Garrawalt Wallaman Throughwalk

Location This was intended to be a throughwalk from the junction of the Herbert River and the Garrawalt Creek to Garrawalt Falls and on to Wallaman Falls.

Date 15th + 16th September 1962.

Party Neil Knack (leader)
Les Peters
Pat Meagher
Franz Lang
Graham Muller.

Map used Lands Department map
scale 4m. = 1"

Transport used John Edward's Zephyr.

Distance car. 510 miles
foot. 26 miles.

Rating Hard.

Friday Night.

7.05 Left Townsville by car for Ingham.
8.38 Ingham - coffee - met Graham Muller from Innisfail as arranged.
9.45 Left Ingham - through Trebonne and on to the end of the road which finished abruptly at the Herbert River. This was a mistake on our part as we discovered later. Actually the correct way is to make a left turn from this road about two miles further back at the first farm on the Ingham side of Bulla Creek. This road runs down to the Herbert - Garrawalt junction. Garrawalt Creek is a large wide creek with long wide waterholes in the lower reaches. According to local information the falls can be seen from along the Abergowrie road somewhere before Bulla Creek.

Saturday.

5:00 We woke and had breakfast.

6:15 Most of us got a ducking in the fast flowing river as we started to cross the Herbert.

6.50 Set out to walk west along the Herbert. After about ½ mile we came to a creek and assuming this to be Garrawalt we followed it South.

8.30 After following a cattle pad for most of the way we were finally forced to start rock-hopping in the creek, We became very doubtful that we were in Garrawalt as the creek was not wide enough. Leo fell heavily on his knee and upset an old injury and from here on the trip was very painful for him.

12.30 Reached the end of the gorge. The falls were about 200 feet high, not very impressive and certainly not Garrawalt Falls. Over dinner we decided to try to cut across to Garrawalt which we estimated would be in the next gorge to the East.

2.00 Started to climb out of the gorge up a small dry creek which flows in from the west, just opposite the falls. On reaching the top of the gorge we followed it round and crossed over the creek above the falls.

5.00 Climbed up on to a ridge on the eastern side of the creek and began to follow this ridge South-east until just about dark.

6:30 Followed a small water course down the NE side of the ridge for a few hundred yards until we found water and made camp.

Sunday.

5.40 Graham got a fire going and we reluctantly crawled out of bed.

6.55 We began walking back up the watercourse to the top of the ridge where we continued S.E.

7.55 Until this time the top of the ridge had been covered with a dry type of scrub and rainforest, making progress slow and walking uncomfortable. On the sides of the ridges the walking would have been almost impossible. How we came to a slight rise, the scrub stopped very suddenly, and the ridge ahead was covered with ankle length grass, making walking much more enjoyable. On top of the rise we discovered that we were on the highest point for many miles and estimated our height at over 3000'. Our spirits rose even further when we saw good cattle pads in front of us.

Eventually we were forced to leave the cattle pads & the ridge to continue on our SE. direction. Our course now began to take us through more scrub and over the side tributaries of Garrawalt. At the second tributary we could see down the Garrawalt Gorge & could definitely establish our position for the first time since leaving the Herbert.

11.00-11.15 Had dinner on the third tributary.

1.15 After continuing, still on our SE course, we reached Garrawalt Creek about 100 yds above the falls.

Our arrangements with John Edwards were that he should wait for us at Wallaman Falls until 7.00 pm Sunday and then go down to the Herbert, where he lie in off, and wait for us. Leo's knee made it impossible for him to attempt to climb down the Garrawalt Gorge so it was decided that Leo Pat + Tany were to try to reach the Wallaman Road by 7 p.m. & Graham I were to climb down the falls & walk out to
the meeting place on the Herbert River.

1.30 Graham & I left the other party for the Herbert.

5.30 We were at the bottom of the falls. We found that about the only way to get past the series of falls was to climb down the top one well around on the right hand or eastern side of the creek down to the big waterhole. Then follow the creek down about ¼ mile, where you have to swim part of the way and finally come out at the top right hand side of the second drop. Make your way cautiously across the water (only a few inches deep here) at the top of the falls. Climb down here beside the falls. 20-30 feet of rope or cord is handy for lowering the packs at this stage or even as a safety rope as the climb is rather exposed. From here on start well toward to the left & the going is fairly straight forward.

6.40 Stopped for tea and to wait for the moon.

8.00 Still no moon so we began walking by torch light.

9.15 Realised that we were following the Herbert East branch instead of the Garrawalt North. The moon was just coming up as we crossed the Herbert. Once again we secured a good crossing in the swift current but managed to scramble out to the other side. We expected to find Farms & a road just North of the Herbert but no - we walked across two hills much 5-6 foot high grass & dense scrub patches before we came out on the Abergowrie Road at 11.30. From here we hitched a ride about 3 miles to the end of the road where we found the other party in the act of leaving us a note before they reported us missing to the police. They had not seen the other half of our party.

From here we sent Graham Smiths car up to Wallaman. Graham found the others camped on the Wallaman Road at 3.15 am. Monday. They had been there since 10.30 the previous night.

We arrived home at various times on Monday but had all reported for work, alive but not so well by midday.

On summing up I find that this Garrawalt Wallaman throughwalk is a very good one - provided you start from the right place! And follow up the right creek! The falls are about 2 hours walking from the Herbert - they take about 4 hours to pass & it is about 8 hours walk then to Wallaman.

One or two patches of sand reasonably close to the base of the falls would make a perfect 2-3 day base camp.

Garrawalt consists of three falls in line. Each fall has its own magnificent pool at the bottom. A tributary to one pion forms another large fall. The aggregate height of these falls would amount to over 1000'. I think Garrawalt Falls is the best walking trip in N.Q. bar Hinchinbrook Island.

Neil Knack