Bushwalk Australia

Hi All,
New to here. Planning a 2 1/2 day hike in Lamington going down to the border from and returning to O'Riely's. Work commitments and timing force me to arrive at O'Riely's at about 5 in the arvo and start out from there. That means I need a tent pitch site by about 6 to 6:30. I haven't walked there before and am a bit concerend that there just may not be anywhere in that time frame. I have a Tarptent Notch, but as small as it is it still needs about 5 foot width to set up.

Any other advice about said walk would also be appreciated.

Thanks

Why not stay at the NP campground on the night of your arrival and get off early the next day if you are anxious about losing the hour of walking time.

Peaksnik wrote:Why not stay at the NP campground on the night of your arrival and get off early the next day if you are anxious about losing the hour of walking time.

do this.

Otherwise you should be able to get to echo point in about an hour or so

and remember that it gets dark very quickly in the rainforest. I agree with cams and peaksnik, save the bother and camp in main campground, whats an hour?

What about water. I see heaps of creeks in the youtubes. I'm thinking of taking 2 litres and relying on my water filter kit. Any advice on that.

Thanks heaps guys

Sleeping in the forest will be much nicer than the kids and stereos at the main grounds.

I don't know if it is kosher with Parks but finish late and start early and you can just pitch on the track. Been there, done that.

Why not get a hammock and you can sleep pretty much anywhere you get to that has two trees? (which is basically everywhere).

I was about to suggest a hammock. There's plenty of tree's in that area. I've hang my hammock of a few of them in the past and yes it gets dark early.

Thanks for the ideas, but I have a Tarptent Notch. It looks wierd strung between two trees . What about water pick up points and me taking two litres and a Waterworx filter system? Any advice about creeks n such on the track?

deerndingo wrote:Thanks for the ideas, but I have a Tarptent Notch. It looks wierd strung between two trees . What about water pick up points and me taking two litres and a Waterworx filter system? Any advice about creeks n such on the track?

I've always just drunk the water from the creeks up there - try to get high up smaller streams. Probably not smart - there is a risk. And many people get a diarrhea just due to the tanins etc in the water. A bit of rain around as is most seasons and you can normally find something non-permanent flowing - possibly lower risk.

So the track crosses numerous little streams n such and after a bit of rain like last weekend there's water around without go mountain goat on us?

Stringing a hammock wouldn't necessarily be straight forward in the rainforest without a track clearing. Lots of trees, also lots of other stuff in between. Same problem with a tent though I guess.

Where exactly are you walking deerdingo? On the Point Lookout "track"? Most of the creeks you come across on the marked trail system have water in them year round. However, if you're following the escarpment the map may mark creeks starting up there but they probably won't have water until a bit further down off the ridge.

cams,
I'm thinking we will make for echo point first night then go south to border track, camp over night then back to O'rielys.

yeah I must say that at this time of year [dry spring] that any marked creek would be dry for the first 500metres or more down from the top marked start;
- I will be up there on the 12th Oct and I am just wandering for three nights so I am taking 2 x 2Litre plus sports bottle for sipping
- I will mostly be on the Rim where all creeks are a backtrack
- the extra weight means nothing with three nights of food etc and I can't be stuffed 'looking' for water ; when I come-accross : fill up
And I am not telling you where I will pitch : Zero-impact : you will never know !

Hi All,
To those who posted replies, thanks.

Did a two night trip in Lamington. Did not go there to set world pace record, just enjoy. Did Orielys at 17:00 to Albert circut - overnighted - did Albert River Circut and then to Bina something south of teh Albert Circut - overnighted - did some of teh border walk and then to Orilys and home.

Plenty of spots I could have pitched a Tarptent Notch and camped o/night. Water was an issue outside of teh Albert River Circut. If I was going to stay longer or do much more of teh Border Track I'd want to know more about water points for a filter unit.

I am not sure why you found water an issue on the track walks at Laminton. There is several creeks that cross the border track and most of the other tracks go along creeks.

As mentioned above went there in late August ; and it was amazingly dry.
I went to every lookout and track-end in the south-east and got as far West as Wanungra Lookout;
- I saw one-only leach the whole time, and got none.
There was a trickle of water that I could hear but not see about 800m down the Wagawn track
But every other Gully was dry - not even moisture under rocks.
I got water at the marked waterfall 1kay down from the Rim on the Toolona Ck Cct
And of course Coomera gorge had water about 1.5kays down off the Rim.
But, yeah, pretty tough on the Rim in a Dry August.