Khancoban area of Kosciuszko National Park (Snowy Mountains and Canberra Trip)

Thursday 19 December 2019 – 279 921 

Pilot Wilderness

This morning we packed up and headed for the “Khancoban” area of Kosciuszko National Park. https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/things-to-do/driving-routes/kosciuszko-alpine-way-drive The first place we stopped was Pilot Lookout – which looks over the Pilot Wilderness Area, however there was minimal view due to the smoke haze.

We have camped at Geehi Flats Campground – a truly enormous area with lots of private nooks and crannies along the river to choose from. https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/camping-and-accommodation/campgrounds/geehi-flats-campground  After setting up camp, we set out for a 4WD track day.  First up was the Geehi Hut Track, followed by Geehi Walls Track and Major Clews Track. https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/things-to-do/walking-tracks/geehi-huts-walking-track https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/things-to-do/4wd-touring-routes/major-clews-hut-trail Restoration work was being done on Major Clews Hut, so we were unable to look inside it.  Doctors Hut no longer had an accessible river crossing (car or foot), so we looked at it from the opposite riverbank. Geehi Hut, Keebles Hut and Old Geehi Hut were all built of stone and beautifully cool inside on a 34-degree day.

Next up was Scammel Spur Lookout – views over to Carruthers Peak (where we walked on our first day in the National Park), but again smoky. https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/things-to-do/lookouts/scammells-lookout Olsen’s Lookout gave even better views. https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/things-to-do/lookouts/olsens-lookout 

From here we continued toward Geehi Dam, passing Middle Creek Aqueduct.  The Geehi Dam wall is impressive, and the overflow was through a drain hole once the water reached a certain level.

We attempted to walk to Doctor Forbes Hut, but the track was too overgrown with no signage visible to be able to work out where we needed to go. 

We came back to our campsite for a beautiful swim in the crystal clear rapidly flowing river.  Bliss on a hot day!  In our campsite this evening we had two Eastern Grey Kangaroos (Macropus giganteus) trimming the grass, ducks and a Superb Fairy Wren (Malurius cyaneus) cleaning insects off our car.  The only noise I heard all night was the burbling of the creek.