Hidden Falls 2017

Hidden Falls 30 Jul 2017

11 walkers (ten members, one visitor). Day walk.

Hidden Falls is in the St Margaret’s Creek system on the eastern side of Mt Eliot, in Bowling Green Bay National Park. This is not a walk that the club has done much in past ten years, today is the second time. Access is via Eco Mountain View Caravan Park, Palm Creek, at Cromarty.

Started the gentle stroll at 8:05 am, on a track for one hour to the rock slides.  Same rock slides we use for going up to the Cascades and on way home from the Terraces. Quick break here. Then the hard work commences, no more track, all rock hopping / boulder scrambling for next 2 ¼ hours.  Short walk on rock platforms, pretty area, up to the junction of Cascades and Hidden Creeks. Go left into Hidden Creek (not well defined), and start the rock hopping / boulder scrambling. Humid, and mozzies are hungry. We should rename this creek to Falls creek, as several of us had stumbles during the day, some being battered and bruised by end of the day. Loose rocks, and prolonged rock hopping, does that.  The ‘elders’ were stepping and climbing carefully, the younger ones dancing over boulders.  There are good fig trees with great root systems in the creek, some rose gums, palm trees,  tarzan vines, barbed wire vines, rock formations, all that good jungle stuff. There were some patches of raspberry vine, with ripe raspberries, which fed the energy needs of some.

After two hours of unrelenting rock hopping, we arrive at a nice pool with palm tree, a strangler fig with roots enveloping a large boulder, and two cascades - very scenic.  The leader calls a briefing – “we are here, the waterfall is hidden, that is why you cannot see it”. Glances all around - some never trust the leader. Pointing at a high bouldery creek bank soaring above on the right – “up there we go, for a surprise”.  A maze of boulders and sheer rocks ! The faster ones go up quick, yell out “found it” – but leader replies “no you haven’t, that is just the entrée”. By itself a very good cascade though.  We clamber up this steep high bank, through the boulders, some choosing their own way followed by “oh, this is not a good route”. Half way up, most go bush, climbing further up alongside the cascade, then across 50 metres to reach a great sight, a very good 30 metre waterfall, hidden from view. “Ok, we are here now”. 11:30 am arrival.  397 metres elevation. Two go for a swim, the rest just sit on rocks, admire the view, relax, and decide it is too cold for a swim. It was a bit chilly there. Two go for a bush bash to top of the waterfall. Leader tries teasing and encouraging the group – “Cascades is only 1 km away from here direct line you know, could try that ….how hard could it be ?”. But not much excitement about that. Another day perhaps.

12:30 pm, Joy is giving the leader the hurry up, something about ice creams being priority. Time to head back.  Return same route, but scrambling down over boulders this time, which sometimes is harder. Arrive back at the rock slides at 2:30 pm for a nice swim, some zoom down the rockslides. After a good break, back on the track to Black Rock. With the new tradition, all climb to top of Black Rock – even chief mutineer (under protestation)! Then the walk back to cars, arriving 4:15 pm. Another great day walk.  On the drive home, stop at the roadhouse for the mandatory ice creams.

A reasonably arduous walk due to constant rock hopping and boulder scrambling, requires good rock hopping fitness. But well worth the effort.

Thanks to Wade for providing some of the photos.
KD