2016 January: Day trip to climb Mt Wolgan & west side of Donkey Mountain,
in Gardens of Stone National Park, NSW, Australia
Prolog
Today, DH and I climb:
- Mt Wolgan ... specifically, "The Columns" in Geoff Fox's sketch map on south-west end of Donkey Mountain
- then west side of Donkey Mountain (east of Mt Wolgan)
Just the 2 of us ... in DH's car.
This is my first trip to Donkey Mountain. Today, we only have time to explore its west side. I will be up at this mountain 3 more times:
- 2nd trip: 2 months later, in 2016-03, explore the east side. Photos and trip report trip are in my blog:
http://mntviews.blogspot.com.au/2016/03/donkey-mountain-north-east-maze-gardens.html
- 3rd trip: 7 months later, in late 2016-08, also explore the east side. Photos and trip report trip are in my blog:
http://mntviews.blogspot.com.au/2016/08/donkey-mountain-north-east-maze-gardens.html
That trip will be led by the great man Geoff Fox, nicknamed King of Donkey Mountain, as he has been up here more than 50 times !!!
- 4th trip: 2 and a half years later, in 2018-06, climb Mt Wolgan. Photos and trip report trip are in my blog:
http://mntviews.blogspot.com/2018/06/mt-wolgan-gardens-of-stone-np-nsw.html
Donkey Mountain
If you want to spend days in a fairyland for big kids,
climbing pagodas one after another,
or hopping over deep fissures,
or walking through canyons / slots,
or just sitting around marveling at the views of the valleys below,
then there is no other place than Donkey Mountain !
From the map, it looks as if one can traverse the top of the mountain in no time, as the distance is only about 1 km. But that 1 km is pack full of intricate topography ... pagodas, canyons, fissures, narrow passages, caves, chambers, ..., that you really need to spend a few days to fully explore the place, and appreciate the wonders of Donkey Mountain.
Mt Wolgan
Mt Wolgan is at the west end of Donkey Mountain.
The story goes that Mt Wolgan was actually a stand-alone hill west-south-west of Donkey Mountain (beyond the left edge of the map below). However, the cartographer mis-placed the label "Mt Wolgan" ... and so, Mt Wolgan is now the west end of Donkey Mountain :-) But bushwalkers still call it the west side of Donkey Mountain.
In this report, I'll use the place names "Mt Wolgan" and "west side/end of Donkey Mountain" interchangeably.
Maps
- 1:100,000 scaled 8931 Wallerawang
- 1:25,000 scaled 8931-4S Ben Bullen
- Plus Geoff Fox's sketch maps on Donkey Mountain. You can find the maps in:
• South-west end: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1F1M70Joo5dimRxI-GMETQKeG8IVefnbi/view?usp=sharing
• Middle section: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1TmL64pz2iHOGqCpkf8vaM08V7e2tiNIk/view?usp=sharing
Below is the relevant part of the 1:25,000 scaled map
GPS tracklog file & Route
The GPX tracklog file of our walk can be downloaded from:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1uw5eeipBWg9en3l_KxOuwY2lAb80S-v_/view?usp=sharing
Here is our tracklog (red colour) superimposed on the 1:25,000 map.
(To enlarge the image, click on it.)
A summary of our route is:
- Start at a small carpark by the side of Wolgan Road ... the only public access point to Donkey Mountain.
- Climb on a faint foot track to a saddle point, GR 373 182. (It is the red arrow in the satellite image below.)
- Explore Mt Wolgan ... specifically, "The Columns" in Geoff Fox's sketch map on south-west end of Donkey Mountain.
- Then explore west side of Donkey Mountain (east of Mt Wolgan)
- When we have enough, return to the car
Timeline & Distance
08:44 0.0 km At small carpark by side of Wolgan Rd ... the only public accessible point to Donkey Mtn
10:02 1.3 km At saddle point GR 373 182
Explore around
10:16 1.5 km Leave saddle point
10:36 1.6 km At lookout 1 in "The Columns"
(For the location of "The Columns", refer to the satellite image below and also Geoff Fox's sketch map on the south-west side of Donkey Mtn.)
Morning Tea and explore around the lookout
11:02 1.7 km Resume walking
11:08 1.8 km At lookout 2 in "The Columns"
11:09 1.8 km Resume walking
11:47 2.3 km At lookout 3
11:52 2.3 km Resume walking
Due to the narrow passage, GPS track & distance recorded around here are not to be trusted.
11:59 2.5 km At lookout 4
Lunch
12:38 2.6 km Resume walking
13:00 2.9 km At lookout 5
13:11 3.0 km Resume walking
13:26 3.2 km At lookout 6
13:33 3.2 km Turn around to return to car
13:38 3.3 km At lookout 7
13:43 3.3 km Resume returning to car
14:08 3.6 km At the saddle point again, same spot as at 10:02
14:53 4.8 km At car by the side of Wolgan Road
==============================================
Total: 6 hrs 9 mins At leisurely pace
4.8 km Distance is from Google Earth
6.8 km Distance is from Garmin GPS
Below is a Google Earth view of our tracklog at the west side of Donkey Mountain. The numbers 1, 2, 3 ... etc are the lookouts 1, 2, 3 ... (To enlarge the image, click on it.)
- Red arrow: Saddle point, GR 373 182
- The bunch of rocks between the saddle and Lookout 3 is "The Columns" in Geoff Fox's sketch map on the south-west end of Donkey Mountain.
Pictures - Donkey Mountain
You can't see the mountain in full from the small carpark by the side of Wolgan Road (the only public access point to Donkey Mountain) ... too many trees :-(
1) In the 2 photos below, the upper pic is taken about 500 meter to the east of the carpark.
The lower pic is even further east ... toward the entrance of Emirates One&Only Wolgan Valley Resort.
- The right red arrow points to Mt Wolgan. The rest of the mountain to its left is Donkey Mountain.
- The yellow arrows point to the way we climb up to the saddle point at GR 373 182.
- From the saddle point (where the yellow arrows end), we walk as far east as the left red arrow ... well, not very far :-)
- The blue arrows in both upper & lower pics point to the same cliff. They help you to visualize and line up the two pictures.
Climb Donkey Mountain (west side)
2) Although Donkey Mountain is in the Gardens of Stone National Park, it is surrounded on all sides by Emirates One&Only Wolgan Valley Resort. This is the only access point for the public to the mountain ... at a small carpark by the side of Wolgan Road.
Here is me on the stile crossing the fence.
3) We are walking on a faint foot track to Mt Wolgan ... specifically, towards the saddle point.
4) There are cairns marking the foot track at regular intervals. This one is particular interesting ... it is ricketily balanced and yet managed to stay upright.
5) Even with all the cairns, we still managed to lose the track and end up facing these tantalizingly climbable and yet unclimbable cliffs ... We veered off too much to the north-east. Who is leading? Ssshhh :-)
The 2 pics here are continuation to the left/right of each other.
6) After searching around, we find the track again ... not far to go now to the saddle point.
Saddle point at GR 373 182
7) At the saddle point, someone had planted a twig.
The track now goes down the other side of Donkey Mountain, towards Emirates One&Only resort. We turn left (east) instead, intending to explore along the ridge top.
8) Still at the saddle point where the previous picture was taken ~~~
These 3 pics are cliffs around the saddle point.
- Upper pic: West side of the saddle
- Middle pic: East side of the saddle, labelled as "The Columns" in Geoff Fox's sketch map on the south-west side of Donkey Mountain. We are heading towards there.
- Lower pic: West side of the saddle ... Continuation to the right of this pic is the upper pic.
http://mntviews.blogspot.com/2018/06/mt-wolgan-gardens-of-stone-np-nsw.html
In this trip, we'll explore the east side of the saddle ... to "The Columns" and beyond.
9) Still near the saddle is this large-ish hole in the cliff ... such a hole always beckons you to reach for the camera :-)
The 2 pics here are of the same hole ... from opposite directions.
To Lookout 1 in "The Columns"
10) We want to get to the top of "The Columns", so we are climbing up. DH is the guy in the photo.
11) At the end of the climb we come to an area surrounded on all sides by cliffs.
12) This is typical of what we see near the top of Donkey Mountain ... pagoda-like formation.
13) Climbing again, this time up a narrow passage
14) Passing by this cliff ...
15) ... And reaching this lookout ~~~
Once we climb to the top of these rocks, we'll get a nice view down the valley.
16) This rock is the flat-top rock near the middle of the previous photo.
In the lower pic, Emirates one&Only Resort is at the left side of the pic.
17) I'm at the top of another nearby rock.
18) Scenery from around the top of these rocks ~~~ a nearby pagoda-like rock formation
19) Continuation to the right of the previous pic ~~~
DH is the guy in the upper pic.
20) Continuation to the right of the previous pic (Click on the pic to enlarge it.) ~~~
Towards east and south is this splendid panorama of the Wolgan Valley (where Wolgan River flows) and Emirates One&Only Resort.
Similar panoramas are in photos #36 and #43.
The 3 red arrows point to, from left to right:
- 1st arrow: I was at the top of this rock in photo #16.
- 2nd arrow: And at the top of this rock in Photo #17.
- 3rd arrow: It points to a lookout on the opposite side of the valley. I was there 4 months ago in September 2015. See photos #6 and #7 in my trip report in: http://mntviews.blogspot.com.au/2015/09/deception-nobles-canyon-wollemi-np-nsw.html
21) Continuation to the right of the previous pic ~~~
The left side of the pic is Wolgan Valley - continuation of the valley of the previous pic.
22) Zooming onto Emirates One&Only Resort ... See photo #20 for the panoramic view.
23) One of the many pagoda-like formation at the top of Donkey Mountain
To Lookout 2
24) Leaving the previous lookout and going to another nearby lookout ~~~
This photo is looking back at where I was.
25) Moving further away from where I was, and looking back
26) Going towards the lookout - the red arrow ~~~
The tall pagoda formation is the same as the tall pagoda on the left side of the previous pic.
27) Continuation to the right of the previous pic
28) At the lookout pointed to by the red arrows in photo #26; and looking back at DH coming towards me ~~~
The tall pagoda formation on the left side of the pic is the same as the ones in photos #25 and #26.
29) A splendid panorama at the lookout - this pic is towards the north-west.
- Wolgan Road is along the valley.
- DH's car is parked at where the red arrow points to. (Click on the pic to enlarge it.)
30) This is the left side of the previous pic
To Lookout 3
31) We've left the previous lookout; now climbing up to another lookout ~~~
DH is the guy in the pic
32) View of the magnificent rock formations at the lookout
33) Continuation to the right of the previous pic ~~~
Just like photo #29, this view is towards the north-west.
- Wolgan Road runs along the valley.
- In the lower pic, DH's car is parked at where the red arrow points to.
34) Flower at the lookout ~~~
If you know its name, please let me know.
To Lookout 4
35) We've left the previous lookout; now climbing up a steep narrow passage to another lookout
- Left pic: looking up the narrow passage
- Right pic: I've reached the top of the passage and looking down at DH climbing up.
36) Once we've climb up the narrow passage of the previous photo, we are met by this panoramic view towards east and south. The main feature is Wolgan Valley and Emirates One&Only Resort.
- Wolgan River flows along the valley.
- Similar panoramic views are in photos #20 and #43.
- The red arrow points to a lookout on the opposite side of the Wolgan Valley. I was there four months ago in September 2015. See photos #6 and #7 in my trip report in: http://mntviews.blogspot.com.au/2015/09/deception-nobles-canyon-wollemi-np-nsw.html
37) Continuation to the right of the previous pic ~~~
We were at the top of the rocks at the centre of this pic ... well, not the highest rock; the ones further back.
To Lookout 5
38) We had hoped to keep climbing up towards the north-east direction. But it turns out to be too difficult ... well, difficult for DH and I who are not rock climbers :-)
So we take a rest, have lunch at the lookout, then climb back down to find another way forward.
39) We find this narrow slot.
40) Me in the same narrow slot as in the previous pic ~~~
But the slot leads to a steep drop at the other end. So we retreat back out of it.
41) We climb to another pagoda lookout ~~~
- Unlike other lookouts that we have climbed so far, this one has a 360 panoramic view.
- But the tall pagoda in this pic is not climbable :-)
- Note the deep fissure of the photo on the right: You'll find plenty of these fissures along the ridge top of Donkey Mountain.
42) A closer look at the pagoda of the previous pic ~~~
This pagoda is just south of a label marked as "Resort View 2" in Geoff Fox's sketch map on the Middle section of Donkey Mountain. Where I'm now standing is directly due west of the pagoda.
43) Continuation to the right of the previous pic (towards east and south) and looking down at Wolgan Valley and Emirates One&Only Resort ~~~
- Wolgan River flows along the valley.
- Similar panoramic views are in photos #20 and #36.
- The red arrow points to a lookout on the opposite side of the Wolgan Valley. I was there four months ago in September 2015. See photos #6 and #7 in my trip report in: http://mntviews.blogspot.com.au/2015/09/deception-nobles-canyon-wollemi-np-nsw.html
44) Continuation to the right of the previous pic and toward the west ~~~
Of the 2 large rock formations in the middle of the photo, we were at the top of the one on the left.
45) Continuation to the right of the previous pic and towards the north-west ~~~
This pic is similar to photos #29 and #33.
- Wolgan Road runs along the valley.
- DH's car is parked at where the red arrow points to.
46) Leucochrysum graminifolium (Pagoda Rock Daisy) ~~~
They only grow in this part of the world ... they grow on tiny depressions and cracks on the rocks of the pagodas; and no where else. It is amazing that they need so very little soil, if any !
To Lookout 6
47) We've come down from the previous lookout and going further towards the north-east ... passing these rock formations.
The one on the left is the highest point of Donkey Mountain. Unfortunately, it is not climbable.
48) Now climbing up to this pile of pagodas, the top of which will give us another superb view of the countryside
49) While climbing up the pagoda, passing by this hole :-)
50) We reach the top of the pagoda. This maybe the 2nd highest point of Donkey Mountain.
51) From the top of the pagoda, looking back at the rock column on the left side of photo #47 ~~~
- Where I'm now standing may well be the 2nd highest point of the entire Donkey Mountain.
- The highest point is the top of the rock column in this pic. From the map, its elevation is around 970 meters. Unfortunately, the rock stands on its own and is not climbable without climbing gears.
To lookout 7 while returning to car
We have enough of climbing up and down pagodas :-) Time to call it a day and return to DH's car ...
52) ... But on the return trip, we pass by these pagodas and can't resist the urge to climb them.
Return to car
53) No more climbing ... this time, we are really returning to the car :-)
54) DH climbing down
55) DH climbing down
56) Through this gap
57) DH through a low overhang
58) At lower altitudes, like near the carpark, there are plenty of this blue flower. If you know its name, please let me know.
Post Script
This is my first trip to Donkey Mountain. I will be up at this mountain 3 more times:
- 2nd trip: 2 months later, in 2016-03, explore the east side. Photos and trip report trip are in my blog:
http://mntviews.blogspot.com.au/2016/03/donkey-mountain-north-east-maze-gardens.html
- 3rd trip: 7 months later, in late 2016-08, also explore the east side. Photos and trip report trip are in my blog:
http://mntviews.blogspot.com.au/2016/08/donkey-mountain-north-east-maze-gardens.html
That trip will be led by the great man Geoff Fox, nicknamed King of Donkey Mountain, as he has been up here more than 50 times !!!
- 4th trip: 2 and a half years later, in 2018-06, climb Mt Wolgan, called west side of Donkey Mountain by bushwalkers. Photos and trip report trip are in my blog:
http://mntviews.blogspot.com/2018/06/mt-wolgan-gardens-of-stone-np-nsw.html
Nice itinerary. Easy to follow. Looks like a fabulous place. Will try to do it soon.
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