The Cathedral Ranges are a hard blog for me to write as they are so big and also dear to my heart, I love this place and only hope that I can do it justice. As I said they are big and have over 15 different walking tracks, most of which we have done, I am going to start with The Razorback. There are several different ways to get to the Razor on this occasion we got up there via the Farmyard and starting at Jawbone Peak Carpark. Before I get all carried away with the walk let's start at the start the drive, because it is certainly well worth a mention. The Black Spur is the main attraction of the drive it is such a gorgeous drive and connects Healesville with Narbethong on the Maroondah Highway winding up the Great Dividing Range. 'Winding' is really the stand out word here as if you are like me and get car sickness this is the prime drive to get it, but you will be so engrossed in your surrounds the fact that your stomach is doing somersaults as you sway from one side of the car to the next you won't mind (too much). There are plenty of pull outs to stop and either let cars wanting to get through the spur faster or give your stomach a break so never fear you can always pull over. You can always pull into Dom Dom Picnic Area which has picnic tables and amenities. Might I suggest that you take an empty drink bottle with you and fill it up at Saint Ronan's Well. It is a round brick structure which was made by early settlers and contains the freshest most delicious water I have ever drunk. The pictures below may make the Spur look allusively straight, that Is purely as I could only take photo's as a passenger of course) on the straights between my constant corner sways.
Once you are through the beautiful Black Spur and Narbethong the next town you will come to is Buxton. There is not much in this beautiful town other than a General Store, Shell Service Station, The Buxton Trout Farm, Buxton Igloo Roadhouse "Home of The Buxton Burger". We often stop at the Buxton Igloo Roadhouse for a cold drink after doing one of the walks in the Cathedral Rangers. If you are camping at Cooks Mill or Neds Gully this is the closest town to pick up supplies if you have forgotten something, or if you fancy a burger.
What you can see is only a small portion of the rangers and is called Cathedral Peak and Little Cathedral Peak both sensational walks, however I will delve into further details of them another time today I am concentrating on The Razorback from The Farmyard.
The drive to Jawbone Carpark takes about ten minutes from the opening of The Cathedral Rangers State Park. The drive takes you along a dirt road that follows along a Pine Tree Plantation for much of the way until you get to Neds Gully Campground.
Park your car in the Jawbone Peak Carpark, or of course you can walk there from many other points including one of the two campgrounds Neds Gully and Cooks Mill, stand back and look in awe at the peaks your about to walk to it is time to get excited.
Head down these well-formed steps, but do not get too use to going down as you are about to head up, up, up and then you are going to go up a little further.
Much of the approximate hours walk to The Farmyard is up beautiful rock stairs, they look beautiful but remind yourself that they are by looking down when your legs start to burn. This walk is just a beautiful walk when closer to the top you are rewarded with spectacular views. Once you are at The Farmyard (we have been so many times I know I have photo’s, but do you think I can find them) sit down have a rest and a drink of water. Often, we have been there and seen tents set up, that's when our little one says can we camp here, and we reply one day. Will we camp there one day I certainly hope so the area offers shelter from the winds that can get quite strong up there. Once you are at The Farmyard there are several different paths you can take, today we are walking straight ahead towards the Razorback. It’s an approximately, depending on your pace twenty minutes to get to the Razorback.
What a sight! These photos are in no way doing the views up along The Razorback justice, but they will give you an idea. The walk along The Razorback was much wider than I had anticipated we didn’t do the whole length (we had to save something for next time) so there may be sections that are narrower. There are certainly a few harder sections that need a little craftier navigating, climbing over and squeezing through rocks. I cannot recommend this walk more highly and have been known to get my phone out to show friends and relatives photos of our adventures within The Cathedral Ranges. I was so besotted with the view that my boys actually had to say it is time for us to head back otherwise I may still be up there now. The walk back down whilst obviously downhill requires possibly more concentration in parts so you don't slip over. I have fallen over doing this walk more times than I can count. Once you are nearly back at the carpark and feeling pretty chuffed about the walk you have had the harsh reminder that makes everybody sigh comes into your head . . . The stairs!
They were fine when I was racing down them at the start, they are not so pleasant to go back up, but I am at the top of them all is forgotten except the good parts of the walk and there are so many of them.
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