Box Vale Walking Track — Attraction in Woodlands

TAKE HEED❗ This track is ❌CLOSED❌. Oblivious to the perils that were about to unfold, I was led into this hazardous and enchanted wilderness by a pair of White-browed Scrubwrens as they hopped along on the trail ahead of me. Distracted by the bird life, I must have walked straight past the signage that warned of the closure of the track due to the destruction of any human walking trails by indiscriminate flood damage. For any two-legged vertebrates that are reading this, you must forge your own path through the gorge!!! Cherish the gift of life that you have been given and wait until further notice is provided regarding the restoration of trails suitable for humans! I learned that navigation when this track is closed may require abseiling ravines with the aid of vines and thorny bramble, crossing river rapids on decayed fallen trees, and crawling through detritus and thickets where spiders are rightfully ready to defend themselves 🩹🩹! I was bitten, but I survived. While remnants of the pink walking trail ribbons remain in places, these are few and far between. There is now no evidence of a navigable pathway for humans for about 10 kilometres through the gorge! Fortunately for me there were a single pair of footprints that I tracked on parts of the haphazard dirt landings around the dells.... but once the footprints vanished, I had no option but to equip my own survival skills to persevere. Did the owner of those footprints survive this trail? UNLIKELY❗ Not only must you navigate the wild bank of the Nattai River with nothing but grit, but the wrath of Mother Mature accumulates as you journey upwards through the river! Upon my fifth hour of traipsing, crawling, sliding, swinging and hanging I found the old but reliable coal-hoisting cable that gave me great assistance to ascend an inconceivably steep incline. During this breathless ordeal, a Southern Boobook owl emerged to contemplate me on a branch nearby as I paused to heave. Suddenly prone to superstition, I had doubts whether this appearance of Divinity incarnate heralded my conquest, or my death. If you survive to the cable incline, manifest hope! Once you ascend the cliff face, you’ll find the Nattai Gorge Lookout. If you share any DNA with me, this was where you were supposed to start and end your morning. As of writing this in April 2024, I recommend following the fire clearing from the Box Vale Track parking lot to the Lookout instead of descending into the gorge... unless you have the fortitude or resourcefulness to endure all that I have documented.

Once this trail receives some minor maintenance by the Wingecarribee council after so much extensive environmental damage due to the extreme climate caused by...us, this trail would be a charmed experience that we are lucky to have access to. In amidst the metres thick layers of broken wood caused by the floods, I was aghast to see the amount of plastic, rubber and miscellaneous litter embedded into the decomposing forest/flood debris. This terrain is special and should be protected.

While I was battling for survival, my senses became less attuned to the bird activity while on the rough edges of the gorge. I was, however, a grateful audience to the wonderful bird life in this 14 kilometre, 5 hour adventure whether I knew it or not. ID’d despite the fact my focus was singularly on survival: Eurasian Coot Little Pied Cormorant Crimson Rosella White-throated Treecreeper Superb Fairywren Eastern Spinebill Yellow-faced Honeyeater New Holland Honeyeater White-eared Honeyeater White-browed Scrubwren Striated Thornbill Brown Thornbill Black-faced Cuckooshrike Gray Shrikethrush Golden Whistler Gray Fantail Eastern Yellow...

Great easy track out to Nattai Gorge lookout and back, 8km return. For a hard longer hike go down the Boxvale incline cable, yoy follow the a creek to the Nattai River down the Forty Foot Falls. Stairs on the right as your coming up to the falls will take up and out of the gorge. Then fire trails back to the boxvale track carpark Loop is just under 12km, but very slow going in the middle ensure you have plenty of time and light. As the valley gets dark quickly. There is a bit of ducking and weaving for fallen trees. Also some partial rock scrambling. Track is not very cut in, but can be followed mostly without an issue. Couple of river crossing but mostly easy to cross without getting your feet wet.

Recommend good shoes and long pants (Stinging nettles hidden...

We found this a nice track.The highlight was the tunnel. It is about two thirds on the way towards the end point of the walk.You have to be on the walking track side of the trail to get to the tunnel. At many points you have the option to stay on the walking trail ( narrow) vs going onto the FireTrail. ( much wider) They both get to the same Nattai Gorge Lookout, a nice overview of gorge with two picknick tables! We arrived via the FireTrail and looped back via Walking Track ( and the tunnel!). The free version of All Trails helped me navigate. We started at the parking area, but noticed a few people joining the track a bit further in. Possibly Morris Rd. So if you have other places to go and people to meet, this could be an option to shorten...