Serendipity
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| | Difficulty:3B III (v2a2 III) Raps:3-6, max ↨49ft
Red Tape:No permit required Shuttle:None Vehicle:Passenger Rock type:Sandstone | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Condition Reports: | 14 Mar 2026
"Water was flowing a bit due to the rain. P2 tree is damaged/rotting. We all skirted along the ledge to the right and jumped/climbed down to the rocks |
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| Best season: | Nov - Mar
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-33.4944, 150.3809
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Introduction
Why Don't We Do It In The Road Canyon (AKA Serendipity Canyon) is one of the easier, more accessible canyons at Mount Wilson in the Blue Mountains of NSW. It has plenty to offer and is a very pretty canyon to do, with some of the prettiest creek walking sections to be found in any canyon.
The canyon has up to six abseils of up to a maximum of 15 metres. A 40-metre rope is more than plenty for this canyon.
The canyon is comprised of two sections separated by approximately 700 metres of creek walking. Of the two sections, the lower section is superior.
The upper section and 700 metres of creek walking can be bypassed (see approach details).
Quality
- 1 star (locally significant) quality in the FFME grading system.
- The canyon is rated 4 out of 10 on the Brennan/OzUltimate Quality Scale.
- David Noble rates the canyon 3 out of 5 for quality and Medium for difficulty.
Approach
- Park at Mount Wilson RFS (Rural Fire Service) or Cathedral of Ferns campground depending on preferred access direction.
- Follow the "Northern Fire Trail" east or west depending on where you parked.
- Follow until a big signpost directing you to Wollangambe Canyon and Serendipity Canyon "Grade extreme". Turn left to follow it.
- Follow for 400m until a small signpost directing you to Wollangambe (left) or Serendipity (right).
- Follow for 200m until a faint fork in the track. Keep right. Left takes you to the exit.
Lower section approach
The lower and best quality section can be accessed directly, skipping the mediocre top section and 700m of creek walking.
- Follow the classic entry instructions until you reach the fork 200m after the signposted Wollangambe/Serendipity junction.
- Take the left branch (the standard Serendipity exit).
- Proceed down the left branch until you reach the top of a bluff (i.e., a cliff).
- The path descends more steeply to the left, down and around the base of the bluff.
- At approximately -33.48752, 150.37886 (MGA 655 916), leave the path heading in a southeasterly direction.
- Bushbash your way toward the start of the lower section at approximately -33.48877, 150.37945 (MGA 656 914).
Descent
Upper section
| Number | Type | Length | Anchor | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Abseil | 15m | Sling on large log | River right | Abseil 1 and 2 can be bypassed on river left. |
| 2 | Abseil | 5m | Sling on tree | River right | Accessed via small ledge. Tree has storm and pest damage. |
| 3a | Abseil | 15m | Sling on tree | River left | "Wet line" down a grandly slope that becomes more vertical |
| 3b | Abseil | 8m | Sling on tree | River right | Accessed via small ledge. Dry line. A little free hanging |
| Creek walk for ~700m | |||||
Lower section
| Number | Type | Length | Anchor | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | Abseil | 8m | Bolts | River left | |
| 5 | Abseil | 7m | Bolts | River left | Can be jumped. Check first. |
| 6 | Abseil | 6m | Bolts | River right | |
| At end of canyon scramble down to river to exit at river level. Alternatively traverse around using narrow ledge on river left. | |||||
Topo
Exit
Upstream - Wet
When you exit onto the Wollangambe River, you can turn left and go upstream for a few hundred metres (a good lunch or jump spot). Follow the obvious track up the hill, to the final junction in the approach, then follow the approach in reverse.
Upstream - Dry
At the end of the canyon, stick to the river’s right ledge. You can follow this ledge upstream along the side of the Wollangambe River to the same "obvious" exit mentioned in the Wet exit description. Note that in a couple of spots, the ledge becomes narrow and is best negotiated crawling on hands and knees. Be careful. Falling from the ledge would likely end catastrophically as the Wollangambe River is not deep.
Downstream - Wet
Alternatively, you can head downstream to exit at the popular Wollangambe No 2 exit point, quite a way downstream.
Red tape
Beta sites
Descente-Canyon.com : Serendipity
OzUltimate.com : Why Don't We Do It In The Road? Canyon - track notes
Trip reports and media
- OzUltimate.com : Tom Brennan, 2007 report & link to photos
- OzUltimate.com : Tom Brennan, 2022 photos
Background
David Noble says: Why Don't We Do It In The Road Canyon was named by Tony Norman after (probable) first descent. Named after a song on the Beatles "White Album". "Norm" is a very keen Beatles fan. The canyon had been well known for many years before that - especially the lower glow worm cave.
The alternative name "Serendipity" was given later by Glen Robinson.