Mt Bangalora
Mt Bangalora offers several different opportunities for bushwalks. Behind it lies Reynolds Gorge which is a favourite area of mine for a bit of easy canyoning expereince.
Mt Bangalora Southern Exposed Route
Scrambling required
The South ridge of Mt Bangalora is a corner where the East End ends at a sharp rocky ridge. This ridge offers great scrambling opportunities all the way to just below the summit where it fades into the forest at the top. Access can be found through a break in the cliffs that enter the opening of the gorge between Mt Bangalora and Mt Bell. There is an obvious break in the cliffs that are used to make the top of the ridge. Generally if you follow the base of the cliffs up from the main gorge breaks in the cliff can be easily located.
Mt Bangalora steep gorge descent
At least 3 abseils are needed on this with 50 m of rope. Find the main valley on the south side of the summit and enter the gorge system. The first pitch is a steep slab in which the rope is needed for stability. The second pitch is difficult to set up from memory and involves a climb on the east side of the chasm to set up. The third pitch is over an overhang and the fourth takes you to the main gorge coming from the Bell Bangalora saddle.
Mt Bangalora easy circuit
From the edge of the national park, just follow the fenceline up until a ridge heading ENE appears. Follow this up to a steep direct route to the summit. There were surprisingly few loose rocks in the two descents I made down here in 2008. From the summit head south west down hill until the obvious ridge into the Mt Bell saddle can be located. From the saddle descend into the major gorge system of the Bell Bangalora Saddle. After leaving the cliffs behind an ascent above the farmland about 200 m from the cliffs should reveal an old disused forestry trail. This can be followed back to the boundary between the national park and farmland back to the cars. Incidentally the road access here is found a couple of hundred metres from the head turnoff on a no through road opposite a farm house. There are two gates to pass through. Take the right fork in the road past the second gate.
Reynolds Gorge
From the Bell - Bangalora gorge, ascend this until the saddle is reached. The last 200m is up a steep kangaroo grass slope. Some good photos of Lizard Point and Mt Roberts can be taken here. Descend into the creek between Mt Bangalora and Mt Roberts (Reynolds Ck. A tip here is to contour south to avoid the immediate gully and descend a ridge into the junction of the saddle gully and Reynolds Ck. There is some interesting vegetation here! An hour or so rockhop downstream leads to the start of Reynolds Gorge. There are several leaps required and you will get wet so bring a dry sack. The final drop requires rope to descend the waterfall into a shallow pool below. A word of caution there is one drop that is a little tricky and requires careful descending into the waterhole below with big leg breaking rocks in it. This is below the waterhole that requires a leap to enter.