Wednesday 15/03/2023 Echo Bend Campsite – Echo Bend Campsite Walking Track – Nargun Carpark – Woolshed Creek – Den of Nargun – Deadcock Den – Mitchell River – Bluff Lookout
Mitchell River National Park, VICTORIA
Brayakoolong Country
Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos, Report), Sue Davies
Having taken our time on the drive in we didn’t head out on this walk until about 3:00pm?? So it was a hot, sunny afternoon as walked out of Echo Bend Campsite along the Echo Bend Campsite Walking Track. This track connects the privately owned campsite to the National Parks tracks. The track itself being lined with melaleuca we saw a goanna and rabbit on the way through and had a kookaburra laughing at us for being so silly to be out walking in the hot afternoon sun.
Max elevation: 176 m
Total climbing: 728 m
Total descent: -730 m
Average speed: 4.30 km/h
Total time: 03:01:39
Once onto the first National Parks track, we headed up to Nargun Carpark looking for their informative signs. From there we headed along the track down into and up Woolshed Creek until we reached Den of Nargun, a Gunnai/Kurnai women’s ceremonial cave. Back in the day, I can picture this as being a very special place with a wide flat-floored cave just behind a pool surrounded by a layered rock amphitheatre and dense vegetation along the creek. Originally there were stalactites and stalagmites in the cave but these were removed as souvenirs by early white visitors. Today there remains a single column just outside the cave. Today it was fairly dry, with just a trickle but it was easy to imagine how stunning this area would be after rain.
Just downstream of Den of Nargun along Woolshed Creek, there is a series of rock terraces on the creek that forms Deadcock Den, another Gunnai/Kurnai women’s special place. From here we walked a short distance along the Mitchell River Walking Track to get a sense of what to expect for our planned walk tomorrow. From what we saw it would likely be a much rougher track than we had recently been on and certainly less well maintained.
Mitchell River at Woolshed Creek
Our aim now before returning up the hill was to get in the Mitchell River for a swim. This was a lot easier said than done and after a couple of false starts we found ourselves at the confluence of Woolshed Creek and the Mitchell River. Here amongst the boulders, we managed to cool off for 10 minutes for getting back on track. Whilst searching for an entry point we found and got some good photos of an Australian Water Dragon on the rocks in Woolshed Creek and later, just above.
Australian Water Dragon (Intellagama lesueurii) at the junction of Woolshed Creek and Mitchell River
The track out climbs to Bluff Lookout, where there are views over the Mitchell River valley and up Woolshed Creek Valley. On the walk back to camp there was a goanna meandering along the track, that is until it sighted us and hurried off into the undergrowth. It was still hot on arrival at camp, so we were grateful the whole campsite is very grassy and easy to find some shade under a tree.
After dark I headed off for a short wildlife-spotting walk around camp. In my 30-minutes out, I sighted a kookaburra, a very plump wombat, a possum and a sugar glider. I missed the Boobock owl our neighbours had spotted.
History of Brayakooloong Country
Information on NSW National Parks signage along the way
WUNMAN NJINDE WELCOME To BRAYAKOOLOONG COUNTRY
Brayakooloong is one of the five clans of the Gunaikurnal. Brayakooloong occupied the current site of Sale, Providence Ponds, Avon and Latrobe rivers. West of Lake Wellington to Mount Baw Baw and Mount Howitt.
Not Just an Ordinary Park The Mitchell River National Park holds a rich cultural history which tells of stories of conflict between tribes, to tales of ceremonies, food gathering, community life and spirits that inhabit the area.
The Den of Nargun is a place of great cultural significance to the Gunaikurnai people and is a traditional place for Gunaikurnai women.
Traditionally Gunaikurnai men were not allowed down to the Den of Naraun or the Woolshed Creek valley. Gunaikurnai men respected this traditional law and still do today.
The Mitchell River
The great divide between the Brabawooloong clan to the east and the Brayakooloong clan to the west. The Mitchell River sets the boundary for these two clans.
The Mitchell River today is part of a 260km system, making it Victoria’s largest remaining wild and free-flowing river.
The Mitchell River flows from the Great Dividing Range where the Wonnangatta and Dargo Rivers meet, to its mouth feeding the heart of the Gippsland Lakes at Paynesville. The Mitchell River is heritage listed. The Mitchell River National Park has the southernmost occurrence of dry rainforest with its dominant species of Kurrajong found on the rocky slopes of the Mitchell River Gorge. Warm temperate rainforest is found flourishing in the moist gullies. The park has special flora and fauna conservation values with several significant communities and a number of rare or threatened species of state and national significance.
Twenty regionally significant species are found here.
Alfred Howitt was the first European explorer to survey the river accompanied by two Aboriginal guides, Bungil Bottle and Master Turnmite. Howitt travelled down the Mitchell River in a bark canoe. When they reached rapids they were forced to abandon the canoes and travel up Woolshed Creek where he ‘discovered’ the Den of Nargun.
Mitchell River Walking Track
Mitchell River Walking Track is now open from Angusvale to the Den of Nargun Loop Walk.
The section from the Den of Nargun to Final Fling is now closed.
Please take plenty of drinking water when undertaking any walks or hikes.
The track is remote, and conditions can change quickly – please check the latest local weather forecast conditions before your hike.
The local flora, fauna, geology, history and some other walks (ChatGPT)
Geologically, Mitchell River National Park is situated on the eastern edge of the Australian continent, and it is home to a range of geological features, including towering sandstone cliffs, deep gorges, and cascading waterfalls. The river itself flows through the heart of the park, carving its way through the rugged terrain and creating a haven for wildlife.
In the past, the area was inhabited by Indigenous Australians, who have lived in the region for over 40,000 years. They used the natural resources of the area for food, medicine, and cultural practices. The first European settlers arrived in the area in the 1840s, and the park was established in 1915 to protect the unique environment.
The flora of Mitchell River National Park is diverse and stunning. The park is home to tall forests of mountain ash, and towering eucalyptus trees that can reach over 100 meters in height. These majestic trees dominate the landscape and provide habitat for a range of wildlife, including koalas, possums, and gliders.
The park is also home to a variety of ferns, including the giant fern, which can grow up to six meters tall. These ferns thrive in the cool, moist conditions of the gorges and provide a lush understorey for the forest.
The fauna of Mitchell River National Park is equally impressive. The park is home to a range of bird species, including the elusive lyrebird, which is known for its incredible ability to mimic a range of sounds, from other birds to chainsaws.
The park is also home to a range of marsupials, including the agile wallaby and the Eastern grey kangaroo. These creatures can often be spotted grazing in the grassy clearings that dot the forest floor.
For those who love to hike, Mitchell River National Park offers a range of walks, from short, easy strolls to challenging multi-day treks. The Mitchell River Walking Track is a popular route that takes in some of the park’s most stunning scenery, including the Mitchell Falls and the spectacular Billy Goat Bluff.
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