by waterfallman » Tue 05 Jan, 2016 10:07 pm
Hi to caedencekuepper.. Yes, the whole thing is a pain in the proverbial isn't it. But don't worry, you were on the right track!
I've been down there just recently, (jan 2015) and you are not going mad. Hang in there.
After you passed the sign for the dirt road up to the WOJ entrance, you would have veered to the right, and continued on down that very long and rocky bumpy potholed excuse for an access track that is annoyingly called a "Road"!
So.. 3.2k after Dublin road, just after the Fish River, there is a turnoff/sign to the WOJ Nat Pk. This track is called "Walls of Jerusalem Track". It leads up to Trappers hut.
And, a further 6.5k after this turnoff, there is ANOTHER turnoff to ANOTHER entrance to the WOJ Nat Pk. (Lake Myrtle Track).
And.. another 2.1k after this, is the "parking area" (Loosely called) for the track start to Lewis and Oxley Falls. There is room for about 10 cars to park roadside here. Sometimes you see horse floats here too, as the access track is also used as a bridal track. No, the horses don't cross the suspension bridge, they divert and cross on a shinglebank upstream. lol.
In any case, the track you saw goes steeply down, and through a timber gate/barrier which is usually open. It is painted bush green and is hard to see from the main road. Don't drive down here. you will be stuffed. You need a 4wd ute with balloon tires, high clearance and a low ratio diff. Just walk it. About 500m to the bridge.
Also, about 1.7k further on from here, is the end of the Mersey Forest "Road". It is a non-descript clear area/turning circle, unsigned and sometimes has a couple of cars locked up there, as their owners walk in the WOJ Nat Pk. This is via ANOTHER entrance! Which just happens to be leading off into the bush heading SSE from the turning circle. Again, UNSIGNPOSTED!! Dammit! This looks like an overgrown small vehicle track with two grassed wheel ruts.
I am starting a friendly email war with Parks over this. They know that the next time I go down there, I am going to strongly nail two triple laminated signs to the trees, in order to help avert troubles for newcomers. There is no point in having these wonderful natural features if no one can ever find them to look at them!
Directional uncertainty in the bush is intolerable, as the Emergency services well know, having been called out on average of 4 times per week since this july, to help rescue people. Now, some of this is due to their own inexperience, but it is also incumbent on those of us who are bush savvy, to help ease the way, for those who are interested in these things and only need a helping hand! We are not all "Great Explorers" etc. (rant over).
So.. hang in there.. Have another go. You were so so close.
Also, some 500m up the road (NE) from the timber gate, there is a small piece of blue tape hanging precariously from a bush. Head about 25m into the bush, west of this, and you will arrive at a high and dangerous cliff! Use great care here. Beware loose edges etc. But you will look down and see the West Rowallan Rapid, a long tumultuous cascade on the Mersey River, which is a rip snorter in high water! Bit average when dryish, but ok.
Cheers.. Take care and have fun!