Deua NP: Looking for Cleatmore Cave

This is an irregular capped X/M-H walk provided as a third Wednesday walk option. As some of it is off track and largely exploratory for the leader, participants need to be experienced at off track walking, reasonably fit and suitably prepared to cope with whatever the terrain might throw at us.

The walk aims to find Cleatmore Cave, which I recall visiting in the early 1990s. At this stage it is intended to be a there and back walk - starting and finishing on the Big Hole/Marble Arch walking trail at the Berlang Camping Area. Depending on how the group is going we might include a circuit. We will visit the Big Hole on the way.

I estimate the walk to be around 16km or so in distance, with over 500m of cumulative climbing (assuming a there and back walk). We'll get our feet wet crossing the Shoalhaven R at the start and end of the walk so bring your creek crossing shoes (which we'll hide in the bushes somewhere near). We may also get damp feet crossing boggy areas and encounter scratchy nana scrub - so bring gloves and gaiters. There may also be leeches - so insect repellant and leech treatment (eg salt) are highly recommended! Bring something extra warm to wear.

If we find the Shoalhaven R is not possible to cross safely we will revert to a plan B walk out of the Captains Flat area.

We'll meet early at Spotlight Queanbeyan and pool cars to the walk start from there. The drive to/from the start of the walk is around 1hr 15min or so each way.