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Login/signup to tick this walk off.Valley of Echoes via Albert River Circuit
(Lamington National Park)A lesser used walk starting at O'Reillys and spawning from the Border track.
Distance:
20.6kmDuration:
6.5 hoursDifficulty:
EasyGetting there
Make the drive through Canungara up to the O'Reilly's guest house. The walk starts as part of the Border track.
Maps
I used the O'Reilly's guest house trail map, bought for a few dollars just before leaving. It's not highly detailed, but gives you enough information to complete the walk.
Route/Trail notes
Starting from across the road from the guesthouse, follow the Border track. The first hour is a highway, and you'll come across all sorts of hikers as the track starts as a grade 1 paved track. There are two tracks leading from the right of the border track to the Albert River Circuit, approximately 200 metres apart. They are both well signed so you can't miss them. From memory, they are about 5 kms into the border track.
We took the second exit and almost immediately the highway became a little goat track. The path is easily distinguishable and it should be almost impossible to get lost. The path is very muddy and intersected by numerous water flows, making the footing a bit unstable at times. I ended up in the mud a few times!
Eventually the rainforest starts thinning out and the track swung around to the right and began following the edge of the Valley of Echoes. The path becomes very narrow at points with quite a steep fall to the left, so watch your footing. There are a few spots to stop and appreciate the view all the way to the Pacific.
After a while there is an old school marker signifying 5 or 8 miles to O'Reilly's. Not too far past this is a sign for the Echo Point lookout. A quick jump on some rocks and it's a great place to sit and eat lunch.
Unfortunately, while we were there the weather turned for the worst, so we had to turn back without finishing the whole circuit as we weren't at the halfway point yet.
A medium walk, as it is quite a distance. We probably covered 14 kms in our day without reaching the halfway point of the Circuit itself. At a good pace we did this in about 3.5 hours.
Comments
22 Oct, 2011
Started about 8am after getting an early look from the treetops. The border track was fairly uninteresting, and stopped for a brief bite to eat at the 1st junction about 9am (yes, only an hr from the start).Heading along the top section of track there was a small fallen tree from the recent storms/wind, that was laying across the track, but a small detour track had been worn on the side by others who had been along (maybe less maintained along this track?). Not much else of note for the next 45mins or so, until hitting the creek crossings/water falls, but thankfully getting through OK without many of those tiny leeches out there.
Got to Echo Point for lunch about 11.15, and watched the dark clouds heading over, but not dropping any rain. Also a small snake around there - a couple, who had gone the 2nd exit, turned up and said they'd heard about a tiger snake being reported around there (didn't see one, and didn't stay too long anyway). Latter 1/2 of the return track to the Border Track is a bit narrow/rocky in sections.
Got back to the end of the track about 1.30.
20 Aug, 2011
Started this walk at 08:45 after getting some local knowledge from the visitors centre.Headed down the Border Track and after 1 hour came to the first track junction for the Albert River Circuit.
After speaking to the locals at the visitor centre, I opted to do the circuit anti-clockwise.
The track is in good condition and navigating is easy. There was a howling wind that made the walk a bit chilly but still bearable.
There are waterfalls galore, so take a camera. There are a few places near the falls to stop for lunch but I waited till I got to Echo Point Lookout. Apparently this is one of the best viewing areas in the park. I got there and managed two photos before the cloud/fog rolled in. The wind picked up and become icy cold. On with jacket, beanie etc.
It took me 3 1/4 hours to get to the Lookout. I had lunch then headed off. From this point back to start is 8.2km's. There is a camping spot within 200 metres of the lookout.
I completed the walk including 20 minute lunch stop in roughly 5 3/4 hours.
I only saw 1 other walker on the circuit, he too opted for lunch at the lookout.
If you are going to do this walk, be prepared for the cool winds that seem to race up the valley.
Happy Walking :-)
Cheers..