Gooches Crater (Navigation Skills)

Introduction

This overnight hike will focus on navigation skills and orientation in the landscape. The route is less defined in places. This provides an opportunity to practice the use of map and compass. We will demonstrate the use of GPS as a secondary reference. The route is located in rugged country and creek crossings will be encountered. There will be some practice walking off track.

Scouts who demonstrate capability will be placed into patrols and given some practice operating under remote supervision. This hike is suitable for entry level. One or more bushwalking guides will be available to provide support and instruction.

The creeks are ideal for a swim and cool down.

Gooches Crater is an natural amphitheatre located on a tributary of the Wollangambe River 7.5 km north east of the Clarence Trig Station and 6 km north west of Wollangambe Crater in the locality of Newnes Plateau. It is a unique crater like swamp feature, ringed by deeply cut pagodas, roughly oval in shape. Named in the memory of Nicholas Gooch who originally discovered the feature in 1978.   

Route

Bell Station to Gooches Crater via Sandham Road

The distance is approx. 12 km return. Our pace will be slow at times due to the undulating landscape.

Cost

There are no costs except for self catering and transport.

Public transport is available to and from the venue.

Start and finish times correspond to train arrival and departure times from Bell Station on the Blue Mountains Line.

Camping

Cave camping is available at Gooches, those interested should still bring a fly in case we end up camping short of the location.

A small ground sheet and sleeping bag would be suitable. Boys and girls will be allocated seperate ends of the cave.

Cave camping is only available for youth members.