Updated: Mar 2021
Published: May 2018

Wog Wog to Cooyoyo Creek

View Wog Wog to Cooyoyo Creek in a new window.
Note: indicated routes are approximate. Use official topographic maps for navigation.

(Updated March 2021 to reflect changed conditions around Corang Lagoon)

Although this is an out-and-back walk, there are two sections where an alternate route is followed on the return leg, so it feels a bit more like a loop. It incorporates both the northern and southern routes through Monolith Valley, and the final two half-days follow the Corang River and tributaries instead of the main track to skirt around the Corang Peak area.

The trickiest part of the walk is following the southern east-west route through Monolith Valley from the east, but the rest of the walk is fairly easy, although boggy in parts, and follows reasonably well defined tracks.

  • Day one follows the main track from Wog Wog to Burrumbeet Brook, passing Corang Peak and Corang Arch on the way.
  • Day two involves climbing out of the Burrumbeet Brook valley, crossing the saddle to the north-west of Mt Cole, and following the northern route through Monolith Valley. Make sure you don't miss the right turn into Monolith Valley from the track around the base of Mt Cole. This track takes you through the "Green Room", past the natural arch, and ends at Cooyoyo Creek. Note that no fires are permitted at Cooyoyo Creek, despite any evidence you may see to the contrary. The campsite is pretty popular and there's not enough fallen timber to sustainably support campfires. Remember: leave no trace. If you've got time on the morning of day three and a head for heights you can do the Castle ascent.
  • Day three follows the more southerly east-west route back through Monolith Valley. It's not as well used as the northern route marked on the 1:25000 topo map, and requires a bit of clambering up and down rock ledges and following the cairns on the flank of Mt Owen. Some parts of the track are not very distinct and may only be marked by faded tape attached to trees. The start is on the northern side of the little bridge in Monolith Valley at (roughly) 442923, and involves  a short steep scramble up a break in the cliff to the west. The creek at the bridge continues south into a very pretty grotto that's worth exploring, but you'll need to retrace your steps back to the bridge in order to pick up the southern track out of Monolith valley. The exit from Monolith Valley on this route involves descending a steep rocky slope that might require some pack hauling.
  • Day four retraces the route back past Burrumbeet Brook, over Canowie Brook, and just before the ascent back up the conglomerate slope, heads north along the plain beside Canowie Brook and then downstream beside the Corang River to the Corang River campsite.
  • Day five is a short day back to Wog Wog, crossing over a few tributary creeks. You might need to skirt around the private property near Corang Lagoon. See the Corang Loop walk for details.

There are toilets at Burrumbeet Brook and Cooyoyo Creek, and no fires are permitted at any of the campsites.

Thanks to Glen for the GPS track on the map above. I've edited it a bit to reduce the point density and remove some of the (sometimes intentional…) side trips. As always, take printed copies of the official topographic maps and a compass, and make sure you know how to use both. Most of the images I've used to illustrate this route are from two walks I did in November 2017 and April 2018, but I've also linked in a few from previous trips.

First outcrop
An hour or so after leaving Wog Wog you get to the first examples of the conglomerate rock that forms a lot of the Budawangs.
Looking north
Corang Arch

Corang Arch is situated off the western side of the track about a kilometre past Corang Peak (seen here on the horizon) and just before the descent to Canowie Brook.

The main track from Wog Wog skirts around Corang Peak to the south-east, but there's an alternate route that goes over it if you're interested in a more expansive view.

Above Canowie Brook

Shortly after Corang Arch the track descends down a conglomerate slope to Canowie Brook, seen here running right to left in the broad valley in the middle of the picture. Burrumbeet Brook runs through the gap at the top right.

There are a couple of nice campsites near the foot of the descent, and several more further along in the Burrumbeet Brook valley.

Camping at Burrumbeet brook
To Monolith Valley
Crossing the saddle between Monolith Valley and the Mt Tarn track. The escarpments on the horizon are the cliffs of Mt Cole and Mt Owen, with the southern route through Monolith Valley in between.
Natural arch in Monolith Valley
Green wall
Cliff face of Shrouded Gods

The track through Monolith Valley climbs out of the rainforest grotto and into more open heathland. Here we see the cliff face of Shrouded Gods Mountain which forms the north-east corner of Monolith Valley.

View from Cooyoyo Creek campsite

A short stroll from the Cooyoyo Creek campsite reveals this fantastic view over Pigeon House (Didthul), Byangee Walls and the Clyde valley.

As with most areas in the Budawangs, the Cooyoyo Creek campsite is a fuel-stove-only area so, as appealing as they are, campfires are not permitted. Do your best to leave no trace.

Back through Monolith Valley

The southern route through Monolith Valley starts by winding through little pockets of rainforest. As noted in the introduction, this track is not as well defined as the more popular northern route, and the start is a little difficult to discern.

Looking into Monolith Valley
The southern route out of Monolith Valley leaves the rainforest grotto and climbs up to the side of Mt Owen.
On Mt Owen

The route along he flank of Mt Owen is marked by cairns, along with some short tracks through the Banksia scrub.

The "summit" of Mt Owen is only a few metres higher than this point, and there's an easy side trip that you can take to get a view to the south.

Exit from Monolith Valley
The exit from Monolith Valley on the southern route incorporates a steep rocky slope that's just a  bit too steep to comfortably walk up or down with a pack on.
Corang headwaters campsite

In a valley between Mt Tarn and Mt Bibbenluke is this nice little campsite for three or four tents. That's Mt Tarn on the horizon.

There's usually water here in a little stream that eventually becomes the Corang River, but it doesn't have a huge catchment and may dry up in very dry periods.

Corang River waterfall
Sun setting on the Corang River
The last campsite. From here it's about three hours of easy walking back to Wog Wog.
Goodsell Creek

From the Corang River campsite there are a couple of creeks to cross before you hit the main Corang→Wog Wog track. Goodsell Creek is probably the most significant, and well situated for a snack break.