Today 2020 December & 2018 July
Day-trip Sunnyside Canyon
Acoustic Chamber
Cleft Point (2020-Dec only)
in Gardens of Stone National Park, NSW, Australia
This is the 2nd half of the trip report.
1st half of the trip report
(Maps, GPS, Photos #1 to #55)
This link:
https://mntviews.blogspot.com/2020/12/sunnyside-canyon-to-cleft-point-gardens.html
Pictures:
Short tunnels
56) Through a short tunnel.
- EC in 2018-July
57) Another short tunnel ... 2018-July.
- This tunnel is close to the short tunnel
of previous pic.
- Upper pic: EC
- Lower pic: Facing backwards into the tunnel
Where one can climb out of the Canyon
58) Just beyond the right side of this pic is a
narrow slot to climb out of the canyon.
- For the time being, we'll keep going forward,
downstream of the canyon.
Then return here later.
- Left to right: WenSheng, ZCC
- White arrow:
Same rock as the white arrows
in photos #69 and #71
Sunnyside Canyon -
The last downstream section
59) Sunnyside Canyon ... nice.
- Upper pic, left to right: ZCC, Lee
- Lower pic: WenSheng
60) Through this hole (2018-July).
- In both pics, NC is the guy
at the far side of the hole.
Sunnyside Canyon - northernmost point
61) Near the northernmost point of
Sunnyside Canyon.
- Top to bottom: Stanley, Lee, ZCC, WenSheng
62) This area is the end of Sunnyside Canyon.
- It is as far north as we are willing to go today.
- Upper pic: Lee
- Lower pic:
A little forward compared to the upper pic
63) (Continuation from the right of previous pic)
We walked along this ledge in 2018-July.
(not today 2020-Dec)
Panorama from ledge
64) 2018-July: 180-degree panorama
from the ledge of previous pic.
(Today 2020-Dec, we turn back earlier ...
at where photos #62 and #63 are taken.)
- Upper pic: Facing backwards
• Red arrow: Cliff of the ledge
• The gap to the right of the red arrow:
Sunnyside Canyon
- Middle pic:
(Continuation from the right of the upper pic)
• 3 red arrows, left to right:
1 Cape Pinnacle
2 Mt Jamison
3 Mt Davidson
- Lower pic:
(Continuation from the right of the middle pic)
• 6 red arrows, left to right:
1 Cape Pinnacle
2 Mt Jamison
3 Mt Davidson
4 Unnamed hill west of Mt Wolgan
5 Mt Wolgan / Donkey Mountain
6 Cliff of the ledge
We didn't walk far along the ledge.
Shortly after the above pics were taken,
we turned around.
Return along Sunnyside Canyon
We are now close to the area in photo #61.
65) Returning along Sunnyside Canyon
towards photo #58. (Around there,
we'll climb out of the canyon.)
- Stanley is on top of a rock.
- Bottom of the pic, left to right:
ZCC, Lee, WenSheng
66) Retracing steps along Sunnyside Canyon.
- ZCC is closest to the camera.
- Others left to right: WenSheng, Stanley, Lee
67) The other side of photo #60.
- Here, on the other side of the hole
is probably ZCC (???)
68) Sunnyside Canyon.
- Upper pic, left to right: ZCC, Lee
- Lower pic:
Same stretch of the canyon
as in photo #59's lower pic ...
but now facing the opposite direction.
• Left to right: Lee, ZCC
Narrow slot ... where
one can climb out of Sunnyside Canyon
Now back at the area where
one can climb out of the canyon.
69) (2018-July)
- Yellow arrow in both pics below:
Points towards a narrow slot
to climb out of the canyon.
- Upper pic: CB
• Red dot:
The lower pic is taken by
standing at the red dot.
• White arrow:
Same rock as the white arrows
in photos #58 and #71
- Lower pic, left to right: CB, Harold, FB, EC, NC
70) Entrance of the narrow slot to climb
out of the canyon.
- Yellow arrow:
Step on this rock first.
It is not easy to climb up,
but not too difficult either.
Easier is to climb up without a backpack,
then later, ask your companions
to lift the backpack up to you.
- White oval:
Ferns growing downwards from
the overhanging rock ... Amazing !
- Upper left pic:
Today, 2020-Dec ... Stanley posing 😊
We don't intend to climb up this way.
- Upper right pic:
2018-July ... We climbed out of the canyon
this way.
• Red oval:
Some logs were placed here.
We stepped on the logs when
hauling ourselves up. They were helpful.
• Top to bottom: FM, Harold, EC, NC
- Lower pic:
Zooming into the downward-growing ferns
71) Scenery photographed from the entrance
of the narrow slot of photo #70.
- White arrow:
Same rock as the white arrows
in photos #58 and #69
- Yellow circle:
Today, 2020-Dec, we'll climb out of the canyon
via a steep slope just beyond the bend there.
(In 2018-July, we climbed out the canyon
via the narrow slot of photo #70.)
Steep slope -
To climb out of Sunnyside Canyon
Grid Ref: 3541 1360 - Bottom of the steep slope
It is actually a steep dry water fall/course.
If it had rained the day before,
then don't climb up this way
as the slope will be wet and slippery.
72) Today, 2020-Dec, it is sunny.
The right side of the slope is dry.
And so we are able to get out of
the canyon this way.
- Yellow arrow: The way up
- Left to right: Lee, WenSheng
73) Steep slope to get out of Sunnyside Canyon.
- Yellow arrow: The way up
- Red arrow:
Pointing to the exit of the narrow slot
(had we climbed up the slot as in photo #70)
- Left to right: ZCC, Stanley, Lee, WenSheng
Narrow slot
74) ZCC just inside the exit of the narrow slot
(red arrow of previous pic)
75) WenSheng leading the charge down the slot
to investigate its entrance at the canyon side.
76) The 2 pics below are taken near where
Stanley was in photo #70's upper left pic.
- Lower pic:
2018-July, EC was helping CB to climb up.
77) Back to near the exit of the slot ...
near photo #74.
- ZCC having fun
78) Lee isn't going to miss out on the fun too ...
She is airborn 😊
- Left pic:
• I am lying on the ground taking photographs.
• Photographer: ZCC
- Right pic, at the bottom, left to right:
WenSheng, Stanley, ZCC
79) Stanley.
- Left pic: Photographer: Lee
- Right pic, at the bottom, left to right:
Lee, WenSheng
Panorama from pagodas -
Overlooking Sunnyside Canyon
After having fun at the narrow slot,
we climb up the pagodas overlooking the canyon.
80) A wonderful view of where we have been.
- This pic and the 3 pics in photo #81
form a 360-degree panorama.
- Also, this pic and photos #82 to #86
form a 270-degree panorama.
- Yellow arrows: Our route earlier in the day
- Red ovals:
The narrow slot is inside there ...
Refer to photos #70; and #74 to #79
- Blue oval:
Where we climbed out of Sunnyside Canyon
via the steep slope ... photos #72 and #73
81) Panorama ... from
pagodas above Sunnyside Canyon.
- Upper pic:
(Continuation from the right of previous pic)
• Scene here is pagodas above
west side of Sunnyside Canyon
• White oval:
Same area as the white oval in photo #82
• White rectangle:
Same area as the upper part of photo #83
- Middle pic:
(Continuation from the right of the upper pic)
• Red arrow:
ZCC will stand on this pagoda
in photo #86's upper pic.
• Cyan arrows: Wolgan River
• White oval: Unnamed hill west of Mt Wolgan
• Left half of this pic: Sunnyside Canyon ...
We walked in there in photos #59 to #68.
Photo #85 zooms into the canyon.
- Lower pic:
(Continuation from the right of the middle pic)
• Red arrow:
This pagoda is also featured in
photo #86's lower pic.
• Left to right: Stanley, ZCC
- Continuation to the right of the lower pic is
photo #80, completing a 360-degree panorama.
82) (Continuation from the right of photo #80)
Looking down at Sunnyside Canyon.
- White oval:
Same area as the white oval
in photo #81's upper pic ...
And so, this pic is also the continuation
down from the white oval there.
83) (Continuation from the right of previous pic)
- Upper pic:
• Upper part:
Pagodas on the west side of
Sunnyside Canyon
• Lower part: Sunnyside Canyon itself
- Lower pic: Beautiful ZCC
84) (A little to the right of photo #83's upper pic)
Sunnyside Canyon.
85) (Continuation from the right of previous pic)
Sunnyside Canyon ...
We walked inside there in photos #59 to #68.
- Scene is the left half of photo #81's middle pic.
- Cyan arrow: Wolgan River
- White oval: Unnamed hill west of Mt Wolgan
86) ZCC climbs these 2 pagodas
on the east side of Sunnyside Canyon.
- Upper pic:
(Continuation from the right of previous pic)
• ZCC: Same as at
red arrow of photo #81's middle pic
- Lower pic:
(Continuation from the right of the upper pic)
• ZCC: Same as at
red arrow of photo #81's lower pic
Leaving pagodas overlooking
Sunnyside Canyon
Time to leave the pagodas overlooking
Sunnyside Canyon.
We now head to Cleft Point,
tip of a finger-like peninsula
north of No 8 Firetrail.
87) WenSheng & Lee climbing down the pagodas
where photos #80 to #86 were taken.
88) Passing these pagodas.
To a lookout
After leaving the pagodas ...
First, go in a easterly direction.
Then northward along a disused road ...
photo #92.
89) The bush is quite open, easy to walk thru.
- Upper pic: Lee
- Lower pic, left to right: WenSheng, Stanley
90) Plenty of burnt Gahnia sieberiana
(Red-fruit Saw-edge) on the ground ...
from the big bushfires of 2020.
- Plant identfication: by Mark Goodson
- ZCC's hand
- Photographer: Lee
91) Camponotus consobrinus (Sugar Ants).
- Lower pic: There is a cocoon at centre of the pic.
92) We come to a disused road not shown
on the NSW LPI map.
- It is actually the continuation of No 8 Firetrail,
and leads northward to a lookout ...
Refer to photo #93.
- (In 2018-July, from around here,
we walked south on the road back to the car.)
Lookout at end of the disused road
93) The disused road of previous pic ends here
at a lookout on a cliff edge.
- 6 red arrows, left to right:
1 Cape Horn
2 Mt Jamison
3 Mt Davidson
4 Blue Rock Gap
5 Unnamed hill
6 Woolpack Rock
- White oval: Unnamed hill west of Mt Wolgan
- Left to right: ZCC, WenSheng
94) 200-degree panorama from the lookout
of previous pic.
- Upper pic:
• 4 red arrows, left to right:
1 Cape Pinnacle
2 Mt McLean
3 Cape Horn
4 Mt Jamison
- Middle pic:
(Continuation from the right of the upper pic)
• 6 red arrows, left to right:
1 Mt Jamison
2 Mt Davidson
3 Blue Rock Gap
4 Unnamed hill
5 Woolpack Rock
6 Unnamed hill, approx 1010 meters
(Behind it is Mt Dawson,
can't be seen from here.)
• 2 white ovals, left to right:
1 Unnamed hill west of Mt Wolgan
2 Mt Wolgan / Donkey Mountain
• Yellow oval: We'll be going there.
• Cyan arrows: Wolgan River
- Lower pic:
Zooming into the right side of the middle pic
To Cleft Point
We continue towards Cleft Point.
95) At another lookout on the cliff edge.
• 5 red arrows, left to right:
1 Cape Pinnacle
2 Mt Jamison
3 Mt Davidson
4 Blue Rock Gap
5 Unnamed hill
• On top of the rock, left to right:
Stanley, ZCC, Lee
96) Panorama from top of the rock of prev pic.
- The scene is similar to photo #94.
- Upper pic:
• 4 red arrows, left to right:
1 Cape Pinnacle
2 Mt McLean
3 Cape Horn
4 Mt Jamison
- Middle pic:
(Continuation from the right of the upper pic)
• 7 red arrows, left to right:
1 Mt Jamison
2 Mt Davidson
3 Blue Rock Gap
4 Unnamed hill
5 Woolpack Rock
6 Unnamed hill, approx 1010 meters
(Behind it is Mt Dawson,
can't be seen from here.)
7 We are going there next,
about 2 minutes walk ...
Refer to photos #97 and #98
• 2 white ovals, left to right:
1 Unnamed hill west of Mt Wolgan
2 Mt Wolgan / Donkey Mountain
• Cyan arrows: Wolgan River
97) This pagoda is the right most red arrow
of the previous pic.
- Upper pic, left to right:
Stanley & WenSheng climbing up
- Right pic: Lee & ZCC leaving
98) Scenery from top of the pagoda of prev pic.
- 3 red arrows, left to right:
1 Unnamed hill, approx 1010 meters
(Behind it is Mt Dawson,
can't be seen from here.)
2 A lookout ... We'll be there ...
photos #100 to #102.
3 Cleft Point, final destination of our trip ...
It is behind this knoll.
- 2 white ovals, left to right:
1 Unnamed hill west of Mt Wolgan
2 Mt Wolgan / Donkey Mountain
- Cyan arrow: Wolgan River
99) Lee finds a jet ski to ride 😊
100) Stanley comes to another lookout
on the cliff edge.
- We are close to Cleft Point.
- 6 red arrows, left to right:
1 Cape Horn
2 Mt McLean
3 Mt Jamison
4 Mt Davidson
5 Blue Rock Gap
6 Unnamed hill
101) At the lookout of previous pic.
- Upper left: Stanley
- Upper right: Lee
- Lower pic: ZCC
• 7 red arrows, left to right:
1 Mt McLean
2 Cape Horn
3 Mt Jamison
4 Mt Davidson
5 Blue Rock Gap
6 Unnamed hill
7 Woolpack Rock
• This pic and the 3 pics in photo #102
form a 360-degree panorama.
102) Panorama from the lookout.
- Upper pic:
(Continuation from the right of previous pic)
• Red arrow: Unnamed hill, approx 1010 meters
(Behind it is Mt Dawson,
can't be seen from here.)
• 2 white ovals, left to right:
1 Unnamed hill west of Mt Wolgan
2 Mt Wolgan / Donkey Mountain
• Cyan arrow: Wolgan River
- Middle pic:
(Continuation from the right of the upper pic)
• South-ish
- Lower pic:
(Continuation from the right of the middle pic)
• 3 red arrows, left to right:
1 We were there ...
Refer to photos #97 and #98.
2 Lookout where the disused road ends ...
Refer to photos #93 and #94.
3 Cape Pinnacle
- Continuation to the right of the lower pic
is photo #101's lower pic,
completing a 360-degree panorama.
Cleft Point
103) Finally, we arrive at Cleft Point ...
just need to climb up.
- Top to bottom: Stanley, ZCC, Lee
104) Scenery from Cleft point.
- Upper pic: ZCC
- Lower pic:
• Yellow arrow:
We were there not long ago ...
Refer to photos #100 and #101.
• Red arrow: Cape Pinnacle
• This pic and the 3 pics in photo #105
form a 360-degree panorama.
105) Panorama from Cleft Point.
- Upper pic:
(Continuation from the right of previous pic)
• 7 red arrows, left to right:
1 Cape Horn
2 Mt McLean
3 Mt Jamison
4 Mt Davidson
5 Blue Rock Gap
6 Unnamed hill
7 Woolpack Rock
• White oval: Unnamed hill west of Mt Wolgan
• Cyan arrows: Wolgan River
- Middle pic:
(Continuation from the right of the upper pic)
• White oval: Mt Wolgan / Donkey Mountain
• Red arrow:
Emirates One&Only Wolgan Valley Resort
towards north-east
• Cyan arrow: Wolgan River
• Cliffs dominating right half of the pic:
Promontory/spur to the north-east / east
of where we are now
- Lower pic:
(Continuation from the right of the middle pic)
• Right half of the pic:
Direction back to the car ... south-ish
- Continuation to the right of the lower pic
is photo #104's lower pic,
completing a 360-degree panorama.
106) Climbing down from Cleft Point.
- Red arrow: Cape Pinnacle
- Left to right: ZCC, Lee, WenSheng, Stanley
107) An interesting cave nearby.
Panorama -
From lookout south-east Cleft Point
About 55 meters south-east of Cleft Point
(photo #104), we come to another lookout
at a cliff edge.
108) This pic and the 3 pics in photo #109
form a 270-degree panorama.
- Red arrow:
Unnamed hill, approx 1010 meters
(Behind it is Mt Dawson,
can't be seen from here.)
- 2 white ovals, left to right:
1 Unnamed hill west of Mt Wolgan
2 Mt Wolgan / Donkey Mountain
109) Panorama.
- Upper pic:
(Continuation from the right of previous pic)
• White arrow:
Emirates One&Only Wolgan Valley Resort
towards north-east
• Valley near the left edge
(left of the white arrow):
Wolgan River flows in there.
- Middle pic:
(Continuation from the right of the upper pic)
- Lower pic:
(Continuation from the right of the middle pic)
And so ends another interesting trip
in Gardens of Stone National Park !
Afterwards, we make a beeline for the car.
Flora
110) Lomatia silaifolia (Crinkle Bush)
111) Lobelia dentata, found in eastern Australia.
- Uncommon, but abundant in some localities
after bushfires
- Habitat is eucalyptus woodland and forest,
often on sandy soils.
112) Epacris reclinata (2018-July).
- Lower pic: Photographer: EC
113) Phyllota squarrosa.
114) Clockwise from top left:
- Goodenia bellidifolia
- Pomax umbellata
- Thysanotus tuberosus (Common Fringe Lily)
• This flower opens on sunny days,
and only lasts for one day.
As this pic is taken in the morning,
the frilly fringes will gradually open up.
Then the flower dies off at night.
• Photographer: Lee
- Platysace lanceolata
115) Clockwise from top left:
- Boronia microphylla (Small-leaved Boronia)
- Isotoma axillaris (Blue Star, Star Flower)
- Leptospermum (arachnoides ???)
- Helichrysum leucopsideum (Satin Everlasting)
116) Clockwise from top-left:
- Leucochrysum graminifolium
(Pagoda Rock Daisy)
Grows only on pagodas around:
• Wollemi Nat Pk
• Gardens of Stone Nat Pk
• Newnes State Forest
• and other surrounding areas
- Solanum vescum's fruit
- Actinotus helianthi (Flannel Flower)
- Solanum vescum
(Gunyang, Narrow-leaved Kangaroo Apple)
Postscript
1)
Just a reminder ...
1st half of the trip report ... this link:
https://mntviews.blogspot.com/2020/12/sunnyside-canyon-to-cleft-point-gardens.html>
2)
In 2023-May,
a group of us went to
Acoustic Chamber & Foxs Wedge.
Some interesting pictures are in this link:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1GjxcMcfYoT46MQTahV0kZRJe1O9fnKC1/view?usp=share_link
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