#3: [15-Apr-19]

#1: [15-Apr-01]

15-Feb-2012 -- This is the first out of six confluences that I visited during a short trip to Australia.

A business trip brought me to Newcastle. Actually it is quite unusual for me to combine a working trip with confluence visits, but the opportunity to visit some points in a new continent could not be missed.

After all meetings were over, I started the trip from downtown Newcastle at 10 AM with a rental car. Via Chessnock, Wollombi and the small housing of Laguna I got into the area (still 13 km straight line). A mountainous unsealed track brought me to Finchley Geodetic Station, which is also a viewpoint to Mount Yengo, 3.5 km from the CP. Mount Yengo is a basalt peak dominating the landscape and it is an important feature of the indigenous heritage. It is said to be the place where the Dreamtime ancestral being, Biamie stepped off into the heavens after creating the world. Therefore, Mt. Yengo is a sacred mountain. 800 m closer to the point, you can see Aboriginal engravings.

I started hiking from 3.5 km distance although it is possible to drive up to a distance of 2.5 km to the confluence. But traversing these last 2.5 km means to do quite a difficult bush bashing hike. I traversed two deep canyons with rock-steps that need to be taken with caution. Although it was extremely hot, I had to wear my jacket, because I had left my sunscreen at home and also to avoid the thorns hurting me. My water supply turned out to be insufficient, because I had never expected such hot conditions.

The confluence is on a relatively steep grade with dense vegetation consisting of Eucalyptus trees, and other species of trees and bushes. At the confluence, it is possible to view the valley below.

I returned the same way that I had come and reeached my hotel in Newcastle at 8 PM after a 10 hour trip.

CP Visit Details:

• Distance to an asphalt road: 8 km
• Distance to a road: 1.6 km
• Distance to a track: 1.6 km
• Distance of parking: 3.5 km
• Distance to houses: 5 km
• Time starting the hike: 11:50 AM
• Time at the CP: 3:00 PM
• Measured height: 278 m
• Minimal distance according to GPS: 0 m
• Position accuracy at the CP: 4 m
• Topography: mountainous, steep grades
• Vegetation: Eucalyptus forest
• Weather: sunny, 28° C (felt temperature)
• Description of the CP: In New South Wales, about 60 km from the Pacific Coast. In a wilderness area of the Yengo National Park as part of the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area, historic Aboriginal land.
• Given Name: The Sacred Aboriginal Confluence

Story continues at 34°S 151°E.

In the Yengo National Park.