Below is my trip report for the Yalwal area outside of Nowra. Now this trip was primarily for the harder 4WDing, although the area is great for camping as well. I have heard over the years that a lot of tracks in the area have been closed so it’d be worth checking around before departing to save disappointment.
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We started of at 0630 Saturday morning heading down Northern Rd. Stopped at maccas Narellan, hash browns,egg+bacon rolls and a good cuppa go down really good on a cold morning. Plus the boys were hungry! Continued onto the freeway which I followed through to Mittagong. Was fairly quiet on the freeway, From there we took the back roads and went through Kangaroo Valley through to Nowra. This is a great area, and it was a shame that we didn’t have much time to look around. I am planning on getting there again for a picnic or similar – great for the family.
Anyway, I arrived at the meet point in Nowra at 0915. Told you I had a great run. Fed Jessica her bottle and changed her bum, and then after everyone had arrived we continued through to Yalwal.
For those of you who know the Yalwal area, the plan was to enter via the dirt road after the moto track, have a bit of a run at the powerline track, then cut across into Wombat Flat, check out some unmarked tracks then come back to the creek for lunch and depart via Mint Brush Fire Trail.
The day did go according to plan but we emerged from the bush a lot later than anticipated due to terrible track conditions in parts (which made for some interesting four wheel driving).
Our first stop was under the powerlines where the infamous rock steps can be found. Sambo was the only keen one. The only damage was a few scrapes under his sill.
We then headed for Wombat Flat via a scenic little fire trail leading the way down to the valley. We drove thru the camping grounds of Wombat Flat which was filled with other 4wd clubs and jacked up vehicles. We proceeded to cross the creek and continue along up the hill on the other side of the creek. A couple of sections gave grief but nothing momentum couldn’t fix.
We turned around and had lunch at the creek bed.
After lunch we headed along the side of the creek we had just come from and followed the creek for a kay or so before crossing the creek again and making our way back to the Wombat Flat camping area. The exit track was rutted and fairly rocky. The jeep had a few attempts then snatched up and my Pajero has similar difficulties. The rest of the convoy made it up easily. A following Challenger (not part of us) made it up so quickly I could only get one photo – would have made an awesome video of how NOT to drive up a rutted rocky hill!!! His company car being put to good use!!
After successfully making it back to the camping area we proceeded along the main fire trail Mint Brush Fire Trail which has degraded quite a bit since my last venture in there a few years ago. Fires from a couple of years back have played havoc with fallen trees and burnt bridges – made for an interesting, long and rough road out!
One obstacle in particular (burnt bridge) was interesting. There was a slippery decent and exit down and out of the creek bed followed by a sharp left hand turn on the exit. Andrew in the Pajero had 4 attempts at getting out the exit track and when he finally made it up he turned hard left and fell sideways into a nasty boghole which was hidden by the bonnet. Recovery was soon on the way. Brock gingerly steered past him and snatched him out. The Prado and I in the Defender decided to drive thru the bog hole rather than go around it and found ourselves stuck – Sambo making better ground.
At about 5:30 we emerged at the Braidwood Road after a fun day in the scrub.
Anyway, that was my day, I enjoyed myself and seen some of this state that I haven’t been to before. Thanks for showing me around to those that were there.
Thanks
Chris
P.S – thanks to Andrew on Overlander for parts of this trip report – without it I would’ve struggled to have worked out where Iwe had gone that day!