Grose Valley

The Grose Valley is a rugged valley in the Blue Mountains, New South Wales, Australia. It has been formed by the Grose River, the headwaters of which are in the Mount Victoria area. The valley is located between the two major routes across the Great Dividing Range, the Great Western Highway and Bells Line of Road.

Description and History

The Grose River has cut a deep gorge through the area as it makes its way east towards the Hawkesbury River. Sheer sandstone cliffs standing hundreds of metres above the river make for spectacular scenery and can be viewed extensively from the Blackheath area, where there are a number of accessible lookouts, the best known being Govetts Leap. [Sydney and Blue Mountains Bushwalks, Neil Paton (Kangaroo Press) 2004, pp.259-262] The valley can also be viewed from lookouts near Bells Line of Road and points outside Mt Victoria.

Charles Darwin described the Grose Valley as "stupendous … magnificent" when he visited in 1836. In 1859 some of the first photographs in Australia were taken in the valley. At various times there were proposals for rail lines and dams but these have not proceeded. In 1931, the valley was the subject of one of Australia's first forest conservation battles.cite news | first= Gregg | last= Borschmann | url= http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/the-burning-question/2006/12/10/1165685553945.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap1 | title= The burning question | work= | publisher= Sydney Morning Herald | date=2006-12-11 | accessdate= 2006-12-12] [cite web | year = 2002 | url = http://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/parks.nsf/ParkContent/N0004?OpenDocument&ParkKey=N0004&Type=Xk | title = Blue Mountains National Park: Culture & history | publisher = National Parks and Wildlife Service | accessdate = 2006-12-12]

Within the valley, the Blue Gum Forest is one place that stands out from the rest of the valley. It consists predominantly of towering Blue Gum trees, with a thin understorey because the tall trees inhibit the growth of ground cover by blocking most of the sunlight.Protected by the Blue Mountains National Park, the forest can be accessed only on foot, with several trails from different parts of the Grose Valley and adjacent canyons meeting in the forest. [Sydney and Blue Mountains Bushwalks, p.264]

There are a number of walks through the valley, with various entry, exit points and valley arms offering a range of permutations to explore. A moderate-grade day walk covering approximately 10km in five hours starts at Perrys Lookdown and descends sharply to the valley floor. Crossing through a corner of the Blue Gum Forest, the track goes south through the Acacia Flat camp ground, following the Govetts Creek. Passing several abandoned campgrounds, the path forks at Junction Rock; the route to Govetts Leap was closed in October 2003, following a landslide, and was reopened in December 2007. In the other direction, along Govetts Creek, the route then starts a continuous climb towards the Grand Canyon, where it forks again; one track goes to Neates Glen, while the other is a steep climb to Evans Lookout. The general direction of travel is towards the southeast and this direction is recommended as the final climb at Evans Lookout is not as difficult as the ascent at Perrys Lookdown. Creeks in the valley are seasonal and highly polluted, and are known to cause gastrointestinal upsets. The walk is much more strenuous in summer due to the higher daily temperatures and there is also an attendant greater risk from bushfire.

The valley has been affected by bushfires at various times, notably in 1982 and in November 2006. In particular the Blue Gum Forest was damaged by back burning. Owing to the harsh bushfires in 2006, the Blue Gum forest and other walking tracks in the valley have been closed to bushwalkers to allow the regrowth of vegetation. It is unknown when it will be opened. [cite news | first= Gregg | last= Borschmann | url= http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/the-ghosts-of-an-enchanted-forest-demand-answers/2006/12/10/1165685553891.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap1 | title= The ghosts of an enchanted forest demand answers | work= | publisher= Sydney Morning Herald | date=2006-12-11 | accessdate= 2006-12-12]

Major Tracks

* Neates Glen to Evans Lookout
* Rodriguez Pass to Govetts Creek
* Govetts Leap to Junction Rock
* Junction Rock to Blue Gum Forest
* Blue Gum Forest to Perrys Lookdown
* Blue Gum Forest to Burra Korain Flat
* Burra Korain Flat to Victoria Falls Lookout
* Govetts Leap to Evans Lookout
* Lockley Track from Blue Gum Forest to Mount Hay Road
* Mount Hay Track

Major Lookouts

* Govetts Leap
* Evans Lookout
* Point Pilcher
* Perrys Lookdown
* Anvil Rock
* Baltzer Lookout
* Walls Lookout
* Victoria Falls Lookout
* Lockley Pylon
* Mt Banks

References