Newnes (Starlight) Canyon - track notes

Canyoning

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Trips

27/03/2005 - report - photos

Entry

See here for information on how to get to Newnes.

From the campground at Newnes, follow the Pipeline Track and climb to the top of the watershed.

Follow the Newnes Canyon track off to the right, up and around the hill to the east. The Newnes Canyon track heads north-east, then swings back to the east before petering out around AGD458277. Head N then NE down the ridge, and abseil about 15m into the creek at AGD464282. The creek can also be entered higher up without abseiling.

Notes

The canyon starts shortly after. There is a 25m abseil into a large cavern. The tunnel section follows. The tunnel can fill up with water and/or debris, so the first person down must go all the way through the tunnel to the end before you pull your ropes from the abseil. There are a couple of short drops in the tunnel, though the water is usually only knee deep. Numerous parties have run into trouble by pulling their ropes before checking the tunnel. If the tunnel is blocked, it is possible to scramble over the top of the canyon and abseil down below the tunnel.

After the canyon opens out there is a creek junction with another canyon coming in from the side (Upside-Down Canyon). Continue down the creek for 800m to a 15m drop. This can be abseiled or bypassed. Another creek comes in from the left (Fireball Canyon) and then you descend down the bouldery creek to the Wolgan River.

Exit

Cross the Wolgan and pick up the fire trail on the other side, and head right to get back to the campground, about 5km walk.

Comments

A very good canyon, although the tunnel is so dark that it can be hard to appreciate the canyon.

One 50m rope is sufficient for about one or two abseils. While the canyon is often dry, the tunnel can fill with water and make things very difficult. This is why it is important for the first abseiler to check the condition of the tunnel before pulling the ropes.