2020 December & 2018 July
Day-trip Sunnyside Canyon
Acoustic Chamber
Cleft Point (2020-Dec only)
in Gardens of Stone National Park, NSW, Australia
Preview
Sunnyside Canyon
Acoustic Chamber
Quick preview of other photos in this link:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1vhMO6iZqbALUsnYnkliMbGNr-Luv-ps4/view?usp=sharing
Postscript
In 2023-May,
a group of us went to Acoustic Chamber & Foxs Wedge.
Some interesting pictures in this link:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1GjxcMcfYoT46MQTahV0kZRJe1O9fnKC1/view?usp=share_link
Prolog
Today, 2020-Dec, taking Lee, Stanley, WenSheng, ZCC
for an interesting bushwalk in Gardens of Stone National Park :
- Sunnyside Canyon
- Acoustic Chamber Within Sunnyside Canyon
- Cleft Point Tip of a finger-like peninsula north of No 8 Firetrail
Reference:
- Sunnyside Canyon: https://www.bushexplorers.com.au/encyclopaedia/sunnyside-canyon
- Acoustic Chamber: https://www.bushexplorers.com.au/encyclopaedia/acoustic-chamber
- Cleft Point: https://www.bushexplorers.com.au/encyclopaedia/cleft-point
Confession:
I have been to Sunnyside Canyon and Acoustic Chamber almost 2 and a half years ago in 2018 July,
with CB, Harold, EC, FM, NC.
But I forgot all about it ! Dementia comes too early :-(
Not to worry, as this is an interesting place, well worth another visit ... especially with great companies like Lee, Stanley, WenSheng and ZCC !
Below then is a combined report on both the 2018-July trip and today's 2020-Dec trip.
Pictures though are mostly from today's trip, with a few from 2018-July.
Book
Report on a bushwalk to Sunnyside Canyon and Acoustic Chamber, minus the walk to Cleft Point, is in:
"The Gardens of Stone National Park and beyond, Book 6"
by Michael Keats and Brian Fox
Chapter 6.10 - "Sunnyside Canyon and Ravines"
Chapter 6.11 mentions a walk to Flat Bottom Creek and Cleft Point.
But you won't find anything useful there about Cleft Point.
Map
LPI 1:25,000 scaled 8931-3N Cullen Bullen
Map 1) The relevant part of the 1:25,000 topographic map
In the above map, No 8 Firetrail ends at a barricade at the boundary between Newnes State Forest and Gardens of Stone National Park.
The firetrail continues north as a disused road to a lookout at a cliff edge.
In Map 2 below, the lookout is the 2nd blue arrow from the top.
GPS tracklog files & route
The GPX tracklog files can be downloaded from:
2020-Dec trip: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_v4vnlIvA2NH3CbvUK2BvVD_D8JuAtIk/view?usp=sharing
2018-July trip: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1I8Cb3_1dc2SPiFQSF-VZI3-9Vsl9TrgN/view?usp=sharing
Map 2) Today (2020-Dec): GPS tracklog, clockwise in red, is in the following 1:25,000 topographic map:
- 10 blue arrows, top to bottom:
1 GR 3619 1494 Cleft Point
2 GR 3572 1427 Cliff edge where a disused road ends
3 GR 3541 1370 Northern (downstream) end of Sunnyside Canyon
4 GR 3541 1360 Bottom of steep slope (a dry water fall) where we climb out of the canyon
5 GR 3541 1357 Bottom of narrow slot which connects the canyon with the plateau above
6 GR 3537 1347 Unnamed cave ... on east side of Sunnyside Canyon
7 GR 3537 1338 Acoustic Chamber ... on east side of Sunnnyside Canyon
8 GR 3536 1319 Start of Sunnyside Canyon (We climb down to the canyon around here.)
9 GR 3584 1293 Barricade at end of No 8 Firetrail
10 GR 3548 1204 Where our car is parked today
Map 3) 2018-July: GPS tracklog, clockwise in red, is in the following 1:25,000 topographic map:
- We took 2 cars, Harold's & CB's cars ... parked at GR 3584 1293, a barricade at end of No 8 Firetrail.
- We didn't go to Cleft Point.
Map 4) Satellite image of Map 2
In summary, today's (2020-Dec) route is:
- Park Stanley's car at GR 3548 1204, on No 8 Firetrail (off Sunnyside Ridge Road).
- Walk northward on No 8 Firetrail until we reach a barricade.
- 50 meters further along the road, go off-track by turning west.
- Explore pagodas on west side of Sunnyside Canyon.
- Climb down to the canyon.
- Walk northward along the canyon.
- Visit Acoustic Chamber.
- Visit an unnamed cave.
- Reach the northern end of the canyon.
- Retrace steps part of the way.
- Climb out of the canyon via a steep slope (a dry waterfall).
- Explore a narrow slot which connects Sunnyside Canyon with its east side plateau.
- Explore pagodas on the east side of the canyon mouth.
- To Cleft Point.
- Return to car ... Make a beeline for it.
Timeline and Distance - Today 2020-Dec
Park Stanley's car at GR 3548 1204, on No 8 Firetrail (off Sunnyside Ridge Road)
We would have liked to park the car further along the firetrail.
But the dirt road becomes a bit rough further on.
09:27 0.0 km GR 3548 1204 Start walking
09:44 1.1 km GR 3584 1293 At a barricade on No 8 Firetrail (photo #4) ... We would have liked to park the car here.
09:47 1.15km GR 3582 1297 Leave road ... Go off-track by turning left (west).
10:12 2.0 km GR 3528 1307 On top of the 1st pagoda we climbed on the west side of Sunnyside Canyon
10:13 2.0 km Leave pagoda
10:33 2.27km GR 3534 1321 On top of the last pagoda we climbed on the west side of the canyon
10:37 2.3 km Leave pagoda ... to descend down to Sunnyside Canyon
10:43 2.38km GR 3536 1319 At start of the canyon
10:48 2.45km GR 3537 1325 Climb up east bank of the canyon
Explore around
10:58 2.49km Back at Sunnyside Canyon ... same spot as at 10:48
10:59 2.5 km GR 3537 1326 Stop to watch Stanley and ZCC climbing up a high pagoda
11:06 2.55km Resume walking
11:31 2.7 km GR 3537 1338 At Acoustic Chamber
11:58 2.7 km Resume walking
12:04 2.8 km GR 3537 1347 At an unnamed cave
Lunch
12:30 2.8 km Resume walking
12:38 2.93km GR 3541 1357 At bottom entrance of a narrow slot which connects the canyon and the plateau above
12:44 3.06km GR 3541 1370 At northern (downstream) end of the canyon
Today, 2020-Dec, we turn around here.
In 2018-July, a group of us continued a little further north along the east side ledge.
12:48 3.1 km Retrace steps southward, back along Sunnyside Canyon
12:57 3.25km GR 3541 1357 At bottom entrance of the narrow slot ... same spot as at 12:38.
Today, we are not going inside this entrance.
But in 2018-July, we went in and climbed out of the canyon via this slot.
12:58 3.28km GR 3541 1360 At bottom of steep slope (a dry waterfall) near the narrow slot.
13:02 3.3 km GR 3542 1360 At top entrance of the narrow slot which connects down to the canyon
Explore the inside of the narrow slot, including exiting out of its bottom entrance.
13:20 3.42km Resume walking
13:26 3.5 km GR 3541 1363 On top of pagodas on the east side of the canyon mouth
13:37 3.53km Leave the pagodas
13:50 4.1 km At a disused road
13:59 4.6 km GR 3572 1427 At a cliff edge - where the disused road ends
14:04 4.62km Resume walking - to Cleft Point, tip of a finger-like peninsula north of No 8 Firetrail
Stop at a few cliff edges with views towards the Wolgan Valley and Donkey Mountain.
14:59 5.95km GR 3619 1494 At Cleft Point
15:02 6.0 km Leave Cleft Point; start to return to car
15:30 7.33km At same spot as at 13:50
15:46 8.27km GR 3584 1293 At a barricade on No 8 Firetrail ... same spot as at 09:44
16.02 9.35km Back at Stanley's car
==============================================
Total: 6 hrs 35 mins
9.35 km Distance is from Google Earth
Pictures - Sunnyside Ridge Road (2018-July)
In 2018-July, we met a few obstacles while driving on Sunnyside Ridge Road ...
1) 1st obstacle: A fallen log ~~~
Fortunately Harold always has a chainsaw in his car. (Photographer: NC)
In the background, left to right: Paul, EC, CB, FB, FM
2) 2nd obstacle: Harold tackled an even larger log !
3) 3rd obstacle: We twisted the branch out of the way.
- Upper pic, left to right: FM, EC, Harold
- Lower pic: Harold's blue car in the front, followed by CB's white car
Rest of the pictures (mostly from today 2020-Dec)
The rest of the pictures are from today's (2020-Dec) trip, unless specified otherwise.
No 8 Firetrail
From Sunnyside Ridge Road, turn north into No 8 Firetrail.
No 8 Firetrail ends at a barricade at the boundary between Newnes State Forest and Gardens of Stone National Park.
The firetrail continues north as a disused road to a lookout at a cliff edge. We'll be at the lookout in photos #93 and #94.
4) No 8 Firetrail is blocked here at GR 3584 1292.
Near side of the barricade is Newnes State Forest.
The other side is Gardens of Stone National Park.
- Upper pic, 2018-July: NC on the left and Harold's car on the right
• Yellow arrow: We went off-track towards left/west
- Lower pic, today (2020-Dec):
• Yellow arrow: We'll walk along the road for a further 50 meters before going off-track by turning left/west.
• "1080 Wild Dog/Fox Poison" sign was not here in 2018-July.
5) "Welcome to Gardens of Stone National Park" sign at GR 3582 1297 ~~~
This place is 50 meters further north from the blockade of previous pic.
- Upper pic, left to right: Lee, Paul, ZCC
• White oval: Written on the sign:
NO PETS PERMITTED
FIREWOOD AND BUSHROCK
COLLECTION PROHIBITED
- Lower pic: Group selfie (photographer: Lee)
• Left to right: Lee, Stanley, Paul, WenSheng, ZCC ... all 5 of us
From here, we go off-track westward towards a creek that forms Sunnyside Canyon.
To Sunnyside Canyon
6) Off-track to Sunnyside Canyon ... The forest is quite open.
- Left to right: ZCC, Lee, WenSheng
West side of Sunnyside Canyon
We cross over to west side of Sunnyside Canyon.
7) At a steep slot/ramp ~~~
- Upper pic: ZCC & Stanley climbing up
• It is not necessary nor easy to climb up here ... slippery too.
You can go around the pagoda on the left (which is the pagoda in photo #8's lower pic).
- Lower pic: At top of the steep slot/ramp and looking down.
• Instead of climbing up here, you can go around the pagoda on the right of this pic.
8) At the same place as previous pic ~~~
- Upper pic:
• Yellow oval: The steep slot/ramp of the previous pic
• Left to right: WenSheng, Lee, Stanley, ZCC
- Lower pic: (Continuation from the right of the upper pic)
• This pagoda is the left side of photo #7's upper pic,
and right side of photo #7's lower pic.
Pagodas - west side of Sunnyside Canyon
We now explore many pagodas on the west side of Sunnyside Canyon.
9) Climbing up the pagoda in photo #8's upper pic ~~~
- Lower pic, left to right: Lee, ZCC, WenSheng, Stanley
10) A small pagoda ~~~
- Upper pic: Stanley & ZCC go to climb the small pagoda
(Photographed from top of pagoda of previous pic)
- Lower pic: ZCC
11) Lee at top of another pagoda
12) Stanley, ZCC, Lee ... at top of yet another pagoda
Meeting 3 bushwalkers
13) I don't know these 3 bushwalkers.
But they recognize me and yell out, "Are you Paul Ma the blogger ?"
Amazing eye sights they have !
- Upper pic: Looking down into Sunnyside Canyon
• Yellow arrows: The way they climb out of the canyon
Later on, they'll descend back down into the canyon this way.
They solve us the puzzle of how to get into the canyon ... We'll use their route.
- Middle & Lower pics: Zooming into the 3 bushwalkers.
Panorama - from west side of Sunnyside Canyon
14) This pic and photos #15, #16, #17 form a 360-degree panorama.
- Left side pagoda: We'll climb it ... Refer to photo #17.
- Right side pagoda: Climbed in 2018-July (photo #20), but not today (2020-Dec).
15) (Continuation from the right of previous pic)
The 3 pics below are looking down at Sunnyside Canyon.
- Upper pic: Downstream ... north-ish
- Middle pic: (Continuation from the right of the upper pic)
- Lower pic: (Continuation from the right of the middle pic)
• Upstream ... south-ish
• Yellow arrow: Later on, We'll climb down into Sunnyside Canyon this way.
That was how the 3 bushwalkers climbed out of the canyon in photo #13.
16) (Continuation from the right of previous pic)
- Red arrow: We climbed this pagoda in photo #12.
- Yellow arrow: Later on, We'll climb down into Sunnyside Canyon this way.
That was how the 3 bushwalkers climbed out of the canyon in photo #13.
- Continuation to the right of this pic is photo #17.
A pagoda on west side of Sunnyside Canyon
17) (Continuation from the right of previous pic)
Today (2020-Dec), this is the last pagoda we climb on the west side of Sunnyside Canyon.
- Stanley is on the right by himself.
- The rest are our group and the bushwalkers of photo #13.
- Continuation to the right of this pic is photo #14, completing a 360-degree panorama.
18) At top of the pagoda of previous pic ~~~
- Upper pic: Lee ... on the same rock as Stanley was in previous pic
- Lower pic: The 3 bushwalkers of photo #13.
19) The 2 pics below are different angles of the pagoda in photo #17. (Photographed in 2018-July)
- Upper pic: The prominent rock here is same as the one in photos #17 and #18's upper pic.
- Lower pic:
• 2 white arrows: NC, EC
• Rock on right side of the pic is the prominent rock in the upper pic.
Pagoda climbed in 2018-July
In 2018-July, we went on to climb the pagoda on the right side of photo #14.
It was the last pagoda we climbed on the west side of Sunnyside Canyon.
(Not climbed today, 2020-Dec)
20) Looking back at the pagoda of photos #17, #18, #19 ~~~
- Upper pic: The pagoda
- Middle & lower pics: The rock Stanley and Lee were sitting on in photos #17 and #18
- Lower left, photographer: NC
- Lower right, photographer: CB
Looking down at Sunnyside Canyon
We've climbed down the pagoda of photo #17 ...
21) ... Taking another look at Sunnyside Canyon ~~~
The 2 pics below and photo #22 form a 180-degree panorama.
- Upper pic: Downstream ... north-ish
- Lower pic: (Continuation from the right of the upper pic)
22) (Continuation from the right of previous pic)
The scene is upstream of Sunnyside Canyon ... south-ish
- Yellow arrow: We'll soon climb down into the canyon this way.
- 2 white arrows: Bushwalkers we met in photo #13
They came up from the canyon below. Now they return the same way.
Sunnyside Canyon
23) We are now down and inside Sunnyside Canyon.
- Upper left: WenSheng
- Upper right: ZCC
- Lower pic, left to right: Stanley, WenSheng
24) The way forward is along the yellow arrow.
But first, a detour to explore the cliff above.
- Lee is climbing up. Below her, left to right: WenSheng, Stanley, ZCC
Exploring a level above east side of the canyon
25) We've climbed up the cliffs of previous pic, now facing upstream of the canyon (ie facing backwards).
- Smaller yellow oval: Pagoda in photos #17, #18, #19
- Larger Yellow circle: Pagoda climbed in 2018-July, not today (2020-Dec)
- Left to right: Stanley, Lee, ZCC (WenSheng didn't climb up.)
26) Facing downstream of the canyon ~~~
- ZCC is the beautiful lady in the 2 pics below.
- Red arrow: ZCC and Stanley will climb this pagoda later on ... Refer to photo #29.
27) Facing downstream ... a few steps forward compared to the previous pic ~~~
- Red arrow: ZCC and Stanley will climb this pagoda ... Refer to photo #29.
- White circle: WenSheng has been waiting there in the canyon. (He didn't climb up.)
Lee has climbed down to join him.
Stanley, ZCC and I are currently one level above them.
- Yellow arrows: Route to red arrow from where WenSheng and Lee are ... not difficult
Climbing down to Sunnyside Canyon
28) Climbing down from the level of previous pic ~~~
- Upper pic: Stanley
- Lower pic: ZCC ... photographed from the canyon level
• This cliff face is where Lee was climbing up in photo #24.
• Large pagoda in the background: Same pagoda as in photo #20, and the larger yellow circle in photo #25
A high pagoda
29) Back at Sunnyside Canyon, we watch ZCC climb up the pagoda (red arrows of photos #26, #27).
- Lower pic, yellow arrow: The way up ... not difficult.
- Stanley also made it the top. But I don't have a photograph of him :-( ...
... The disadvantage of not being a beautiful girl :-)
Back at Sunnyside Canyon
30) Through this hole to go forward ... WenSheng
31) The other side of the hole of the previous pic ~~~
- Left side: Lee
- Right side: Lee watching ZCC climbing down
(Earlier on, ZCC dropped her hat on top of the large rock in the middle of the pic. As she was there to pick up the hat, she decided to climb down instead. It is harder than through the hole, but not a problem to her.)
32) Sunnyside Canyon ~~~
- Photograph taken at the same spot as previous pic, facing the opposite side this time
- Yellow arrow: Direction of walk ... downstream
- Left to right: Stanley, WenSheng
33) Through a constriction ~~~
- Left pic: Stanley keeping a watchful eye on Lee
- Right pic: Paul (Photographer: Lee)
34) Straight after the constriction of the previous pic, is this small pool.
- Yellow arrow: Our route
- Yellow dots: Step on the dots to avoid slipping into the water.
- Left to right: Lee, ZCC, Stanley, WenSheng
35) Same small pool as previous pic ~~~
Photograph taken from where Stanley & WenSheng were in the previous pic
- Yellow arrow: Our route
- Yellow dots: Step on the dots to avoid slipping into the water.
36) A scene in the canyon ~~~
- Yellow arrow in both pics below: Our route
- Upper pic: WenSheng
- Lower pic: Same area as upper pic, facing backwards
37) Tree Fern
38) Through here ... Photographed in 2018-July ~~~
- Upper left: FB
39) Crawl through this hole ~~~
- Upper pic: CB ... Photographed in 2018-July
- Middle pic: The other side of the hole ... ZCC
- Lower pic: A little further away from the hole in the middle pic
• White oval: The area inside is the middle pic.
40) Sunnyside Canyon ~~~
- Left to right: Lee, WenSheng, ZCC
41) Sunnyside Canyon is nice !
42) At another small pool ~~~
- ZCC gingerly making her way through
- Yellow oval: When we first arrived, the log wasn't here. Thanks to Stanley, Lee and WenSheng, they hauled it here for ZCC and me. The log is a great help, as otherwise, we'll get our feet wet.
Acoustic Chamber
Immediately after passing through the pool of previous pic, we arrive at Acoustic Chamber.
Grid Ref: 3537 1338
East side of Sunnyside Canyon
43) A Tree Fern ... But have you ever seen a rectangular block tree trunk !!!
- The background is Acoustic Chamber.
- The lady on the right of the Tree Fern is FM in the 2018-July trip.
44) Acoustic Chamber ~~~
- Upper pic: The Tree Fern at lower-right corner is the one in the previous pic.
- Lower pic, left to right: Paul, WenSheng, ZCC, Lee (Photographer: Stanley)
45) Acoustic Chamber ... photographed from the back of the chamber ~~~
- Left to right: Lee, ZCC
46) Looking out from Acoustic Chamber at a pagoda on the other side (west side) of Sunnyside Canyon
47) Acoustic Chamber ~~~
Amazing how Lee and Stanley (lower pic) are able to traverse the vertical wall of the chamber !
48) ZCC is just as deft-footed as Lee & Stanley ! (Photographer: Lee)
Sunnyside Canyon - downstream of Acoustic Chamber
49) Back at Sunnyside Canyon ~~~
- Upper left: Stanley
• This area is just outside Acoustic Chamber.
- Upper right: WenSheng
- Lower right: WenSheng
50) More canyon photos ~~~
- Yellow arrow: Direction of walk
- Upper left: Stanley
- Upper right: Lee ... same area as upper-left pic but facing backwards
- Lower left, left to right: ZCC, Lee
- Lower right, left to right: WenSheng, Stanley
Unnamed cave
Grid Ref: 3537 1347
East side of Sunnyside Canyon
51) At an unnamed cave, not as grand as Acoustic Chamber, but quite good ~~~
- Upper pic: Stanley
- Middle pic, left to right: Lee, ZCC, Stanley, WenSheng
- Lower pic: Another look at the roof of the cave
52) Lunch at the unnamed cave ~~~
- Left to right: WenSheng, Stanley, ZCC, Lee
53) Looking out from the cave at a pagoda on the other side (west side) of Sunnyside Canyon
Sunnyside Canyon - downstream of unnamed cave
54) The canyon is beautiful !
- Yellow arrows in both pics below: Direction of walk
- Upper pic, left to right: Stanley, Lee, ZCC
- Lower pic: Facing backwards at the same stretch of the canyon as the upper pic
55) Out of the constriction of the previous pic ~~~
- Yellow arrows in the 3 pics below: Direction of walk
- White ovals in upper & lower left pic: They circle the same mound.
- Lower left, yellow circle: The constriction in photo #54
- Lower right, top to bottom: Stanley, Lee, ZCC, WenSheng
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.
- White arrow: Same rock as the white arrows in photos #69 and #71
- Left to right: WenSheng, ZCC
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, and 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 photo #62.)
- 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 these 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 T
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 to lift oneself up.
It is not easy to climb up, but not too difficult either.
Easier is to climb up without a backpack,
then later, ask your companion 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 there.
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 dry waterfall.
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: Route to climb up
- Left to right: Lee, WenSheng
73) Steep slope to get out of Sunnyside Canyon ~~~
- Yellow arrow: Route to climb up
- Red arrow: Pointing to 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 :-)
- Left pic: I am lying on the ground taking photographs (Photographer: ZCC)
- Right pic: Lee in the air
• Bottom of pic, 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 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
• Photo #85 zooms into Sunnyside Canyon on the left half of this pic ...
We walked inside there in photos #59 to #68.
- 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 is pagodas on the west side of Sunnyside Canyon.
• Lower part is 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.
This 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 pagodas on the east side of Sunnyside Canyon.
- Upper pic: (Continuation from the right of previous pic)
• Where ZCC is standing is the red arrow in photo #81's middle pic.
- Lower pic: (Continuation from the right of the upper pic)
• The pagoda is the red arrow in 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
89) After leaving the pagodas, first, go in a easterly direction ... The bush is quite open.
- 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 ... Thank you.
(Photographer: Lee)
- ZCC's hand
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 previous pic ... similar scene as in 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 previous 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, 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 at 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: This pic and the 3 pics in photo #105 form a 360-degree panorama.
• Yellow arrow: We were there not long ago ... Refer to photos #100 and #101.
• Red arrow: Cape Pinnacle
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) (Photographer: Lee)
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.
- 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
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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