Garrawalt - Wallaman Through Walk

Queen's Birthday Weekend 1966.

SATURDAY

The party consisting of marion Spiers, maureen Holliman, Len D'arveniza, Rod Newport, Wilf Kreutzer and Peter Reimann left from the Herbert River at about mid-day having been delayed by late departure from Townsville, a broken windscreen and a mislaid car. Access to Garrawalt Ck is as per sketch.

We followed the route shown dotted and soon found ourselves wrestling with five foot tall blady grass and innumerable gullies. It would be quicker and more pleasant to follow down the Herbert to the Garrawalt Ck junction through the river bank rainforest. A river crossing via the island would probably be advisable if the river were high.

The route up Garrawalt is straightforward and the creek contains some fine swimming holes. After lunch we could not resist this temptation. As the valley narrowed the open scrub gave way to rainforest and it became necessary to rock-hop, which slowed progress as one member of the party had sprained an ankle slightly. We camped on some flat rocks about 1/2 mile below the first waterfall of Garrawalt Falls. Here one is walled-in by steep rain forested mountains on all sides.

SUNDAY.

We left at 8.15 A.M. One comes upon the first water-fall unexpectedly. It would not be more than 50 feet in height and has a large pool at its base. Set in this green background of rainforest it is a delight. The second waterfall around the corner from the first consists of two waterfalls in a line, each of the order of 150-200 feet. At the side is another fall from a small tributary. Here the gorge is very narrow and ends abruptly. At the bottom is a deep elongated pool of dark colour. One feels very insignificant here as one looks up at the huge cold walls of shadowy rock and mountainside stretching upwards for at least 1200 feet.

Our intention was to gain access to the top of the small tributary waterfall via the gully at the far end of the gorge. However we ended up by going up the adjacent ridge for a short distance before dropping into the gully.

(see route ① on the sketch) This ridge was steep and composed of loose rock under grass. Our 120 foot nylon rope was used as a handhold and with this party of nine the procedure was extremely time consuming. Progress up the gully in rainforest was straight forward except for one or two small greasy waterfalls, where the rope was used again.

We lunched on the top of the tributary waterfall, then worked our way around in rainforest to the top of the main falls. From here the view back down the gorge and across to the opposite walls and ridges is most impressive.

It is thought that the route down the falls taken by the party in September 1962 (refer account in this book) may have been that denoted by ② in the sketch. Although exposed, this would be worth investigating as the other alternative route which we took was unpleasant.

We then worked our way upstream for ½ mile among large boulders and some cascades. At one point one is confronted with the choice of a swim or a small but steep diversion through the rainforest.

The third and last waterfall is the tallest, being a straight drop of 2-300 feet topped by a 50 foot cascade. Here one is encircled by rainforest clad mountains and at the bottom is an enormous pool near enough to being perfectly circular.

It was now 4.30 P.M. and it became clear that if we did not reach the top of these falls by dark we would not make Wallaman Falls next day. Our route was as per sketch.

Here the slope was very steep, loose underfoot and growths of vines made progress difficult. A slasher would be very useful. At the top the rainforest received the addition of healthy growths of lawyer vines with their associated wait-awhiles. Night fell and we found ourselves wandering around shining torches down cliff faces and being stung by gympie bushes. We could hear the water at the top of the falls very close at hand but access seemed very dubious in the dark. So, thus benighted, we sought out the nearest flat spot which happened to be partially under some wait-awhiles, and bedded down amongst the roots. As there was no water we did not bother about dinner.

MONDAY.

Daylight brought with it revelation and within five minutes we were breakfasting at the top of Garrawalt Falls. From here there is a magnificent view, and a good campsite for a small party. We left at about 8.45 AM. The next two miles of Garrawalt Ck is through rainforest and was very pleasant indeed. Sometimes we walked along the bank, sometimes we walked in the rainforest which was of a drier more open nature, and at other times we indulged in rock-hopping. Progress was at the rate of 3/4 mile per hour, but our party was fairly slow.

Once clear of the rainforest jeep tracks may be followed all the way to Wallaman (see sketch overleaf). We lunched at the Forestry Camp where the track crosses Garrawalt Ck., the two occupants offering us a most welcome cup of tea. We arrived at Wallaman Falls at about 5 P.M.

It had been arranged that we were to leave one of our three cars at the Stone R. crossing on the Ingham-Abergowrie Road on Saturday. This was to be picked up on Monday by Duncan Wilson and Roslyn Clark who would then meet us at Wallaman at 2 P.M. However the Forestry Road was boggy after the recent rain and the trafficable limit was within 2 miles of the falls. Since we were overdue they had left and pinned a note to our car to call in to see Craven at Herbert Vale on the way back to the rest of our vehicles to let him know we had arrived safely. After our two mile plod along the Forestry Road we reached the car at 7 P.M., Craven's Farm at 9 P.M. and Ingham at 11 P.M. Here two cars ran low on petrol, and as none was available at that time of night it was necessary to spend a cold night on the lawn of the local caravan park. We finally arrived in Townsville at 8.30 A.M. Tuesday — late for work.

The highlight of the trip was of course the traverse of the Garrawalt Falls which is an undertaking of some magnitude compared with the rest of the trip which was easy walking. It would probably be better to start such a 3-day weekend on the Friday night. A smaller party would also make for a faster time. It is all excellent bushwalking country.

P. H. Kerinsans.