Nudgee Wilderness Walk – Intermediate / advance hike

I (Oliver) will be running a multiday hike Friday afternoon (ideally leaving UNSW at 2pm) the 27^th September walking till Monday midday and back to Sydney late Monday night (30^th September). We are doing the Nudgee Wilderness Walk (https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/things-to-do/walking-tracks/nadgee-wilderness-walk). We will Start from Merrica River Crossing  (-37.305928, 149.924862) early Saturday morning. The Plan is to drive down Friday afternoon leaving at 2 pm to miss as much traffic as possible. It is a 6.5h+ drive so leaving too late will be hard. We will camp by the cars Friday night.

This is an Intermediate/Advanced Hike, prior experience is mandatory (it is a hard track with few track marks). The Plan is as follows:

**Please note I have been fairly conservative with my timings hopefully we will be able to walk faster given its so flat.**

• Friday:

Drive down in the afternoon

• Saturday:

Hike 19.8km (6.5h)

We start at the cars at Merrica River Crossing then follow the track to Newtons Beach, there are Sea Caves at the north end of the beach we can stick our heads in if we are feeling brave. We walk to the southern end of the beach, then re-join a smaller track. We will go past Osprey Lookout then camp at the north end of Nadgee Beach. https://www.komoot.com/tour/92884118?ref=wtd

• Sunday:

Hike 22km (7h)

We leave the camp early heading towards bunyip hole, crossing across Nadgee lake entrance heading to camp at lake barracoota. https://www.komoot.com/tour/92884126?ref=wtd

• Monday:

Walk 8.4km (2.5ish hours) then transfer to Mallacoota then back to cars.

Leaving camp early in the morning we will head to the transfer pickup location for transfer for 11am by boat across Mallacoota Entrance (we need the boat because its open) then by car (van?) should get back to the cars 1230/1pm and will drive back to Sydney arriving back late at night. https://www.komoot.com/tour/92884131?ref=wtd

Water:

Water can be very limited on this hike, please all bring some kind of WATER PURIFICATION (for example, tablets) because stagnant water may be the only option at times. We MUST all set off with at least three litres of water.

Sleeping

• Tent*
• Ground Sheet**
• Sleeping mat*
• Sleeping bag*

Clothing

• 40 – 70 L Pack*
• Thermals
• Warm (fleece / small down) jacket
• Hiking clothes
• Gaiters
• Raincoat
• Hiking boots
• Spare socks (hiking socks + sleeping socks)
• Sunscreen / hat / sunnies
• UNSWOC Beanie**
• Rain pants**

Compulsory accessories

• PLB (at least 1 per group)*
• First aid kit (at least 1 per group)*
• Compass (at least 1 per group)*
• Space / emergency blanket*
• Map (I have PDFs I can send for you to print or put on your phone)
• Phone (full battery + put in flight mode)
• Head torch + spare batteries
• Personal medicines (if any)
• Toiletries (toothbrush, etc)

Cooking

• Food for 3 lunches and 2 dinners
• Stove
• Gas
• At least 3 L of water

* – can borrow from club

**- optional

It’s a great idea to team up to cook and sleep so we have to carry less stoves and tents (ideally 2-3 people per tent and per stove). If you have a Trangia might be worth teaming up with someone with gas because they are so much smaller and lighter.

Comments

Please comment with your experience, a confirmation that you can leave on Friday at a reasonable time (one car will leave from UNSW at 2pm), where you live (suburb) and if you have a car, and your dream hike. If you have any questions please message me (Oliver Nicholls) or Sarah McVicker. A reminder that there is fire ban so NO FIRES are allowed during the hike.

Cheers, Oliver