Pipeline Canyon - track notes

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.

There are a couple of entry points you can use.

Follow the Newnes Canyon track off to the right, up and around the hill to the east. From the saddle at AMG448275 (Mt Morgan), head straight down, tending left towards a cliff. There is a bit of a scramble on small trees to get down the bottom of the hill. Walk down the creek to the first canyon section.

A shorter route in (distance-wise) drops into the tributary to the right of the Pipeline track, about 200m before you reach the watershed. There are four abseils up to 10m before you reach the main creek, although a couple may be bypassed by careful scrambling. Note that this way in misses the first canyon section, and joins the main creek just as the second canyon section starts.

Notes

The first section of the canyon is not far. This has a couple of easy climb downs, but no abseils, and is dry. The creek then opens up for a while before the next canyon section.

The second section starts with a short climb down, and some bridging to avoid pools, otherwise a short swim. The tributary mentioned above enters almost straight away. Not far on there is a 10m abseil into a pool, and then a 6m abseil down a log. A long flat section of canyon follows, with a few wades, and just as the canyon starts to open out a bit, there is another abseil.

This is about 15m, followed by a 4m drop. These can be combined with a 50m rope. There is another short swim, or traverse around the side of the pool. Then there is another 4m drop, with a tricky overhung start, before the final abseil, also with a slightly tricky start. This is about 10m down to the end of the canyon.

Exit

Head right under the cliffs on a somewhat exposed track, until you hit the Pipeline Track, which you can follow back to camp.

Comments

An excellent canyon. The top sections is nice and worth a visit, and the bottom section is quite sustained.

One 50m rope is sufficient for about six abseils. A couple of the abseils have tricky starts.

With judicious bridging and traversing you can probably get away with wades just over waist deep. However, there are a few narrow sections that are silted up at the moment which could become swims at other times.

Rating: 4/5

Time

Party of six, 4 experienced, 2 inexperienced. Left campground at about 1000, at end of canyon at 1430, back at campground at about 1630, including a very slow trip up the Pipeline Track and a swim in the Wolgan. A fast party could cut 2-3 hours off this.

Party of six, 4 experienced, 2 moderately experienced. Left campground at about 0900, at end of canyon at 1300, back at main gully of Pipeline Track at 1400 after lunch (we headed up again).

Tom Brennan : website@ozultimate.com: updated 20050329