Am I dreamin... Bendethera in a kluger

Hi Michael

I believe there are 3 common ways in, from the west off Badja rd, from the araluen rd via Merricumbene Fire Trail which was a great 4wd in, and from the east which I have been led to belive is much easier.

I think the challange though will be the final bit into the valley and of course the weather would need to be taken into acount. Ive had the cluger on some not so smooth steep fire roads and have been suprised by how capable it is as londg as you can keep the wheels on the ground.

As for swollen rivers and impossible climbs Id rather just carry extra food and have the excuse to spend a few extra days if I was to get caught in an unexpected downfall. Im not suggesting that if rain is forcaste I would contemplate going in there at all in the kluger.

Thanks

Bob

Good point. Watch the weather. But I think the Kluger may do it. Especially the last way from the east as mentioned above. I think it's via Bendethera Fire trail, Little Sugarloaf Road and other rad to Moruya. I have not been that way but have heard also that it is the easiest.

In the valley it was cloudless. You could hear a storm way off in the distance but couldn't see the clouds. But we decided to head home just in case. Half way to Dry Creek along the merricumbine Track we had overhead lightning and thunder with very heavy rain. Worrying about Dry Creek flooding we kept moving through the rain and hail. Extremely slippery down the last steep part to the crossing. Hail does not make good road cover. Luckily the water had not reached the crossing.

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Hi PJR

Good to see you got thhrough ok, I would of been cringing if I saw hail (at least the patrol I had was fitted with a full lenght RR)

I grew up in Bodalla and spent a bit of time out at Nerrigundah so know how quick the weather can turn.

Has anyone actually driven the road from Moruya to Bendethera?

Regards

Bob

Michael

In from Moruya is the quickest & easiest way the track is regularly checked & repaired, strange that it is also the direct route for the Nat parks office that looks after it as the office & compound are based at Narooma
The intersection at surgarloaf & merricumbine has also been made upgraded

Some tell me that if your at Braidwood its still quicker to go via hwy to Moruya & in, then going to snowball & in, I must say i like to go in via Moruya & out via snowball according to parks 78% of uses go in from mourya
regards

Bob

Little hail like that is nothing to worry about , but your roof rack would be of no use in the storms that Brisbane Valley get at times, with the strong winds the hail as big as tennis balls come in almost horizontal at a great rate of knots.

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I checked with my son who uses that way out to get back to Sydney and he agrees the Moruya way is a piece of cake.

The worst part about the hail was sliding down to the creek. Even with almost new muds on we slipped from one dish drain to another. And yes I do know how to drive them properly.

The boss doesn't want to do that again. I think in hindsight we should have waited it out.

Hi Keith

Thanks for that. Might have to wait till I get back into a decent 4wd befor I head back there

Thanks

Bob

Bob I drive in to bendethra a lot & have seen many different models in there eg: Mazda tributes & holden adventures & a few klugers, a couple of weeks ago there was a 2wd hilux, 2 x trails & 2 Subaru's.

I have driven in & out with the Nissan murano to the first river crossing with no problems but I would not consider taking it thru the creeks & I would prefer to do it in my patrol & it was there to drag me out if I got stuck
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The creek crossing will be the test the water has been high & the gravel river stones are soft & I have seen more boggings in both main crossing in the last few runs there then in the last 20 years. I've been driving in & out 3 times a week lately as friends are doing a study in there

If you go in with your kluger make sure that some one in your group has a vehicle & experience & equipment that can get you out DO NOT Rely on others

I have & would tow & help any real 4wd out if they needed it & I have all the way back to Moruya but a soft 4 wheeler I would tow them out of the way to keep the track open & give them a lift but I would not tow the vehicle out as they no there pushing the envelope & should not expect others to get them out which I see far to offen
good luck

First time I went in there about 25 years ago I was driving an LH Torana. Followed a friend driving a HQ Station wagon.
A lot easier now with the Patrol, but I still found that locking in was not needed. Have not been in the wet as this would be a totally different story.