Bungonia Main
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| | Difficulty:4B (v4a2 IV) Raps:5-6, max ↨213ft
Red Tape:No permit required Shuttle: Vehicle:Passenger Rock type:Quartzite | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Condition Reports: | 3 Nov 2024
"Will and I hadn’t been canyoning for almost twelve months, and we wanted to get back into the swing of things. We decided to do Bungonia Main again |
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| Best season: | Nov-Mar
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-34.8011, 150.0006
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Waterflow
Introduction[edit]
Water Levels[edit]
Use the river gauge 215014 Bungonia Creek at Bungonia
- <25 ML/d: Low water, A2
- ~50 ML/d: Medium water (avoid wet lines - slippery stepped/non-sheer abseils with lots of opportunity to slip + large volumes of water = no bueno)
- 75 ML/d: High water
- >100 ML/d: Go caving
The Bungonia Creek at Bungonia gauge's catchment is 164 sq. km as stated by WaterNSW. As a result after significant rain it can absolutely pump. It is considered a very good indicator of water in Bungonia Main because it is geographically located upstream of the canyon start at approx -34.81958, 149.98852.
Approach[edit]
Refer to the location map on the NPWS Bungonia National Park brochure
For the "traditional" entrance: Follow the yellow track until it intersects with Bungonia Creek. Walk down the creek.
For the "new" entrance: The topo includes a new (December '22) single-abseil entrance that cuts out the long, tedious creek walk. To find the new entrance: Start at the David Reid carpark, Adams Lookout Carpark or the tanks at the campground. (David Reid carpark recommended as its close to the "red track" exit). Walk the Green Track to an obvious watercourse gully at (the coordinates on the topo) between the campground and Adams Lookout carpark. Walk downstream towards the canyon in the watercourse for about 80m. Some very light bush-bashing. The watercourse opens up on a rock slab where progress is stopped by the drop-off. About 5m left and down is a rock platform with a good rock wall and a very small roof. Look for two bolts on the wall under the roof.
Descent[edit]
Proceed down canyon referring to the canyon topo for details on problems* you will encounter along the canyon
*A "problem" is a notable geographical feature that prevents your progression through the canyon. Often engaging with a problem is mandatory (e.g. an abseil in a slot canyon where no alternate route exists), but occasionally they are optional and can be bypassed via an alternate route in the canyon.
Exit[edit]
Exit to the canyon is via the "Red Track" up Bretons Creek:
After the final abseil, follow Bungonia Creek downstream. At first progress is slow through the boulders and pools. After a long, narrowish pool, walk on the right bank to find vague paths along the valley floor. The canyon twists right, then sharp left. Find the Red Track true right. On the NPWS map, this is where the Red Track descends to Bungonia Creek, to the west of the marked "Slot Canyon". Proceed up the Red Track from here. Do not follow the Red Track along Bungonia Creek through the Slot Canyon (unless you want a very long day). The Slot Canyon is unmissable, a 15m slot through 150m+ sheer walls of limestone. It is spectacular and does not require any equipment to negotiate. If you continue downstream through the Slot Canyon, you can return via either the eastern arm of the Red Track, or the White Track from the junction with the Shoalhaven River. Approximate timings for a reasonably fit party in normal flow are: - Last pitch Bungonia Main to Bretons Creek: 1h - Bretons Creek to David Reid Carpark: 1h - Bretons Creek to David Reid Carpark via Slot Canyon and Red Track: 3-4h - Bretons Creek to David Reid Carpark via Slot Canyon and White Track: 4-5h
Note that there is reasonably okay and reliable water in Bretons Creek at the bottom of the Red Track (where you exit) issuing from the main Efflux of the caves. Be aware it does flow along the route of the Red Track, so there is a possibility of contamination.
The scramble up the ridge between Jerrara Creek and Bungonia Creek is extremely dangerous. It’s friable rotten shaley stuff with scrub and a sheer drop onto Jerrara Falls. The bushs are too weak and poorly rooted to build anchors, and the rock is too rotten for natural pro. And the whole time you are ascending a steep ridge above the waterfall with nothing to arrest a fall if you lose it.
Red tape[edit]
Beta sites[edit]
Trip reports and media[edit]
YouTube.com : Richard Pattison, Bungonia Creek Canyon movie