The Megalong Valley is located about 120 km west of Sydney, near the town of Blackheath in the upper Blue Mountains. Access to Megalong is along the winding Megalong Road, with a steep descent into the valley. Last July, I took a drive down into the valley, and navigating the hairpin bends was made more challenging with roadworks underway in various sections due to land slips. I enjoyed my time in the valley with its stunning views of rugged escarpments, and on the way out I went for a short walk along the Coachwood Glen Nature Trail.
The trail is located on the eastern side of Megalong Road within Blackheath Glen. It was created by the Blackheath Rotary Club following recommendations from Frederick Mansfield, who was club president in 1965-1966. In later years, there were extensions to the trail along with the addition of educational plaques and notice boards, and it remains a popular spot.
A 600-metre loop walk is set in the rainforest, with the Pulpit Hill Creek crossed twice by the track. There is greenery everywhere, with moss covered rocks and thick vines wound around branches. The trail goes up and down, and there are some steep steps in places. Due to the high moisture level, some surfaces can become slippery.
The area is well-known for colourful fungi, particularly in autumn. Fungi play an important role in decomposition, and there is a detailed post about fungi identified in Coachwood Glen here. There is another post here about the fungi of the upper Blue Mountains, and it features some great photos of waxcap mushrooms spotted in the Glen.
I enjoyed my trot around the track, and was pleased not to encounter any leeches along the way. It would be interesting to visit during different times of the year. There are some great photos and a 360 degree virtual tour of the track available here.
In early April, there was torrential rainfall with significant flooding in various parts of the state. There was a major landslide on Megalong Road, which effectively cut off the valley. There was no vehicle access, and a limited shuttle service was set up for residents, along with fuel and food drops via helicopter. Thankfully, the road has recently reopened with limited traffic capacity, with tourists and bushwalkers returning to this popular area.
Have you had a wander in a rainforest recently?
Photo: entrance to the Coachwood Glen Nature Trail, Megalong Valley
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