Waterfall of Moss Canyon - track notes

• 04/12/2022 - photos
• 30/01/2011 - photos
• 17/01/2009 - report - photos
• 28/02/2003 - photos

Waterfall of Moss Canyon is more of a chasm than a canyon. It flows into the Wollangambe River near the Big Bend, down a very green waterfall - the Waterfall of Moss. It is a pleasant trip, but not the best canyon in the vicinity. It is a good choice for a trip for a cooler day or near the end of the season as there are no swims except in the Wollangambe itself.

From Cathedral Reserve, follow the track that reaches the Wollangambe at the Big Bend. This starts by heading north up the hill from the NW corner of Cathedral Reserve, on the Lambs Hill FT. Keep right at the first fork, after 50m, and then keep left where a fire trail heads off to the right under the powerlines. After another 30m, head sharp left where the main fire trail goes straight to a gate and private property. 150m along this trail, take the right branch to the north, down the ridge. This reaches a clearing after 300m. Continue to the left on a trail for another 250m to where it turns into a foot track. The track is vague in places, but largely keeps to the ridge. Follow the track all the way down the ridge, with a little bit of scrambling in the last section to the Wollangambe.

Swim across the Wollangambe and climb up the gully on the other side. There is a climb of about 4m which hopefully has a fixed line hanging down. Once above this climb, head up to the lower cliffline, and around on to a ledge above the Wollangambe. As soon as you can, head up the minor ridge to the north, and once through small clifflines, veer slightly right to a break in the upper cliffs. Make your way up to the ridge, and then head north as the ridge swings NE and into the creek at about MGA570928.

As an alternative entry lower down, if you head left instead of right at the upper cliff line, a vague track goes for some distance around the base of the cliff line until it reaches a creek crossing. This point is the top of the 4th abseil, so you could use this as an early exit too.

The first drop is about 9m from a tree on the left, overhung a bit at the bottom. After a walk down the creek, the second is about 10m from a tree on the left, with an overhang near the top. The third abseil is 15m from bolts on the left in two stages. There is a tricky overhang at the start, and then it goes through an arch and over another overhang near the bottom. The next abseil is 16m, though mainly because the anchor is some way back. This brings you into the main creek.

The fifth abseil is from a tree, down between two angled rock faces to an overhang - about 8m. The next abseil is 9m from a bollard on the left. The seventh is down a narrow 11m slot from bolts, over a chockstone. The last is 10m down the Waterfall of Moss off bolts on the left.

All bar the last abseil have overhung sections, though the abseils are easier than they used to be due to bolting.

Swim down the river for about 200m to the point where you reached the Wollangambe on the way in, and follow the track back out. In practice, only the first 50m and last 30m of the Wollangambe is likely to be compulsory swimming, and the rest wading.

Waterfall of Moss is a nice trip but not a great canyon. Most of the abseils have overhung starts so it is not a good choice for beginners.