It looks as though the traditional access route to Rocky Tom, via Flagstaff Gully, has been closed by the owners of the quarry - a couple of notes have been left on cars etc.

However it seems that access to the cliffs themselves isn't an issue and access is still ok via Geilston Creek Rd.

I've updated the guides - Rocky Tom & Rocky Tom bouldering to only mention this access route, but it probably needs more work in describing how to get from Seagar Saddle to the various buttresses. And also making sure that the parking and first bit of the access route at Geilston Bay Rd isn't going to cause any issues. If anyone is up there, it may be worth taking some notes and/or GPS points.

If anyone has any trouble accessing via this route please post here. 

 

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  1. Jon Nermut AUTHOR

    I updated the access description again, taking into account the nice new walking / mtb track that the council has recently built that goes from Geilston Gully (seemingly renamed from the original Faggs Gully...)  up the hillside towards Saegar Saddle, and removes some of the steep fire trail. Makes the walk quite pleasant. Also added a GPS track to the map on the  Rocky Tom page.

    Access to Rocky Tom requires a 10 minute drive and a half hour walk. The traditional access was via Flagstaff Gully, but the quarry owner now discourages this. Today the best approach is via Geilston Bay. Turn right off the East Derwent Highway on to Golf Links Rd, then left onto Fairfield Rd. Follow this to the end, then right on to Geilston Creek Rd. Follow this to the end where there is a sign for "Pilchers Hill Bushland Reserver". Park back down the road a bit where there is room, take care not to block the road or driveways.

    From the sign take the well made track, following the signs for the "Geilston Gully Circuit Track". After about 800m of walking along tracks and fire-trails, a new, well-made, walking track heads up to the left, just before the fire-trail goes over the second of two little bridges. This was not sign posted at the time of writing, but I'm sure it will be.

    Follow the walking track up the hill until it hits a fire trail. Follow this steeply up the hill for a minute to where it flattens out at a saddle between two hills (Seager Saddle). The hill up to the right is where the Rocky Tom cliffs are (marked on the map as Caves Hill). Keep going for another 100m to the next little rise, before the track heads down hill. Turn right and head steeply straight up the hill for a couple of hundred metres to find a distinctive yellow overhanging boulder (the Ark). Keep going up and left to the hill to the cliff-line, which you will hit around Excalibur Buttress. For Shadow Buttress head south for a minute or two towards the quarry from the top of Excalibur Buttress, and sidle around the hill to the cliff.

    Here is where the new walking track starts - it's quite well made: