Bell Creek
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| | Difficulty:2A III (v1a1 IV) Raps:0, max ↨0ft
Red Tape:No permit required Shuttle:None Vehicle:Passenger Rock type:Sandstone | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Best season: | Dec - Mar
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-33.4999, 150.3371
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Introduction[edit]
This canyon is described in limited detail in Canyons Near Sydney by Rick Jamieson.\
Bell Creek contain some of the best constrictions in the area.
They are sustained and dark with long swims/lilo pools
The Lower section as described by Jamieson is the most popular option and while the combined upper and lower sections are described as a "good over night trip" it is easily doable as a day trip with a car shuffle.
Approach[edit]
For the lower section.
Car Park: Wollangambe car park next to Mt Willson Fire Shed
Walk-in: From the fire shed walk west along fire trail toward Du Faurs lookout for 300m. Turn left at the second locked gate onto Thompsons Road/Bogey Holes Trail. Follow this for approximately 2km until it heads downhill and veers left MGA542886 . Take the walking track that continues straight that this corner
Follow walking track to saddle at MGA537885. Then turn right and follow the trail along small creek for approx 1km then up over ridge to a10m down climb on a fixed rope on large gum tree. Walk down the gully and cross Du Faurs creek then immediately climb the other side. Zigzag right along ledge then up and back left. Scramble to top then up ridge to the top of the big hill.
Once on top follow the ridge west then descend into the gully and follow this through to the gully and down here through Bell Fry canyon, I tricky downclimb down a log that some people may wish to rope up for (Anchor bolts on right)
Once at the junction with Bell creek head downstream, there are some tricky down climbs and again some people may prefer to rope up before the start of the canyon proper.
To do the complete trip combining the upper and lower sections
Leave a car at the Fire shed then drive to a parking spot on the Bells Line of Road at Water Trough Hill, MGA 496879 then make your way down one of the ridges to meet the creek via a short side canyon at MGA503898
Descent[edit]
There are no absiels in the canyon, though there are some tricky climb downs
Rope Length: 30 hand/abseil line handy for nonconfident scramblers Wetsuits: Recommended Lilo: Recommended for poor swimmers Walk in: For the Lower as describes 2.5-4hrs For the Upper 30-45min Walkout: 1-2hrs Descent: for lower only 3-4hrs for combined upper and lower 6-8hrs Quality: spectaular sustained constrictions V1A2_
Exit[edit]
Exit:. At the Junction with Du Faurs creek head upstream for 800, and exit up Joes Canyon, MGA543907, heading left up gully after scrambling out. Pick up trail and follow it turning right at track junction at MGA546910 then right again at the pagoda onto the Wollangambe 1 entry track
Red tape[edit]
Beta sites[edit]
Trip reports and media[edit]
https://ozultimate.com/canyoning/track_notes/bell_creek.htm https://sleepwhenwearedead.net/2018/04/08/lower-bell-creek-canyon /https://sleepwhenwearedead.net/2022/02/22/bell-creek/