A gruelling and highly rewarding venture into the mighty Butterbox Canyon
O.M.G!!!! This one was special!
Warning – Butterbox Canyon is suitable for experienced canyoners only.
This overnighter was a birthday present from me to my bestie Yoav. We camped at Murpheys Glen Campground, which is a beautiful serene spot, just 30 minutes from Butterbox Canyon (note: bookings required and there is a locked gate with code).
We woke up at 5.30am to meet our guides at Katoomba at 7am. They geared us up and drove us to the start of the trail. The abseiling commences pretty quickly, just 30 minutes into the hike. And from that point WOW. This is a canyon that just keeps on giving. At least 6 abseils of which one was too long for a single rope, meaning you have to land on a boulder, wedged between the narrow canyon walls, to rope up to a second rope. Many of them are through waterfalls. Just amazing.
The climb out of canyons can sometimes be a bit boring … not so here! The 2 hour hike out, along a narrow wedge of a path on the cliff edge, involves full on rock climbing up a section – not for the faint hearted.
Enjoy the photos, this one is truely magnificent.
The road to Glen Murpheys Campground 
Our spot for the night 
Not bad 
With our trusty minion 
Lamb backstrap 😋 
Dinner is served 
Early start 
Meeting at Katoomba YHA 
All geared up 
30 minute drive 
Mount Hay 
The canyon from a distance 
Briefing 
The walk down to the canyon is nice 
Thick bush 
Stream crossings 
More climbing down 
The first abseil 
Happy 50th mate! 
Try not to get wet 🤣 
The next one, small but technical 
Another one of many down 
Rock hopping 
More scrambling 
Stream crossing 
Reflecting on the day so far 
Water jumping 
Waddling 
Jumping in 
In the canyon 
Lush is an understatement 
So nice down here 
Going deeper 
Another jump 
In the canyon 
One of many swim spots 
Scrambling around boulders 
Don’t look down 
Water slide 
Hooking up 
See that boulder? Land there mate. 
Second part 
Look up! 
Magnificent in here 
Besties canyon together 
View looking out 
Last of the abseils 
Last swim 
Millions of years old 
All good mate! 
Jump 
Lunch spot 
Long climb out 
Long climb out 
Steep! 
Steep 
Hang on and don’t look down 
Selfie 
Squash and a squeeze 
The view 
Nice 🍑 
Rock climbing out 
Nearly done 
Shattered! 
That was GOOOOOD!
The Big Bush Basher 