General Information
Distance: 12.6 kilometers
Total climb: 475 meters
Time taken: 4 hours 20 minutes
Map: Kain 8826-4S 1:25 000
Guide: link
Start point distance by road from Canberra GPO: 129 kilometers
Start point map grid reference: 55H GA 39292 43340
Destination map grid reference: Big Hole - 55H GA 40570 42986
Marble Arch - 55H GA 43468 43196
End point: same as start
Route
http://maps.six.nsw.gov.au/
Description
The starting point for this hike was the Berlang camping area, which is off Krawaree Road at the Gundillion Cemetery. The camping area is well signposted fro Krawaree Road. Soon after leaving the camping area it is necessary to cross the Shoalhaven River. Since it is shin deep I decided to take off my boots and cross in a pair of thongs (Australian for flip-flops, just in case you were thinking of something else) to protect my feet from the sharp rocks.
The walking trail goes through largely open terrain, steadily climbing up the flank of a hill to the Big Hole viewing platform.
Unfortunately I've never been able to get a satisfactory picture of Big Hole itself, but there is a very good one in the guide referenced above. From Big Hole we continued along the trail, now through forest.
The trail as we followed it actually runs north of the trail as it is marked on the map (but still south of the Bettowynd Fire Trail). About 5.5 kilometers into the walk we started our decent to Marble Arch, which we reached about half a kilometer later. We passed through the arch and the cave beyond until we entered the slot canyon.
We followed the slot canyon until we came on a spring coming out of the limestone wall on the right, where we stopped for lunch. The limestone-filtered water coming out of the spring was pure and very cold.
After lunch we headed back the way we came, the climb out of the gully made easier by steps thoughtfully built in the trail.
This walk is well worth the 115 kilometer drive from my place to Berlang via Captains Flat. Both Big Hole and Marble Arch are striking natural features and are both easily accessible via a well defined walking track.
The walking trail goes through largely open terrain, steadily climbing up the flank of a hill to the Big Hole viewing platform.
Unfortunately I've never been able to get a satisfactory picture of Big Hole itself, but there is a very good one in the guide referenced above. From Big Hole we continued along the trail, now through forest.
The trail as we followed it actually runs north of the trail as it is marked on the map (but still south of the Bettowynd Fire Trail). About 5.5 kilometers into the walk we started our decent to Marble Arch, which we reached about half a kilometer later. We passed through the arch and the cave beyond until we entered the slot canyon.
We followed the slot canyon until we came on a spring coming out of the limestone wall on the right, where we stopped for lunch. The limestone-filtered water coming out of the spring was pure and very cold.
After lunch we headed back the way we came, the climb out of the gully made easier by steps thoughtfully built in the trail.
This walk is well worth the 115 kilometer drive from my place to Berlang via Captains Flat. Both Big Hole and Marble Arch are striking natural features and are both easily accessible via a well defined walking track.
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