NSW, Little Hartley to Jenolan Caves road area. Glen Chees track + Cox's river - whos

[MalcomM Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close MalcomM]

Hi
Looking at the maps for the Little Hartley to Jenolan Caves road area at it looks like I can get through to Jenolan Caves road via Glen Chees track, maybe 6ft track and cox's river camping, all in the one trip.

Anyone have 1st hand knowledge of this area? Does it still actually link up?

[glen_ep Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close glen_ep]

Hey mate,
Wish I could help... but it's one of the few areas out that way which I haven't explored yet.

[MalcomM Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close MalcomM]

Well it looks like an interesting area to explore. Here's some info on parts of it but I think it could be interesting to do the lot as one trip, maybe with an overnight camp in the middle somewhere. Start at Little Hartley and finish at Jenolan Caves road somewhere.
Problem is that I have no idea if the tracks & roads still exist to connect them together anymore. They appear on maps but then so does Limeburners...
GoogleEarth shows vague tracks with a ton of bush on top so it'd be a recce trip that might end up only doing half of it all.

Glen Chee track
http://www.4x4earth.com.au/forum/new...11th-june.html

6ft track
http://www.jackaroo4wdclub.com.au/sixfoot.html

This is roughly what I'm thinking-
http://www.4x4earth.com.au/forum/att..._11062011.jpeg

[rags Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close rags]

Malcolm/Glen
This is an area that i have explored starting back when i got my 1st Hi Lux back in early 1980s, and was last out there approx 4yrs ago in my lifted 90s but have not been since getting the 120s as i was waiting to put the new springs in which have been in the shed for the last 6mths.
To answer your question [but not having map in front of me ATM] You can go from Coxs River rd of the GWH at Hartley,left off this rd into a rd call Ganbenang rd, left into Marsden rd down thru a village call Redfern where you pass a tennis court, left into a rd called Cullenbenbong rd [i think] up the hill till you find a couple of gates 1 marked private the other not sure if it is marked but from memory to the Right, proceed thru this which is private property but a gazetted rd until you hit the 6foot track ,turn left for the 6foot track river camp or Right which will continue onto Black Range rd that takes you back out to the Jenolan caves rd.
Off both the caves rd and the Black range track there are many tracks but some can be quite steep rutted adventures and slippery when wet,an area that a 2" lift and good AT tyres are needed [not if you stick to the main track as descibed.You can travel out to a place i know as Tabletop mt or can be known as Gibraulter rocks[ you will pass a turnoff to the right near the mention tennis court but from this end the track is closed at a private property,but you access the rocks lookout off the caves rd.
Some of the areas are cover in the boiling billy books for good directions.Hope it makes sense as i typing from memory without a map to reference.
Sounds like a trip should be organised ,but at this time of year it does start getting hectic.[and i need to fit the springs and snorkel that are in the shed].
cheers Russ

[MalcomM Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close MalcomM]

Many thanks Russ
Thats great info

Malcom

[MalcomM Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close MalcomM]

OK, I've created a bit of a GPS track for this trip.
Starts at Little Hartley and finishes back on the Jenolan Caves road.
Takes in Glen Chee road so I hope the Glen Chee track is in there somewhere.
Includes some of the 6ft track and the 6ft Track camping ground by the Coxs river.

I've no idea if this route is still drivable as some maps do not show all these roads anymore but hey, thats half the fun.

I'll update the route as I & when I figure out what else could be included on this trip.
If anyone has any updated info regarding the route, please add your bit.

http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=ggxktoyuqibqehzv

cheers
Malcom

[rags Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close rags]

Malcolm
You map looks pretty much the way i described, my guess is that Glenchee rd is the track that i mention that is thru the R/H gate that crosses a private property but remains open.
Are you thinking of doing this trip sometime soon?
Russ

[MalcomM Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close MalcomM]

Hi Russ
Yes I think I'll waste a weekend and have a crawl around the area one weekend soon.
Are you interested in joining me?

Might be a lot of back tracking as various maps do not show all the tracks/roads and some show them with different names. Could be NPWS have taken over some of it and it may not be passable anymore.
There appears to be several camping grounds out there (depending on which map you look at) so I'm happy to give it a weekend or a day depending on the reality of whats out there.

When do you think you'll have your suspension sorted, 'm led to believe there are rather nasty bits of track on this route.
I'm in no great hurry to do this.

Malcom

[Snowmann Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Snowmann]

Hi Malcolm and others
This track is listed in my 4wd tracks around Sydney book. The track is listed in the easy/suitable for AWDs (except after rain) section. My book says that you can combine it with the Jenolan caves to Wombeyan caves track (which is more difficult). I am interested in exploring sometime soon in a one day format or perhaps parking our camper at a campsite and looking over a weekend. If you are interested, let me know.

[glen_ep Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close glen_ep]

From what I've read of this area, a stocker will be fine in the dry, especially if there's a backup vehicle, BUT in the wet it's a totally different story! Even monster rigs will have to winch to climb the wet ruts.

[MalcomM Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close MalcomM]

My reading also points to being an area that quickly gets out of control in the wet.
Wouldn't have thought AWD's would succeed...

[rags Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close rags]

Here is a link that has details of a trip in the area and how you can get into trouble with a little rain . not sure if you need to register to view,
http://www.newhilux.net/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=3673

[Snowmann Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Snowmann]

Hi Guys
I am keen to have a look. I can only be advised by books and anyone who has driven in the area. The "4wd treks close to Sydney" book indicates that Cullenbenbong to Coxs river campground is usually well maintained while the Coxs river to Black Range less so. The book indicates that we should be able to tow our off-road camper the whole track (excepting of course after wet weather) if you were planning to camp overnight. My Prado is pretty much stock. Malcolm, were you looking for a second or third vehicle to go with you?
Cheers
Mark

[glen_ep Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close glen_ep]

Wow, rags, regarding that link (which we can't view without registering). That's a mammoth effort. I've been in a bad situation before but only had to winch 40m of rock steps.. not 200-300m of mud... Anyway I've taken note of that track, coordinates 33 45 26.3672 S 150 5 8.6719 E, it crosses "Little River". It could be fun!! haha

I may be in this trip as well... and if I do, I'll just take a tent.

[glen_ep Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close glen_ep]

BTW - I know someone who went into this region with a group, one had a trailer. It was wet at the time. They ended up having to strap together several vehicles in order to get the trailer out. Bottom line, I wouldn't take a trailer here, unless it's seriously dry and no forecast of rain.