thesarvo

The Basin bouldering

78 Problems0102030VE-23-56-89+
  • Walk1-10 min
  • SunTill late afternoon
  • RockDolerite

Access

The Basin is on the West Launceston (south) side of the Gorge. Park at the Basin car park, go through the gate and past the chairlift, then head left along the track towards the suspension bridge (or walk up from Kings Bridge in about 10 min, or from the Restaurant side). The Knoll, Trevallyn Car Park and Dewsworld are described after the Basin boulders.

GPS

The Basin

The Basin Carpark is located on the West Launceston (South) side of the Gorge. From the carpark you'll pass through the gate and then by the chairlift. Head left along the track to the suspension bridge. The climbing is described in a clockwise fashion as you would come to it walking along the track.

Basin Boulder 1.jpg1
1.

Leaning Tower

★V2(Stand)

Walk about a hundred metres past the BBQ picnic tables on the track and you can't help but see this slightly overhanging pinnacle. Stand start squeezing the track face and move up past a horizontal crack to the top.

The next two boulders are down below the track near the water. Best access is either by cutting across the grass near the pool and following a path through the brush or by walking the main track to the suspension bridge and hopping the fence and scrambling down the hill to them. The short boulder can easily be seen from the walking track as you approach the bridge down in a clear area. The Diving board is not visible and must be accessed by walking back a few hundred metres toward the pool.

The Diving Board Block

Basin Boulder 2.jpg3
2.

Diving Board New

★★2mV7

Sit start with right hand on very small side pull and left hand low on left arete using the chockstone for feet. Climb the rest of the original Diving Board problem.

From: theCrag

3.

Diving Board

★★★2mV9(SDS)

Only a couple moves of hard pulling, but quite powerful. Start RH on the reinforced crimp in the middle of the face and LH squeezing the right side at about the same height or just below where some small ridges are visible. Make a move up the palming the left face and throw for a good hold out right near the lip. Finish with an easier, but ungraceful top out. Very nice compression problem.

Midget Boulder

Last big flood tilted this boulder and the problems are now considerably easier. For historic purposes, Midget used to be V3/4 and Midget Traverse used to be V6.

Basin Boulder 3.jpg45
4.

Midget

★2mV2/3(SDS)

Short and harder than it looks. Start both hands matched crimping the flake and move straight up over the bulge to the lip and top out.

5.

Midget Traverse

★3mV4(SDS)

Pretty low-ball, and a bit of an eliminate, but not bad climbing. Start on the crimp flake as for #1 but move out left and continue to do so without using the top ledge until you come to the corner, then top out.

Topo: theCrag contributors, CC BY-NC-SA 3.0, theCrag

6.

More Midget

★2mV3

Sit start matching on low sloper with small crimp, go out right and top out on the right side

Simeon McKee, Dec 2025 · From: theCrag

Basin Boulder 4.jpg789
7.

Unnamed

★V4(Stand)

Just off the track about 50m before you reach the bridge you'll pass the light coloured wall. The first problem starts off a vertical pinch/sidepull at about waist height. Move up through a high RH small pinch and the sharp arête to a sloping shelf, which can be traversed leftward toward the corner and then topped straight out.

8.

Unnamed

V8(Stand)

Start on the pinch as for #1, but move left via a RH undercling to get a high LH pinch. Move up with poor feet to a high RH sidepull and more poor feet to gain the top. Very technical and probably harder if you're short.

9.

Unnamed

V0(Stand)

Climb the right side of the buttress.

Crossroads Wall

Basin Boulder 5.jpg10

Topo: theCrag contributors, CC BY-NC-SA 3.0, theCrag

10.

Crossroads

★★★5mV0(Highball, Stand)

One of the best vertical boulder problems in the gorge. Climb the tall face just up-river of the suspension bridge. Downclimb in the wide crack to the left.

The Knoll

The Knoll is a scattering of short cliffs and boulders on and around the knoll just north of the Basin. From the Basin lawn, walk up the steps as if heading for the Zig-Zag track. After the first switchback (and before the track starts heading up more stairs) an old unmarked track takes off on the left. Follow it to its end to find a large solitary boulder in the gully, or take the secondary track to the top of the knoll.

Broken Bottles Area

11.

Stilettos

★V2

Sit start low on R arete. Move up to jug, and top out via L arete without using the crack.

Nick Morgan, Jul 2021 · From: theCrag

12.

Stilettos RHV

V1

Same start as previous, but move up to R arete to top out.

Nick Morgan, Jul 2021 · From: theCrag

13.

Broken Bottles

★★2mV4

The overhanging face without using the R crack/arete. Sit start off block with LH scoop and RH side pull. Top out over the highest point.

Nick Morgan & Nick Hanson, Jul 2021 · From: theCrag

14.

Spinning Around in Circles

V0

Start far R and traverse L to top out via notch, or over top of boulder.

Tony, Jul 2021 · From: theCrag

The Pit of Doom

15.

Shrek (Open Project)

Middle face on left side of boulder. Stand start at LH slot, and RH diagonal crimp. Undercut start to slab, finishing just R of bush. Still needs a good clean.

From: theCrag

16.

Attack of the Eggshell (Open Project)

On left side of boulder. Stand start in scoop, then up slab using double compression seams. Still needs a good clean.

From: theCrag

17.

The Green Monster (Stand)

★4mV4

The steep central L line up the nose of the boulder. Stand start with LH on arete and RH on big triangle pinch. Some strong moves, then slab to top out. Top section still needs a good clean.

Nick Morgan, 2022 · From: theCrag

18.

The Green Monster

★★V6

Hang/sit start extension

Elliot Vercoe · From: theCrag

19.

Home Sweet Home (Open Project)

★★

Direct R line up front bulge of boulder, SDS starting off pinch and/or large incut jug rail. Straight up on terrible looking slopers, and side pulls. The slab above potentially still needs a good clean.

From: theCrag

20.

Gimmi Shelter (Stand)

★V2

On R side of boulder. Stand start at high LH sloper, and RH triangle crimp. Finish up and R to slab to top out. Still needs more cleaning.

From: theCrag

21.

Gimmi Shelter SDS (Open Project)

★★

Really nice looking SDS extension to above climb - starting from the large incut jug to the left.

From: theCrag

Trevallyn Car Park

A few boulders surround the Gorge car park on the Trevallyn side. Drive or walk to the car park via Gorge Road. These boulders are beside the main tracks, so be courteous to walkers and keep your pads out of their way.

Cars Boulder

22.

Car Parks

★3mV0

Great fun little slab, pull on and follow the left arete to the top

I. Lethborg, Apr 2021 · From: theCrag

23.

Too far to walk - Project

3mV5 - 8

Stand start project on the right of the boulder finishing as for Car Parks. Right hand on good hold, left hand on nothing good

From: theCrag

Mt Rushmore

24.

George Washington

★★★5mV6

Jump to the jug on the arete. Make some big moves left before heading straight up

nathaniel glavurdic · From: theCrag

25.

Thomas Jefferson

★★5mV8

Start as for GW. Head straight up via crimps. Stay away from the arete on the left. Probably worth inspecting the top on a rope before going for the send.

nathaniel glavurdic · From: theCrag

26.

TJ Low

Low start to TJ. Might be possible? V13+

From: theCrag

27.

Theodore Roosevelt

Stand start, left hand on lowest side-pull slimper divot, right hand high on good sidepull edge. Make hard moves trending left to gain the jug, then more hard moves straight up.

Really hard low start might be possible

From: theCrag

28.

Abraham Lincoln

Stand start on the low sharp right hand crimp and the good left hand pinch. Go up

From: theCrag

29.

AL sit

Sit start on crimps and flake, make hard moves trending right to join AL. v12 +

From: theCrag

Baby Matterhorn

30.

Exit left

★2mV3

Sit start right hand low on the good crimp rail, left hand palm down near ground. Climb left to arete, then over

Harley Mills · From: theCrag

31.

Exit right

★2mV4

Start as for exit left, but head right

Harley Mills · From: theCrag

Dewsworld

Dewsworld (pronounced Juiceworld) is a relatively new area located just downstream of the concrete passway in the basin. Easiest approach is to park at the basin carpark, walk down past the swimming pool to the concrete overpass and head towards the shady side track. Just before hitting the 4 way crossing that leads you to the shady side track, head down some fairly overgrown steps on the right hand side. Follow this track for a few metres until it hits the boulder field.

Bike Boulder

32.

Over the Handlebars

★★3mV5(SDS)

Crouch start with right hand on a low undercling and left hand on a good sidepull, make hard moves of bad feet and mantel to the top.

I. Lethborg, April 2021

33.

Problem 2 - Project

4m

Wingcycle Link Project - Start as the V5 and head right after the 2nd move, traversing the top lip and finish via the right arete

From: theCrag

34.

Wingcycle Arete Stand

★2mV3

Stand start the arete with left hand good square crimp and right hand on the arete approx. 20cm belong the change in angle. Up via arete & crimps.

Nick Hanson, Jul 2022 · From: theCrag

35.

Over the Wing - Project

(SDS)

Start as for Over the Handlebars and head right after the 2nd move, traversing the top lip and finish via the right arête.

36.

Wingcycle - Project

★★3mV8(SDS)

Great problem with big and powerful compression. Start with left hand on undercling and right hand on arête. Rest is up to imagination at this point.

nathaniel glavurdic, 2025

37.

Booter

★2mV1(SDS)

Sit start in bunched position to slab and arête finish.

T. Krauss, 2021

38.

Kicker

★2mV1(SDS)

Sit start the right hand side of the arête - with LH on arête and RH on undercling pinch.

I. Lethborg, 2021

39.

Cutty

★3mV2(SDS)

Sit start around one and a half metres right of the arête, starting on low but good holds, make some hard moves and mantel the boulder.

I. Lethborg, 2022

40.

Table Tops

★★3mV3(SDS)

Sit start with two underclings and smearing feet, move up and right to mantel and good moves.

T. Krauss, 2021

41.

Traversa

★★V4

Start a far right as possible, both hands on top right leaning lip. Work your way left staying low on the boulder all the way til you can reach the left side arete and up. Bottom detatched block is in hlf way along.

Feb 2026 · From: theCrag

Little Bike Boulder

42.

Training Wheels

1mV0

Start matched on the horn and heel up, traverse into the corner on the right and mantle

Tommy Krauss · From: theCrag

43.

Problem 2

1mV0

Start in the corner and mantle

I. Lethborg · From: theCrag

44.

Problem 3

★2mV1

Start on the horn as for Training Wheels and traverse the full front of the boulder

I. Lethborg · From: theCrag

45.

Problem 4

2mV0

Start on the right end of the boulder, traverse left and mantle

I. Lethborg · From: theCrag

Island Boulder

46.

Will to Power Arete - Project

4m

Classic looking hanging arete on the left hand of the Island Boulder. Start as low as possible and follow the arete to the top. Open Project for anyone strong to test themselves on

From: theCrag

47.

Impossibilities - Project

4m

The main face of the Island boulder might just have enough features to be climbable

From: theCrag

48.

Secret Hideaway

★★2mV7

Sit start with left hand on the vertical crimp and right hand on the very bottom of the large sidepull, make a hard move or two to the lip and up from there. Avoid the sharp jug far out right under the rooflet.

Tommy Krauss, Dec 2021 · From: theCrag

49.

Secret Hideaway Left

★★V9

Left start to Secret Hideaways, right hand on crimp, left hand on arete and up via slopers

Diego Lopez Iturralde, Jul 2022 · From: theCrag

50.

Freshwater Supply

★★★4mV9

Great compression line on the back of the Island Boulder. Squat start right hand on a good horizontal crimps above head height and left hand on the good pinch down low.

Tommy Krauss & I. Lethborg, Apr 2021 · From: theCrag

51.

L'Eau

★★★4mV10

Sit Start. Lh on low arete, RH low on incut crimp. Go up

Elliot Vercoe, Nov 2023 · From: theCrag

Lord of the Flies Boulders

52.

Stopped by the Fire

★★2mV4

Start low with both hands on the flat edge

I. Lethborg · From: theCrag

53.

Stopped by the Fire Low

★★3mV6

Low start to Stopped by the Fire, start with your left hand on the good edge sidepull and right hand all the way down underclinging the boulder.

I. Lethborg, Apr 2021 · From: theCrag

54.

Innocent Signals

★★3mV7

Start as for 'Stopped by the Fire Low' before punching right to a small flat crimp & up through slopers at the lip.

Diego Lopez Iturralde, Jul 2022 · From: theCrag

55.

Smoke Signal Project

4m

Sit start as for Stopped By The Fire Low, make the first moves and head right on crimps at around a metre below the lip all the way to the arete and finish as for Smoke Signal Arete

From: theCrag

56.

Smoke Signal Arete Stand

★2mV3

Climb the right hand arete from a stand start on the good crimps

B. Thorp · From: theCrag

57.

Smoke Signals Arete

★★3mV8

The striking arete on the right hand end. Sit start with the lowest left hand gaston crimp on the face & right hand and pinching the arete at the same height.

Diego Lopez Iturralde, Jul 2022 · From: theCrag

Third Stage Boulder

Topo: theCrag contributors, CC BY-NC-SA 3.0, theCrag

58.

Rigor Mortis

★3mV3

Sit start on the left arete, then slap your way to glory and top out over the

Patrick Munnings, Jan 2021 · From: theCrag

GOAT Boulder

59.

Gathering of Ancient Tribes

★2mV7

Sit start on ledge, left hand on big low flake and right hand on small incut side pull on face. Top out up the groove.

Patrick Munnings, 2024 · From: theCrag

60.

All-seeing Eye

★★3mV8

Start as for Gathering Of Ancient Tribes but do not go to the lip. Instead, traverse left using the incut edges in the steep face and the big sloper under the nose. Only use the lip on the other side of the arete and top out as for Run To Your Mama.

From: theCrag

61.

Run To Your Mama

★★6mV5

Sit start as low as possible on the lip to the right. There is a small foothold directly under the start hands. Traverse the lip all the way around the nose arete and top out on the other side.

Patrick Munnings, 2024 · From: theCrag

62.

The Snake of Addis Ababa

★★4mV4

Start as for Run To Your Mama, and finish up the groove as for Gathering of ancient tribes.

Patrick Munnings, 2024 · From: theCrag

Banana Boulder

63.

Bananas

★★2mV5

Climb Bananagrams from around half way

Jordan Grant · From: theCrag

64.

Bananagrams

★★3mV11

Start on the slopey right hand trending lip and punch right via hard moves to mantle top out.

Jordan Grant, May 2024 · From: theCrag

65.

Split - Project

2mV6 - 8

Climb the flaring arete right of Bananagrams, okay holds, bad feet

From: theCrag

Lost Sole Boulder

66.

The Magic Shoe

★2mV1

Hang start with your right hand on the undercling sidepull in the middle of the face and left hand on the slopey rail. Make a hard move with bad feet and slap your way to the top.

Tommy Krauss, Mar 2021 · From: theCrag

67.

Glass Boots

★2mV2

Start matched on the lowest part of the slopey rail on the left, using bad feet but good hands wrestle your way to the top following the slopey ledge.

Tommy Krauss, Mar 2021 · From: theCrag

68.

sole catcher

★V4

start for magic shoe and traverse left on the big rail and smeary feet until you reach the right hand arete and mantle

nathaniel glavurdic · From: theCrag

Splints Boulder

69.

Bonsai

★1mV2

Classic hang and pull problem, start on the lowest of the rails and pull to the top.

Tommy Krauss · From: theCrag

70.

Bonsai Extension - Open Project

★6mV3

Start as for Bonsai and traverse the lip out right to finish as for the right hand arete

nathaniel glavurdic, Mar 2026 · From: theCrag

71.

Little Tree

★2mV3

Climb the right hand arete, starting from good rail around the right hand side and good right foot down low, traverse left and around the arete finishing up the arete proper.

nathaniel glavurdic, Mar 2026 · From: theCrag

72.

one move wonder

★★

stand start, right hand on pretty good one pad edge up high and left hand on smaller not so good edges for left hand, pull on and jump to the lip.

From: theCrag

Kneed Less Boulder

73.

Chock-Stoned

2mV2

Sit Start on a left good gaston edge and right hand on a sloper. Use the big chock stone as a foot, pull up and mantle via some good edges.

Tommy Krauss, Mar 2021 · From: theCrag

74.

Left Project

2m

Start left of Chock Stoned on the good slopey edges with no feet, quite hard.

From: theCrag

75.

Chock-Stoned sans Chock Stone Project

Climb Chock-Stoned without using the chockstone as a foot. Quite hard

From: theCrag

Kneed More Boulder

76.

Trial and Error

★★2mV4

Sit start deep under the boulder with your left hand on the good undercling feature and right hand in the crimp slot on the arte. Move up via a hard first move and head left to odd mantle over the highest part of the boulder

Tommy Krauss · From: theCrag

77.

Give It More Knee

★1mV2

Sit start low on the arete, head up and mantle, maybe easier?

Tommy Krauss · From: theCrag

Over the river

Topo: theCrag contributors, CC BY-NC-SA 3.0, theCrag

78.

My Man

★★2mV0-

A beautiful water polished easy boulder. Stand start matched on obvious hold in the middle of the face with feet in the low horizontal crack. Big move right and up to a jug and top out straight up from there.

Clare Munnings, Feb 2025 · From: theCrag