Macquarie Pass
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| | Raps:0-10, max ↨148ft
Red Tape:No permit required Shuttle: Vehicle:Passenger | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Condition Reports: | 4 Feb 2024
"Some of the bolts have come a bit loose possibly need replacing soon. Quite slippery seems like it hasnt been flushed in a while but above average fl |
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| Best season: | Oct-Apr (avg for this region)
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-34.5720, 150.6462
-34.5658, 150.6622
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Introduction[edit]
Macquarie Pass (a.k.a. Macquarie Rivulet) is a popular canyon in the greater Wollongong region.
It is broken down into two parts:
- Upper section v4a3III**
Longest Drop: 35m Rope: 2 x 40m
- Lower section v3a3III**
Longest Drop: 12m (18m optional) Rope: 2 x 20m, or 40m
Often when people refer to Macquarie Pass canyon they are referring to the lower section. The lower section is a great option to introduce beginners - while still technical, it is relatively shorter/warmer/not as committing as the slot canyons in the Blueys
Water levels[edit]
Approach[edit]
The parking lot at Clover Hills Road is very small. Try to consolidate people in to the least number of cars at the parking at the bottom of the pass, then proceed to Clover Hills Rd.
Do not try to access the upper canyon directly from the main road (red path on the sketch map). National Parks have a really clear closure notice: Closed areas: Restricted access to Macquarie Rivulet. A good way to do the upper section is to head in via Clover Hill Rd (like you would for the lower section). Once you cross the rivulet you follow a rough track on the south (true right) up to Clover Falls. From the base of these falls cross over and head up an even rougher track on the north (true left) to the top. A short scramble gets you to the cliff top and the first abseil is very close by. The other advantage of this route (beyond not breaking the law / further inflaming tensions with local landowners) is you don't need to do a car shuffle.
Descent[edit]
- Lower section
- R4c: please note sizeable rocks have been easily dislodged ~midway during this pitch. Recommended to not have anyone below (eg. no bottom belay) or use the safer R4a + R4b
- Slide at Jump Rock falls is on river right (as usual check for debris)
Exit[edit]
- For a shorter day without a car shuffle, a faint exit track exists from Jump Rock falls to the Clover Hill road parking. Please consider the limited parking space (leave the minimum number of cars at Clover Hill)
Red tape[edit]
Beta sites[edit]
- https://canyoning.org.au/forum/viewtopic.php?t=571
- https://ozultimate.com/canyoning/track_notes/macquarie_pass.htm
- https://www.australiancanyoning.org.au/regions-nsw-southern/
Trip reports and media[edit]
YouTube.com : Richard Pattison, Macquarie Pass Canyon movie
