The search for the lost border huts - McPherson Range traverse, Lamington National Park

[@AustralianSpace]

Mate, you make some of the best Aussie camping videos going around. They’re so well paced and beautifully shot. Not only do they make me want to get out there, they also capture the bush so well it’s a joy to just lay back and soak up your experiences. Thanks!

[@AaronGrayOutdoors]

Thanks T, really appreciate the positive feedback as always. Thanks for all the support!

[@michaelbiggs7129]

Thanks fella's 👍👍

[@AaronGrayOutdoors]

Thanks!! 👍

[@mikeyhau]

About 50 years ago I hiked in to a hut from O'Reilley's named Rat-a-tat Hut. It was probably in the winter of 1974. It was near one of the sources of the Albert River. In fact we we found a spring in a nearby gully where the river came out of the ground. Good days! Unfortunately arthritis stops me from doing much walking any more.

[@AaronGrayOutdoors]

Thanks Mikey. I love Rat-a-tat, its a gorgeous campground but unfortunately there are no longer any signs of a hut out there - it was removed many years ago. Sorry to hear about the arthritis. I bet you miss getting out there. Cheers.

[@garymelville1538]

Thanks for the deja vu you guys. Watching it brought back an avalanche of memories!! I can even relate to the gentleman with Arthritis. So sad....

[@MayorPelican]

Mate this was cool, giving the adventure and backstory! Really well done

[@AaronGrayOutdoors]

Thanks Thomas! Appreciate that 👍👍

[@philiphorton1661]

Great Video, Thanks for taking the time to make it for everyone.

[@AaronGrayOutdoors]

Thanks Phillip, no worries. Glad I could share.

[@shanemalone1041]

We were at Long Creek Falls from Phillp Rd in the last monrth. I had not been there for 12 years but I remembered a Moreton Bay Rabbit whatever hut that is no longer there.

[@AaronGrayOutdoors]

Yeah there was originally quite a few huts along the fence line, but unfortunately most of them are no longer there.

[@MeasuredLight]

Whoa mate!! That second day! What a slog!!

[@AaronGrayOutdoors]

Thanks man! It was a really challenging day / hike it but well worth it and super rewarding. Tough terrain out in Southern Lamington!

[@DreamingBig]

You fellas are nuts. Epic as boys

[@AaronGrayOutdoors]

Cheers man. Certainly won’t be in a rush to do it again anytime soon 🤣

[@adammanneke-jones7472]

Thanks for sharing a good story The track looks wild but camping out like that is worth it 👍

[@AaronGrayOutdoors]

Thanks Adam, although challenging it was so worth it! Cheers 👍

[@kenmc5745]

Last time I walked this with a group of 8 or 9 . about 1990 .Climbed up to Bird Cage Friday night and camped. Early start and reached Tweed Trig around 5pm. I think track was maintained till about Blacksnake Ridge. Point lookout the next night, and out to Wagan, Bushranger cave the next big day - I think it was about 7 pm

[@AaronGrayOutdoors]

Thanks Ken. That’s a fairly big walk. Did you detour out to Cockscombe Point? I don’t think it’s possible to go from Gipps to Tweed Twig in a day anymore. We did a another hike out to Mount Nungulba from the Border Ranges and it is super rough up there. It is certainly no longer maintained and rarely ever walked.

[@kenmc5745]

@@AaronGrayOutdoors I not sure about Cockscombe Point. I was speaking to an old bushwalking friend of mine last weekend and he had attempted to walk Blacksnake back to Mt Gipps and cut back into Rimfire. This was planned as a day walk which we did regularly in the 80. But his party had to turn back after Black Snake because of the regrowth. I was very surprised because this friend has walked all his adult life and is still fit and very experience in off track. After talking to him I rewatch your video with a lot more respect. When you first broadcast it, I couldn't understand why it took so long from Birdcage to Blacksnake. Now I do. Keep making videos Aaron , I enjoyed your content.

[@AaronGrayOutdoors]

@kenmc5745 thanks Ken. Yep, it’s definitely hard work up there now. Most parties who attempt the scenic rim traverse skip this section and walk the roads instead. Yep, for sure. Just a little hot out there atm for overnight hikes. Looking forward to my Tassie trip next week!

[@scwhatl]

Great video. May check this out one day!

[@AaronGrayOutdoors]

Thanks! It was pretty challenging but a great hike regardless, if you don't mind a long bash.

[@mikesmith691]

Takes me way back to scout hikes in the early 90s.

[@AaronGrayOutdoors]

Thanks Chris. Glad I could bring back some memories.

[@michaelundery3893]

Great video. A mate and I did a reccy there in June this year. Did the same as you guys. Camped on mt Gipps, then headed off early. We only got 4.5ks in , it was tough going. You must be super fit. We actually wanted to see what it would take to get to Point Lookout. We realised we needed a few more litres of water and an extra meal or two. The afternoon we got to mt Gipps, we found a survey mark in a tree, on the Queensland side of the newer fence.

[@AaronGrayOutdoors]

Thanks Michael. Yeah it’s tough country in there for sure. We only went about 6km in to the second hut then bailed off black snake ridge, but I’ve heard it gets a lot worse once the fence finishes around Mt Nungulba through to Tweed Twig. Tweed Twig to Point Lookout isn’t too bad, as there is at least a rough and taped pad through that section. We will probably do another reccy around Mount Nungulba in the upcoming months. The road up Mt Gipps looks like it was cleared fairly recently so they might be doing some work around the area.

[@garycook8220]

I tried getting thru to Pt Lookout aiming for Oreillys May 2011 after the big rains. SLow progress in the forest told us we would not make it so we bailed after one night .@@AaronGrayOutdoors

[@AaronGrayOutdoors]

@garycook8220 I am certainly not surprised. Very difficult terrain / growth out there. I don’t think I’ll ever try the full traverse, but still need to get out to tweed twig which I’ll do from the border ranges.

[@yupmeister]

I went the opposite direction towards Long Creek Falls The weeds were so tall and thick I had to turn back

[@AaronGrayOutdoors]

I haven’t been up that side for years. Sounds about right though, the weeds are out of control. I’m not surprised after the rainfall we received this year.

[@davidunderwood9863]

I'll have to do that one.

[@AaronGrayOutdoors]

Thanks David, it was pretty challenging!

[@carolynharbottle-jj4rb]

Can you see mt warning from ìt

[@AaronGrayOutdoors]

Unfortunately all the views points on the hike look to the North, so no views to Mt Warning (which is to the East).