Nichols Gorge Walking Track

Explore this spectacular limestone gorge and Cooleman Cave within Kosciuszko National Park. As you walk along the usually dry Cave Creek, keep your eye out for ancient fossilised shells of brachipods. The walk is closed during winter and only open between the October and June long weekends. The walk can flood so always check the weather forecast. Bring a torch to help you explore the entrance to the cave. Let us begin by acknowledging the Wiradjuri people, Traditional Custodians of the land on which we travel today, and pay our respects to their Elders past and present.

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Safer Bushwalks
Before you start any bushwalk ensure you;
• Tell someone you trust where you are going and what to do if you are overdue
• Have adequate equipment, supplies, skills & knowledge for the whole journey
• Consider the impact of weather forecasts, park/track closures & fire dangers
• Can respond to emergencies & call for help at any point
• Are healthy and fit enough for this journey
If not, change plans and stay safe. It is okay to delay and ask people for help.

Getting There

Start	(-35.6214822,148.6805142)
Mode	Car
Directions	From Snowy Mountains Highway, B72, Snowy Valleys Council. Turn on to Long Plain Road then drive for 17.2 km Turn right onto Blue Waterholes Fire Trail and drive for another 7.7 km

Track Notes

Getting started
From signposted Magpie Flat Campground, continue for about 300m down the Blue Waterholes Trail to main Blue Waterholes lower campground, follow the signposted walking track to the right (initially keeping the main gorge to your left).....

Turn map	Directions & comments
	Start. After 25 m come to the "Magpie Flat campground". Campsite managed byNSW National Parks and Wildlife Service. This is a free campsite. After another 280 m come to the "Blue Waterholes campground". W:www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au Campsite managed byNSW National Parks and Wildlife Service. This is a free campsite. After another 210 m pass the toilet (25 m on your right). After another 20 m head through/around the gate.
	Turn right.
	After another 175 m continue straight.
	After another 170 m continue straight. After another 50 m cross the ford. After another 60 m pass the "Right Cooleman Cave" (50 m on your right). After another 260 m pass the "Cooleman Cave" (45 m on your right). After another 50 m cross the ford. After another 120 m cross the ford. After another 125 m cross the ford. After another 110 m cross the ford. Then cross the ford. After another 50 m cross the ford. After another 195 m cross the ford. After another 275 m cross the ford. After another 620 m cross the ford. After another 140 m pass the "Murray Cave" (35 m on your right). After another 2 km pass the "North Branch Sink" (60 m on your right). Then cross the ford. After another 85 m cross the ford. After another 105 m pass the "Northeast Branch Sink" (40 m on your right). After another 10 m cross the ford. After another 20 m cross the ford. After another 15 m cross the ford.
	After another 285 m continue straight. After another 1000 m come to the "Magpie Flat campground". Campsite managed byNSW National Parks and Wildlife Service. This is a free campsite.
	After another 80 m come to the end. About 40 m past the end is a toilet.

Terrain

Nichols Gorge Walking Track

Grading

	Class 4/6 Hard track
Length	6.3 km
Time	2 h to 4 h 30 min

Quality of track	Rough track, where fallen trees and other obstacles are likely (4/6)
Gradient	Short steep hills (3/6)
Signage	Directional signs along the way (3/6)
Infrastructure	Limited facilities (such as cliffs not fenced, significant creeks not bridged) (4/6)
Experience Required	Some bushwalking experience recommended (3/6)
Weather	Foretasted & unexpected storms and severe weather may impact on navigation and safety (4/6)

Some facilities on route

Camp site: There are 2 on route, on average they are 2.1 km apart with the largest gap of 6 km.

Toilet: There are 2 on route, on average they are 2.2 km apart with the largest gap of 5.9 km.

Order of key facilities on route

Item	From Start	Name & link to notes
Camp site	25 m	Magpie Flat campground
Camp site	305 m	Blue Waterholes campground
Toilet	520 m	[toilet]
Toilet	6.4 km	[toilet]

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