• Walk
  • Map
Time:7 hrs
Distance:17 km
Fitness:EM
Skill:M
Ascent:350 m
Maps: LPI Mount Wilson 8930-1N 1:25000
Notes:Print-friendly notes (opens in new window)
Please note that while the maps on this web site are useful and generally contain more, and more accurate, information on trails, the relevant topographic maps should be carried on most walks. These are available from the Lands Information Centre, map shops, and most outdoor stores.

Introduction

Open tops on the way out to Ikara Head

Asgard Plateau is the part of the Grose Valley north of Mt Victoria, between the upper Grose River, and Victoria Creek. While not a large area, there are many interesting features and excellent lookouts that can be visited.

This walk has several short off track sections, though the navigation is fairly straightforward. The tracks themselves are not signposted, but are mostly not hard to find or follow. The scrub is fairly mild on the plateau, and the clifflines are small, meaning route finding is easy.

However, if you wanted to do an entirely on track walk, you could visit Ikara Head as an out-and-back walk, and then visit Thor Head, Mackenzie Mine and the lookout below Asgard Head as a separate walk.

Access

The walk starts from the trackhead for the Asgard Swamp track.

Coming from Sydney, head through Blackheath on the Great Western Highway, and turn right on to Victoria Falls Rd (dirt/gravel), 5.2km after the lights in Blackheath. Continue for 4.1km and park at the locked gate and sign.

Track notes

From 06 Aug 2016, last checked 06 Aug 2016

Asgard Swamp from Thor Head

Walk back up the road for 550m, passing an old fire trail after 300m. Turn right on to a hard to spot foot track, possibly marked by a cairn, at GR 474822 that leaves from one of the many runoff drains. This leads on to the ridge out to Ikara Head. Once on it, the track is easy to follow, and opens out to great views at Ikara Head itself after 3km (50 min).

Return back to the low saddle at GR 473840, and, just below a large rock gendarme, try and find a minor track that leads directly down the hill to the ESE. The hill is steep but fairly straightforward even if you can't find the track. At the bottom, turn left and follow the bank downstream to Girraween Cave, a large overhang on the western side of the creek above the swamp.

Cross the swamp - you can usually avoid getting wet feet - and head off track up the ridge to the SE. At the top of the ridge, turn right on the fire trail, and then left on to a less obvious fire trail after 200m. This turns into a foot track. As you drop off the top of the hill at GR 480844, the track peters out. A cairned route leads out to the cliff top to the north, for good views of Ikara Head and the upper Grose. However, to get to Valhalla Head, navigate off the hill to the north east and find a route across the saddle, before following the ridge around to north and east to the top of Valhalla Head. There are no views from the high point, but if you make your way down the ridge to the north east, there are rock outcrops on the cliff edge with excellent views of Wilkinson Hill, Jinki Gully and Dalpura Creek.

The Mackenzie Mine

Return to the top of Valhalla Head, and then head west for 200m, and then south down the ridge avoiding pagodas as necessary. As you reach Asgard Swamp, skirt it to the west, until you reach a large pagoda and campsite. The track marked on the map (actually a fire trail) is picked up on the south east side, and can be followed around to the east. Keep an eye out for an unmarked track on your left at GR 488839. This leads up to Thor Head. There is a great wide rock platform before the final climb up to the high point that looks directly down the Grose, and then from the high point there are excellent views to the north and west.

Return to the main track, and turn left. The track heads south east, and, just as it turns south, look out for another faint foot track off to the left at GR 490838. This leads down into the creek, crossing the creek a couple of time, before switchbacking through the cliffs and down to the old Mackenzie Coal Mine. Across the other side of the creek can be found a well-preserved old brick kiln. Take a torch if you want to have a look inside the mine.

Grose Valley from Asgard Head

Return again to the main track and continue along to the SE. The fire trail peters out into a foot track. This leads shortly to a great lookout on the lower cliffline north east of Asgard Head. There are excellent views directly down the Grose Valley, of Burra Korain Head to the SE, and also of Victoria Falls way below in the Victoria Creek valley.

Backtrack 150m along the track, and then walk off track up an easy gully that leads through broken clifflines. Return to the cliff edge and follow it around to the stunning point about 200m south of the high point on Asgard Head at GR 489830. This is the best spot to see Victoria Falls, and offers great photos of the cliffs. There are various other good spots to stop for views on the way.

Navigate north off track along the ridge back to the campsite at Asgard Swamp. There are some easy minor clifflines to negotiate.

Turn left on the fire trail, and it is only 2km (about 30 mins) walk back to the car. There is one creek crossing on logs that may require some care to avoid wet feet.

Victoria Falls and the top of Asgard Head

Walk variations

Asgard Plateau (overnight)

Time: 2 days Distance: 21 km Fitness: E Skill: EM Ascent: 350 m

An overnight walk similar to the above one can be done using the campsite at Asgard Swamp as a base.

Start by walking packs into the Asgard Swamp campsite (2km) and set up camp. With day packs, continue the loop that heads to Valhalla Head, Girraween Cave and Ikara Head - as per the notes but in the opposite direction. Return to the road, and head in again to the Asgard Swamp campsite. If time permits, you can do the side trip to Thor Head in the afternoon/evening.

Otherwise the next day, again with day packs, you can do a second loop with side trips that takes in Thor Head, Mackenzie Mine, the lookout below Asgard Head and Asgard Head itself. Head back to camp, pack up, and walk out to the road.

Related walks

Hanging Rock and Baltzer Lookout

Time: 4 hrs Distance: 11 km Fitness: E Skill: E Ascent: 100 m

An easy walk to the impressive Hanging Rock near Blackheath, and to Baltzer Lookout over the Grose Valley

Lockley Pylon

Time: 2 hrs Distance: 7 km Fitness: E Skill: E Ascent: 40 m

An easy walk to impressive views over the Grose Valley and Govetts Gorge.

Blue Gum Forest via Evans Lookout and Perrys Lookdown

Time: 2 days Distance: 22 km Fitness: M Skill: EM Ascent: 750 m

The classic walk into the Blue Gum Forest, with camping on grassy flats under the magnificent blue gums

Victoria Falls

Time: 2 hrs Distance: 4 km Fitness: E Skill: E Ascent: 360 m

A short but steep walk to a series of pretty cascades on Victoria Creek.

Blue Gum Forest via Du Faur Head

Time: 6 hrs Distance: 12 km Fitness: M Skill: EM Ascent: 650 m

A challenging and scenic route in to the Blue Gum Forest

Popes Glen and Braeside Tracks

Time: 3 hrs Distance: 9 km Fitness: E Skill: E Ascent: 170 m

A pleasant and easy walk with spectacular views

Pierces Pass

Time: 6 hrs Distance: 15 km Fitness: EM Skill: EM Ascent: 540 m

A steep descent to the Grose River through a delightful rainforest ravine, with a visit to the magnificent Blue Gum Forest.

Personal reports

06-07/08/2016 - Asgard Plateau: Victoria Falls Rd - Asgard Swamp - Ikara Head overlook - Valhalla Head - Girraween Cave - Ikara Head - Victoria Falls Rd - Valhalla Head track - Asgard Swamp - Thor Head - Asgard Swamp (C) - Mackenzie Coal Mine - Asgard Head lookouts - Asgard Swamp - Victoria Falls Rd (photos)