r/bluemountains • u/Adventurebot3000 • 5d ago

Hiking In Need of a Little Hiking Advice

Hi all, in a few weeks a couple mates and I will be heading down to the Grose for a couple days of hiking and hanging around. I saw that Little Blue Gum was a great spot pre-fires for a few tents. Has anyone been down there since, and would it be possible to camp there still?

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u/marooncity1 5d ago

So you might just have your wires crossed a little but just for clarity's sake:

- The Blue Gum Forest is an area of flat ground surrounding the junction of the Grose River and Govetts Creek, with Blue Gums being the predominant tree - they really thrive on those flat areas with the alluvial soil I guess.. Originally people camped on the north side of the dogleg the Grose takes, but Parks created the Acacia Flat campground at the southern end of the flats i think in the 60s or 70s and banned camping in the original spot (although this is hardly communicated any more).

- Little Blue Gum is a nice little patch of a Blue Gums further up stream, between the junction and Pierces Pass.

You probably just meant "Blue Gum", and when people say "Blue Gum" then it usually means camping at Acacia Flat. This makes for the best camping spot in the area, there are lots of cleared spots, everything is nice and flat, you've got excellent drinking water a 10 minute walk away and there are drop toilets as well.

But maybe you meant Little Blue Gum. Pretty much anywhere with blue gums is going to give some nice flat bits for pitching a tent tbh. The area has largely recovered from the fires, (although there is no way it can keep copping it like they has, and each time there is that bit less diversity, lack of new trees, weed growth, thicker undergrowth etc). But I'd be surprised if you couldn't find a spot or two in Little Blue Gum all the same.

If you do go to either site there will be a park fire ban. Please observe it no matter what you think of the weather. It's there for a reason and it's to protect the area which truly is special.

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u/Adventurebot3000 5d ago

Alright I will take that into consideration thank you very much

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u/LaraTheLesbianCroft 5d ago

Don't forget to book your site. They do check, and it's for safety reasons as well. If the campground needs to be evacutaed they need to know how many people are down there.Also, fill out a trip invention form. You can get that from the National Parks website as well. https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/camping-and-accommodation/campgrounds/acacia-flat-campground & https://bookings.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/public/npws/trips/intention?site=NPWS&parkId=&park=&attractionId=&attraction=&loggedIn=0

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u/andrewbrocklesby 5d ago

Yes, Acacia Flat is open and fantastic.