Koombanda Canyon

Sometime in December 2022, I had an idea to go through a canyon solo. I honestly can’t recall exactly why I wanted to do this, I think it was mostly for the serenity, the feeling of being in a canyon alone (safely) or maybe friends were busy and I didn’t want to miss out?

Anyhoo, decisions were made and I was off!

I hadn’t done this canyon before, but I knew others who had completed it solo. After all, it was a very short canyon, very close to major roads and townships and didn’t have any challenging abseils. Pretty straight forward!

Of course though, as soon as I pulled up in the car park I had meet a relatively large group of people also preparing to start the same canyon. I had a bizarre feeling of guilt and embarrassment for being there alone… but after a few friendly chats the group invited me to join them!

So I wasn’t alone after all! I think I ended up having the day I was meant to all along, funny how things work out like that.

The group I met were part of the Upper Blue Mountains Bush Walking Club, led by Jim with his wife and a few others from the club.

This was also the maiden voyage for my new Seland Wetsuit, which I was VERY excited about! Starting to feel like a proper canyoner!

It was pretty scrubby getting into the creek, and even though it is not a deep or very slot like canyon, it was so so beautiful in its own right.

It was incredible hearing the stories from the group, most who had started canyoning in the 50s and 60s, and still canyoning in their 60s and 70s.

Hearing how they used to sling the rope around their torso to abseil, the gear they used and had available at the time and the way they had to navigate without the use of guidebooks or digital maps! I was honestly mesmerised by the stories.

The main star attraction of this canyon is this one cavern-ery abseil, which creates some epic photos.

It was a brilliant day, and a brilliant experience meeting these lovely people.

3 years later… I was fortunate enough to re-visit the beautiful Koombanda canyon with my friend Lili.

It’s so interesting to me how each trip to the same canyon provides a completely different experience and camera reel.

We couldn’t believe it when we spotted this beautiful owl! So much life in these canyons.

Back to this beautiful cavern section. Though it opens up again pretty quickly on the other side.

Lil on a very tricky climb down I didn’t really remember from 3 years ago, nor did I remember how high the canyon walls were in this section!

Was such a great day out, and the end of an almost 12 month break from canyoning for me. Life just gets in the way sometimes.

We then decided to venture up the end of Kamara Gully Canyon. I had heard it wasn’t worth the trip on its own, but many check it out while so close on the Koombanda exit track.

It was so much more beautiful than I was expecting.

I think I might need to come back for a full trip through Kamara. We went as far as we could before we reached a pool of water, not wanting to get wet again after drying off.