Araluen - Major's Creek - Jembaicumbene - Braidwood
This is a half day tour, covering approximately 60 km.
Follow the Araluen Road from Braidwood and continue to Araluen
Valley Hotel some 27 km from Braidwood. Backtrack from the hotel
some 3 km, then take the turn to the left which says Major's Creek
and Captain's Flat. Follow this road for some 10 km. It is all
gravel and the last 4 km is very steep and narrow. The road follows
the path of the original gold coaches but it is very scenic and
worth the trip.
Major's Creek is another historic gold village. It is well worth
stopping to look at some of the buildings.
The trip from Major's Creek to Braidwood is a further 16 km,
passing through the Jembaicumbene Valley.
This tour takes from a half to a full day and covers around 100
km.
Follow the Araluen Road, turning right onto the Cooma/Captains
Flat Road 1 km out of Braidwood. Continue for a further 24 km,
crossing the Ballalaba Bridge. Then follow the Captains Flat Road to
the right.
Then take Harolds Cross Road to the right for a further 5 km
where a "T" junction will be met. Turn left and follow the road into
the Tallaganda State Forest. Continue until a forestry sign to the
right indicating Lowden Park is reached. Continue on Forestry Road a
further 9km until a "Y" junction is reached. Turn sharp right
(forest cottage) and proceed for a further 5 km to a right turn
which leads into Lowden Park and the Water Wheel.
The Park occupies a clearing in the forest at the spot where a
group of logging contractors set up a camp in 1937. In 1952 an old
waterwheel was brought to the site to generate electricity. It is
now restored and in full working order. Signposted walking trails
lead from the park into the surrounding bush, giving visitors a
chance to explore the forest. Trees which border these trails have
been labeled. The Park is well equipped with wood barbecues,
drinking water and toilets.
Overnight camping is allowed in selected areas, however visitors
are requested to contact NSW State Forests
p: 02 6297 2044, before proceeding to the Park if camping sites
are required.
Visitors are advised to take the same route for their return to
Braidwood.
This drive takes three hours and covers approximately 50 km.
From the War Memorial in the main street, follow the sign to
Mongarlowe 13 km. There are some pleasant spots on this tour. Turn
right at Mongarlowe and follow the signs to Clyde Road. Turning
right at this point will lead back to Braidwood.
We recommend turning left and proceeding 6 km to the Monga
National Park turn off. Turn right and proceed into the old saw
milling village of Monga then turn right past the first cottage and
proceed up the gully past some good stands of tree ferns. Turn right
7 km from Monga and return to Braidwood via Reidsdale along sealed
road.
Please Note: The dwellings and old saw mill at
Monga are private property.
Alternately you can continue straight past the saw mill for 3kms
and enjoy Penance Grove, a boardwalk that takes you through an
ancient rainforest gully. Stop off at Mongalowe River Picnic Area
for lunch
and take the short Waratah Walk loop down to the river and back
before continuing on around the 2WD loop that brings you back to
Monga Lane, turning left to head back to Braidwood
When you join the Nerriga/Braidwood Road, turn left and return to
Braidwood 37 km. Visitors with time can turn right here for a
further 15 km to visit Nerriga.
