October 2025 - Growling Swallet

This month's plan was an attempt on Mt Wedge, but enthusiasm waned as the date grew closer and we realised the extent of the challenge. In the end our leader Maryanne opted for the more popular nearby alternative of Growling Swallet. It has been years since we last did this delightful walk - - see this story in 2012. Today's walkers were Maryanne, Michael, Di, David, Angie and Dorothy. We were lucky with the weather - mostly fine - and we got in and out before the afternoon showers came along.

Dorothy had stayed the night before at Mt Field NP, and had tried to catch the glow worms on the Russell Falls track, with no luck sadly. We met up at the visitors centre's Waterfall Cafe for coffee at 10am. The coffee was good and the gift shop quite a trap for nature loving visitors. Maryanne had booked the key to the entrance gate some weeks beforehand, lodging a deposit, so she picked the key up. Also offered was a small pamphlet with information about the walk. We loaded into two vehicles which had all wheel drive, ready for the promised poor quality track.

We headed off along Gordon River Road toward Florentine Rd as instructed by the Parks pamphlet, but where we had thought the turnoff would be there was only a sign to the Giant Tree and the Styx Valley - no actual Florentine Rd sign. We weren't sure if this was actually Florentine Rd, so we kept moving. At this point we found that each of us had forgotten to pack their actual hard copy map of the area, and also that the internet/GPS was useless in this locality, oh boy. After driving on for a few more kilometres we finally agreed that we had gone too far, and returned to try the first road. If only we'd read Melanie Ball's excellent description of the walk.... For reference, this is the spot where Florentine Rd turns off from Gordon River Road: 42°45'56.3"S 146°35'36.4"E. Of course, 50 metres after turning in here we saw a road sign confirming that we were indeed on Florentine Rd!

We then drove 16km on this gravel forestry road to locate a road on the right named F8 East, where a locked gate barred the way. Maryanne wrangled the lock and our two vehicles proceeded through. This track was lumpy, potholed, muddy and slippery even after several days of fine weather. At 2km further in, the parking area is small and would not hold many vehicles.

Sorting out our gaiters and double checking that we all had our keys etc, we set off into the bush at about midday.

The track is easy walking, despite a few slushy bits. The photos show how lovely the rainforest is.

After about 50 minutes of quiet walking, as the sound of the rushing water gradually became louder, we passed a grassed campsite on the left and descended to the right down the side of the cliff to witness the fabulous Growling Swallet. Here we stopped for a bite to eat and to take in the sights and the sounds of the rushing river disappearing into a crevice and into the vast karst limestone caverns of this area. A magic spot. The 18,500 hectare Junee-Florentine karst system has the deepest two caves in Australia.

Then we walked back along the trail.

The total distance walked was 3.9km. Reaching our vehicles at 1.35pm, we did a quick leech check (nothing reported). We made it back to the gate without getting bogged, and turned back towards Maydena.

Here we visited Junee Cave, where the Junee River emerges from the Junee-Florentine Karst limestone system. Its blue-green colour indicates the presence of limestone. According to the signs, the Junee River would normally have flowed into the Florentine River, but it has been "pirated" underground by the cave system to appear on the other side of the divide to flow into the Tyenna River near Maydena.

Di, David and Angie stayed on overnight at nearby Giant's Table and Cottages (this had been booked when we thought we were doing Mt Wedge). Dinner was at Maydena Eats, the only place open for dinner here. As Angie noted, the two good things we can say about the meal are that we didn't have to cook it and wash up, haha. And it was interesting watching the clientele, a mixture of locals, mountain bikers and tourists.

The following day in now perfect weather we saw many vehicles loaded with MTBs heading into Maydena and the MTB park looking for a weekend of excitement on the trails. We had morning coffee at Waterfall Cafe and walked to the ever picturesque Russell Falls. Di offered some constructive feedback to the Parks officer about the directions contained in the GS pamphlet.

Finally, to round off our very pleasant visit to the country we took a scenic route to visit a couple of places opened to the public through Open House Midlands 2025. We were lucky to wander through Wolkenstein, a stunning house high on the hill above Mangalore. Can I mention our very Tasmanian experience in which each of us ran into someone we knew as the Open House visitors wended their way up and down the hill?