packed up camp, we gathered around the remains of the campfire to decide which direction we would take for the day. After some small debate, it was decided that we would head off towards the Lost City, a favourite for many 4WDers and a spot we have featured before in the magazine, but one which I had never visited. Keeping with the spirit of the weekend, which was to allow novice 4WDers to learn the ropes when it was appropriate, the group tackled some sections of the track very slowly to let some of the other drivers hone their skills in preparation for a couple of nasty surprises that were in store along the trail. We set off along Baal Bone Road, and into the serene beauty of the Blue Mountains National Park.
It was during the morning that we came to the first major obstacle, a steep rocky descent that looked sedate enough, until the final ten metres were taken into account. A single rock slab, rain-slicked and tilted to a precarious angle, lay between us and our goal for the day. It was time to test the skills we had learnt throughout the previous day. One by one, the vehicles in the group picked their way gently down the slope. In the interest of allowing others to learn, I let my partner Renée do the driving over this difficult section. With John giving gentle, unhurried advice over the radio, the drivers were encouraged to select low-range first gear, and step down the slope. Excellent tips on choosing the right driving line were sent to the cabins via the radio, and everyone made it down to the bottom easily and without misadventure. For the first-timers in the group, it was quite obviously a real rush to experience this side of 4WDing. With everyone's confidence up, we followed the narrow trail through the bush towards our destination that afternoon.
There was one more quick detour onto the bitumen, then we were off into the bush again, following the tracks through some of the most amazing scenery New South Wales has to offer. The group stopped for photos again, the massive sandstone structures providing a dramatic backdrop. An hour or so from that stop, we came to the last big obstacle for the weekend, a large rocky incline that looked pretty tough from the bottom of the hill. We had weathered all manner of obstacles to get here, so it seemed just a little challenge for everyone involved. John muscled his way up in the Patrol, showing the best possible line, followed by the Overlander Discovery. The passage of the first two cars led to some necessary track maintenance, and piles of loose bush rock were carried into place and set firmly in the track by the willing hands of many volunteers. After the track was repaired to some extent, the rest of the group followed, again guided by John on the radio. Hans and Linda, total novices in their Pajero, were amongst the last to make it up the hill, but the smile on Hans' face (and the palpable look of relief on Linda's) when he made it to the top was one of the highlights of the trip. An instant convert to the 4WDing lifestyle was made that day, and I'm sure that Hans and Linda are now using their vehicle for it's intended purpose with confidence, and gaining a great deal of joy.
We then took off along a stretch of track which took us past a disused airstrip, where we ran into a group of Discovery owners out on a training drive. The training drive is offered as part of a new vehicle buyer's scheme by one of Sydney's Land Rover dealerships, and the participants in that group looked as if they were having as much fun as our group. Once past the group, we followed a track known as Powerlines, which predictably follows the powerlines that have been set through the park. We took a turn off, the track got a little rougher and then John's voice crackled over the radio. We were to engage low-range first, and crawl along the last 100 rocky metres of the drive to the Lost City. This amazing rock formation defies description, short of naming every possible geological feature within view. The entire ridge-top is an astonishing collection of weathered spires, jutting up into the sky and towering over the verdant valley below. The low cloud cover and mist that had rolled in as we arrived added to the atmosphere of the place, awing many into silence as the took in the view.
From the Lost City, we wound our way back to the powerlines, and followed the track towards the Zig Zag Railway station near Lithgow, our final stopping point for the weekend. A final, cheerful goodbye was said to everyone, with John offering a timely reminder that as we had been concentrating very hard during the day, we should take great care on the drive home to Sydney. Another Opposite Lock / Overlander Weekend Away had drawn to a close, but not without everyone agreeing that this was far from the last trip of it's kind that we would do together.
