Bendethra trip

Submitted: Monday, Jan 03, 2011 at 11:10

ThreadID: 83398 Views:3685 Replies:1 FollowUps:3

This Thread has been Archived

Bendethera Valley

This cleared yet picturesque valley, right in the heart of the Deua National Park provides excellent camping grounds right beside the crystal clear waters of the Deua River.

Bendethera Valley

Section: Treks

Bendethera Valley is in the Deua National Park, 320km south west of Sydney and 100km south east of Canberra. Min. requirement is a 4WD with low range and adequate clearance

Keith Berg

Our family will be hollidaying at North Durras in a week or two and we thought we'd do the run through Bendethra in a single (extended) day. We have a 100 series Lancrcruiser with AT's, winch and recovery gear which I'd be extremely happy not to use. Also have GPS and hard and soft topo maps.
It's going to be a big day and don't want to have to spend time getting unstuck or have trouble on the steeper pinches with the family on board. Will check with the local authorities a day or two before.
The plan is to have a look around and come back later for an extended stay.
My question is which is the easier - the run from Moruya to Braidwood or the other way around?

Keith

Back Expand Un-Read 0 Moderator Share

Reply By: Keith Berg - Monday, Jan 03, 2011 at 13:54

Monday, Jan 03, 2011 at 13:54

Can I add a bit more information? The plan is to come in from the East near Wandera.
then up the Oulla Creek trail
down Merricumbene trail
Mongamulla trail to Minuma Range trail
to Dampier Mountain trail with a side trip into Bendethera
Bendethera trail to Bendethra Mountain
and then out to Moruya via Little Sugarloaf road.

I have done a lot of 4WD trips in my younger days and am still comfortablle with rough bush tracks. But this is the first trip of this kind for many years and the territory is unfamuliar. I don't want to turn the family off by having to winch up hills.
Is there anything on this route that a sensible bloke should avoid?
Any comments on the trip would be appreciated.
Keith

AnswerID: 440564

Follow Up By: Member - Warrie (NSW) - Monday, Jan 03, 2011 at 16:48

Monday, Jan 03, 2011 at 16:48

Hi Keith,that's a big day you've got planned. Many trees down over Fathers Day but could/should be cleared by now. Yes it will pay to check with NPWS at Narooma. It will be slow going on the Merricumbene - allow 1 hour per 10 km. It's steep and you will be testing out low range. Pix in Places of Dampier Trig Point on the Minima FireTrail and Bendethera taken on a rainy and snowy weekend but track was no problem to a Prado and Pathfinder. Click on blue words for link... W

Warrie

Lifetime Member
My Profile My Blog Send Message

FollowupID: 712496

Follow Up By: Member - Vince M (NSW) - Monday, Jan 03, 2011 at 18:01

Monday, Jan 03, 2011 at 18:01

the way you want to go is a big day, we often go from Huskisson to bendethera as a day trip but just go straight in from Moruya-benthethera-damper snowball Braidwood home & that lets the kids do the caves a climb through & then a swim bbq & in 30years has never been a problem even when the rivers come up, as it goes down just as quick, the climb out can get a bit loose (western side) but not a problem & this is normally just after they grade/bulldoze it

average time Huskisson to bendethera 2.5rs via No stops
from bendethera snowball Braidwood Huskisson 3.5-4hrs but we have several stops. normally ends up being a 14hour day

we have been in with friend's with Nissan x trails & Mazda tribute & I have even driven my misses Nissan murano in (but went in & out the easy way through Moruya) with out a scrap

hope this helps
Vince

FollowupID: 712503

Follow Up By: Keith Berg - Tuesday, Jan 04, 2011 at 19:57

Tuesday, Jan 04, 2011 at 19:57

Thanks for the heads-up.
Apart from learning how to spell Bendethera properly, I've also learned that our planned trip is a bit too long with kids in the car. We'll shortten it a bit and leave time for a picnic lunch at Bendethra.
Many thanks for the advice.
Keith

FollowupID: 712602