Text Box: There is always a few ways one can do some thing. Take the famous 6Ft track that winds through the picturesque Blue Mountains National Park. If you are energetic & fit you could try walking it during a three day hike, which will give you an excellent cardiovascular work out. Or if you would rather drive then there is a great easy drive through some incredible country side & the two are separate for most of the way however they do intersect a few times so care should be taken when driving as there could be walkers on parts. Okay if walking is not an issue then by all means head off on foot & you will be richly rewarded by lots of fresh air, oxygen enriched blood pumping through your arteries all amongst fantastic woodlands, rainforest & surrounded by nature at its best. The track leads passed some excellent overnight camping spots but you have to carry everything on your back & be self sufficient. Drive towards Katoomba along the Great Western Highway & the track begins on the Pulpit Hill Road near the Explorers Tree just passed the township or you can catch a train there. The turn off is around 2.2 km west of the township, take Nellies Glen Road then turn into Pulpit Hill Road or alternately you can head 2.6 km passed the township to Explorers Road then onto Pulpit Hill Road from where the track descends into the Megalong Valley & you enter a completely different world. You can arrange to have someone meet you in the valley, where the track crosses the Megalong Road near the Old Ford Crossing, with a car if you cannot continue the walk. The track follows an 1884 heritage horse trail passed cascading waterfalls, along the Megalong creek & onto the wider Coxs River with campgrounds that have toilet facilities at the Old Ford Reserve. Another camp area is Cox’s River where there is a high suspension bridge giving a safe crossing over the river when water levels are high. Care should be taken after rain & it is advised that you contact the National Parks to check on river levels. Black Range also has camping facilities. At Allum Creek, there’s a campground, but there are no toilet facilities. Be aware that once you have crossed over the river & head up out of the valley, you could encounter cars, unfortunately some whose drivers are less than considerate. Once you get to Jenolan Caves, cottage accommodation is available, 4km from the centre. I have tried parts of the walking track & found it fascinating, whilst some have walked the whole distance, others have run it with fully kitted backpacks, carrying rifles and wearing army uniforms. The challenge and choice is yours. How hard do you want to go? Find out more here https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/things-to-do/walking-tracks/six-foot-track Rectangle: Rounded Corners: GOING PLACES-6FT TRACK BLUE MOUNTAINS

If walking is not your thing then try the easy driving track which starts near the Great Western Highway at Little Hartley.

We decided to do this trip with the Southern Cross 4WD Club  in a convoy of 14 4x4s having first met at the Glenbrook Information Centre then regrouping at the Lolly Shop just down the Western side of the Great Dividing Range.

 Once we stocked up on essential supplies we headed off down the Highway & turned left onto the Coxs River Road  about 100mtrs passed the shop so be ready for it.

From here the road meanders passed the rolling hills of farmland crossing the Coxs Bridge onto Ganbenang Road,  finally turning into Cullenbenbong Road, passed the hall & tennis courts, to cross the Cullenbenbong Creek to turn into an unsignposted road that leads to a gate & the 6ft track, so the sign says.

Please leave all gates as you find them, as farmers may be herding cattle through the area.

Do not deviate off the track as this is all private property.

After a few more gates the track becomes narrower & we descended down to Murdering Creek, then up the other side to a junction which finally is the 6ft track. Taking the left track we headed down to the picturesque Coxs River Camping Area.  From here it is an easy walk to the Bowtells Swing Bridge over the Coxs River. Ensure that you do not block gates in or near the small car park at the bottom. The road down to the river is quite easy but could be slippery after heavy rain.

Be very mindful of walkers along this part of the track as it is shared with walkers so watch your speed. The track was extremely dusty so we alerted those in the convoy, using 2 way radios that there were walkers up ahead & to ensure that we drove passed them slowly so as not to choke them with our dust.

 From the river we back tracked up the hill to the gate then proceed straight ahead, originally we turned left here to head down to the river.

Due to the devesting bush fires in the area in 2019 some of the tracks in this area  that we wanted to explore were closed.

 The track is very easy & AWDs  can easily negotiate it. The section from Cullenbenbong to Coxs River is maintained regularly, but less so from Glen Chee Road over Mini Mini Saddle & the Black Range. This road crosses a number of creeks so could be flooded after heavy rain & not to be attempted. Off road camper trailers can easily be towed along this route.

 A steady climb took us up passed Beefsteak Creek Track, Gibraltar Rocks & The Black Creek Campground through some incredible Radiata Pine Forest  to the bitumen of Jenolan Caves Road, the peace of the area occasionally broken by a voice over the 2 way, informing us about walkers ahead or just a funny quip about something.

 Turning left at this junction will take you to the famous caves resort  & Kanagra Boyd National Park  through to Oberon or  by heading right, the Hampton Hotel/Motel then back to the Great Western Highway. You can also go to Oberon this way with the turn off a few kms up the road.

We headed right to the Hampton Forest Picnic area for lunch. There are toilet facilities, picnic tables & camping available.  It has been know to snow here so have some warm gear with you.

After lunch we headed along  Tea Tree Ridge Road turning right into Bindo Boundary Road then down an unnamed track that deteriorated very quickly to become a track that proved to be only for those who were confident of their 4x4 driving abilities.

 I put the bonnet over the edge of the descent  to see the track & a few of those who had gone before me at a point that was getting steeper & rougher only to have second thoughts, just as the trip leader broke the silence over the 2 way radio  by advising that those who hadn’t done any driver training before should not attempt the descent,  luckily before I had reached the point of no return or commitment, from which I had to reverse up a steepish section  to a point where I could safely turn around  & park  behind the rest of the convoy that had already turned around & was waiting. Good to see that I wasn’t the only one that decided not to go down.

 

I have done a few driver 4x4 training courses but didn’t feel confident enough to tackle this particular one.

 A good point is to drive to your capabilities, don’t let peer pressure or the want to show off influence you, if in doubt leave out there usually is an alternate way.

The last of the cars finally made their way climb black to the top to join us & it was time to back track part of the way to the picnic area  then on to the bitumen once again for the trip home to end another perfect day.

There are many tracks in this area that can be combined as in our last months edition, if you plan on exploring any in this area  download the National Parks app so that you get maps & all relevant updated information here,

 https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/app