Solo Bungonia Gorge Slot Canyon (Red Track) - one of the best day hikes in NSW

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This has got to be one of Australia's best day hikes - 1.5 hours from Canberra in NSW
I did this hike in May 2020 as the restrictions started to lift from corona.
Its a day hike in Bungonia National Park but it takes about 5 hours due to the elevation change and rock hopping and boulder scrambling.
Bungonia National Park, is an outdoor adventure playground offering caving, canyoning, rock climbing, abseiling, hiking and impressive views (www.nationalpa...) There are also wheelchair accessible viewing platforms, toilets and BBQ facilities.
Bungonia National Park is made up of the spectacular limestone of Bungonia Creek and escarpment views to the Shoalhaven River. The National Park is one of NSW’s oldest conservation reserves with sections of the park first protected as a water reserve in 1872.
This walk is the Red Track which follows a spectacular 5 hour track through the Bungonia Slot Canyon. For more information see (www.nationalpa....
I stop to admire the calls of a Fan-tailed Cuckoo and Lyrebird. I also stop to treat drinking water and talk about why I love hiking poles.
Sawyer water treatment can be purchased on Amazon (Australia) here: amzn.to/3kWjLre
and poles here: amzn.to/3qCTHD3
​(note: i get a small bonus if you buy from this link - but please shop around prices can vary a lot, thanks)
If you enjoyed this video please like, share, subscribe and leave a comment.
Thanks for watching.
NOTE: All equipment was purchased with my own money. I have no affiliations with any brands.
I acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of this land, I pay my respect to Elders past and present.
For details on my hiking gear: www.australianh....
Contact information
Personal website: www.kategrarock...
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Music
What have I done - by Joshua Wellington
Photos
Photo Fan-tailed Cuckoo by Graham Winterflood - Flickr
www.flickr.com...
Photo Cuckoo feeding by Nicolò Bonazzi - Flickr
www.flickr.com... Bonazzi

[@WollemiAdventures]

Did this as an overnight hike a couple months back - camped along the Shoalhaven river. Absolutely stunning, especially walking through the gorge and seeing the walls extend high up on either side! Awesome video Kate.

[@KateGrarock]

So cool. I’ve always wanted to do that. Is it hard going from after the turn back up the hill to the shoalhaven? I need to get back down there one day

[@WollemiAdventures]

@@KateGrarock it’s a bit of a slog but doesn’t last too long so definitely doable!

[@KateGrarock]

Cool Thanks

[@amandadaisydogwanderings]

thanks kate, it was fun to see it through your eyes and hear your knowledge about the birds! it makes me want to go back and do the slot canyon again - but i still remember how hard the climb out was! :)

[@KateGrarock]

haha thanks yes that climb is epic hey

[@user-yv5yp]

Thanks Kate, just wandered the white track this morning and up that red track path, awesome spot, lyrebirds everywhere 🙂

[@KateGrarock]

Thanks mate. How darn good is it. So glad you got out there. Cheers

[@lesaknight8767]

Kate, that was bloody beautiful, it was great to see you sit, relax and take it all in. No rushing to finish.. look forward to the next video.

[@KateGrarock]

Thanks so much really appreciate you taking the time to write 😀😀😀

[@SamClarkPhotographerAdventurer]

What a magic hike Kate. I can see that I'll have to head up that way sometime.

[@KateGrarock]

Thanks Sam. It’s epic beautiful. Except the view of the mine.

[@SamClarkPhotographerAdventurer]

Agree! @@KateGrarock

[@ERIKOFFTRACK]

Nice one Kate! Love your enthusiasm!

[@KateGrarock]

Hey man thanks so much. I’ve really been enjoying it 😀😀😀

[@terryleareynolds9368]

Hi Kate. I did the Red Track/Shoalhaven River/White Track Circuit yesterday with 3 friends. We loved it. We took 5 and a half hours to do the circuit. Mighty tough. Thought your video was super. Thanks for sharing. :)

[@KateGrarock]

so glad you got out there it's such a magnificent place. Thanks for the well wishes. happy trails.

[@chris-tq5ly]

Such a great point about the landscape and the water seeping through minimising the undergrowth!! So stoked I found your channel!!

[@KateGrarock]

Hi Chris thanks so much. It’s an epic landscape there hey. Thanks for watching and welcome to the channel.

[@NathanaelCBR]

I'm going there in a few weeks and stumbled on your video, and love it! And was great to see you enjoy it and reflect on how important getting out in nature and hiking is to you.

[@KateGrarock]

Thanks mate. It is such a wonderful area. I can’t believe it took me so long to discover this place. Hope you have a wonderful time.

[@danielparsons2859]

Great video. I loved the music and your enthusiasm for such a cool spot. I've done this walk many moons ago and I remember how difficult the walk back up was.

[@KateGrarock]

Thanks so much for the kind works. Yes. It certainly gets the blood pumping. Thanks I’ll tell Joshua, his music is the best.

[@waynemcmillan5970]

Thanks Kate great walk. Please continue your videos.

[@KateGrarock]

Thanks for the kind words. I’m aiming to get something out every couple of weeks

[@hikerinaustralia]

Awesome video. I've been to Bungonia and done some caving but have never done the slot canyon walk. Thanks for sharing your experience with us.

[@KateGrarock]

Thanks a lot. It’s such an amazing area hey. Caving would be pretty fun. I must get back there soon.

[@TakeAHikeWithMe]

This could be my favourite video so far Kate 😁 thanks for sharing, this hike is definitely on my bucket list now I found it on Alltrails 🤩👍🏻

[@KateGrarock]

So good to hear. Hope you love it

[@andrewstevenson9594]

Great walk Kate. You have inspired me to bust out of my own Corona Torpor and get out into the bush again. :)

[@KateGrarock]

Andrew thanks so much. Wow what a compliment inspiring others to hike. What a brilliant outcome. Let me know where you go.

[@madra1cal2]

I'm such a fan of your videos.Your determination and good humour are great to behold. Inspirational,well done. Long May you continue to enjoy it. I always feel that I can't wait for my next hike after watching one of your videos 👏👏🙏

[@KateGrarock]

Thank you! 😃 what a lovely comment to kick off 2023. Happy hiking to you.

[@Keith_003]

Great vid. I use the same hiking poles, they are very good with heavy pack. Has similar experience with water, in a pristine wilderness, refilled water, then short later upstream dead pig in water - yuk.

[@KateGrarock]

Oh so cool about the poles. They are cool hey. And yes I always treat it now. Happy hiking

[@helimick]

Once again!! Thank you for sharing!!!

[@KateGrarock]

thanks so much for the comment :)

[@scarps113]

Another great hike, thanks for sharing. Have added to the bucket list and will try and fit this into my next trip north across the border to or on return from Sydney. Likely to be 2021 now🤔

[@KateGrarock]

It's such an amazing place and so close to the highway. I would love to continue this hike on to the river and camp. Although the boulder field would have been tricky with a full pack.

[@evdoxiakarakasidis271]

What a fantastic video. Thank you for sharing. That canyon is sheer MAGIC ✨ And I get your happiness. Nature puts everything back into perspective. Soothes the soul.

[@KateGrarock]

Totally. Thanks for the lovely comments 😀

[@youytubey]

I remember doing this one when I was 9 and the dad's lifting the kids over the boulders lots of fun

[@KateGrarock]

OMG how exciting would that be as a 9 year old. So cool

[@youytubey]

@@KateGrarock one of my fave memories! Planning to go again as an adult now and reminisce along the way, thanks for sharing your trip!!

[@KateGrarock]

@@youytubey oh so cool. Happy hiking. Enjoy the workout up hill 😀

[@rlhydn3438]

Now I realllllllllly need to do the red track. Love those cheeky Lyrebirds, There is one on the Box Vale Track that imitates all the favourites, including black cockatoo

[@KateGrarock]

Oh how lovely. They are right up there with one of my favourites. Happy hiking

[@BlackshacksBushcraft]

Awesome. Thank you. 😀

[@KateGrarock]

thanks - amazing little gem that one

[@FreedomOnFoot]

What a fantastic hike, thanks for sharing that! For water collection bags, have you checked out the CNOC Vecto bags? I use one of those and it is brilliant paired with my Sawyer filter.

[@KateGrarock]

Thanks a lot. Wow those bags look ace. I’ll have to get some cheers. Happy hiking.

[@kevinbrennan5113]

Kate, that was amazing. Remember doing the Red Walk a few years ago, when i had better knees. And yeah, it's truly jaw dropping. May return in a few weeks, with a few mates, and choose one of the easier walks in the area. Like you, i paddled some of the Shoalhaven River, from my last adventure.. Coolendel to Nowra. Of course, upper Tallowa, is more the go, so yeah, will probable do, some time early next year, with an overnight camp, hopefully, somewhere near the gorge. From there, it's The Six Foot Track, in April.

[@KateGrarock]

Thanks. Yes there is so much to explore in that little area. I have to get back on the water for a paddle. Happy hiking or paddling

[@jules4343]

I am enjoying watching your videos, it is nice to see someone else like me- someone who gets the 'smiles' and deep, contented 'sighs' about being out in the bush.

[@KateGrarock]

Thanks so much Jules. Ir really is the best medicine. Happy hiking

[@shazamshazam]

"I've sort of piss-farted around"

[@KateGrarock]

Hahaha. There are a few Grarock favs in there

[@katebee490]

I did that this weekend. Nearly cried at one point during the boulders when I got stuck 😂 but I made it

[@KateGrarock]

haha oh well done for keeping at it. Yes it can be a bit daunting. Happy hiking

[@StuuBodo]

When you said goulash I thought you may have been Hungarian like my family but I'm with that last name you probably have an Austrian family history.

[@KateGrarock]

Haha yes absolutely. Was just down visiting my Nan for the weekend. She learnt to make the goulash at a hotel in Austria where she worked. I did always wonder how traditionally Austrian it was. Cheers mate