Walks, Tracks and Trails of New South Wales

279 Pages·2013·128.096 MB·English

by  Derrick Stone

For the fi rst time in a single volume, W
this book brings together more than
a
140 of the best walks, tracks or trails in
l
New South Wales, which can be walked
k
by the moderately fi t individual.
s
They are located in national
,
parks, coastal parks, state forests,
T
conservation reserves, historic parks
r
and local government and public a
easements. Other routes follow state
c
highways, minor roads, coastal cliff s, k
old gold routes, or pass bushranger
s
haunts and back roads linking towns

&
and historical features.

Most routes do not require specialist T
navigation or bushcraft skills, and vary r
in length from a 45-minute stroll to a a
4-day, 65-kilometre camping trip. i
l
s
Walks, Tracks & Trails of New South Wales

highlights the best the state has o
to off er, from an outback ghost town f

and ancient lake beds, to Australia’s N
highest mountain, coastal environments e
and World Heritage rainforests. w
Easy-to-interpret maps are included to

help you navigate, and the book’s size S
o
makes it convenient to bring with you
u Walks, Tracks & Trails
on your adventures.
t
h

W of New South Wales
a
l
e
s
Derrick Stone
Walks, Tracks of NSW.indd 1 5/07/12 8:49 AM
Walks,Tracks&Trails
OF NEW SOUTH WALES
W,T&T NSW.indd 1 9/7/12 11:44:21 AM
W,T&T NSW.indd 2 9/7/12 11:44:26 AM
Walks,Tracks&Trails
OF NEW SOUTH WALES
Derrick Stone
W,T&T NSW.indd 3 9/7/12 11:44:35 AM
© Derrick Stone 2012 Front cover:
Main image: Rockholes Loop Walk, Mutawintji National Park.
All rights reserved. Except under the conditions described Inset (top): Drumsticks, Isopogon anemonifolius, Barren
in the Australian Copyright Act 1968 and subsequent Grounds.
amendments, no part of this publication may be reproduced, Inset (middle): Jack Cribb Bridge on the Goobarragandra River,
stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by Snowy Mountains.
any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, Inset (bottom): Grey Rocks, Bingi Dreaming Track, South
duplicating or otherwise, without the prior permission of Coast.
the copyright owner. Contact CSIRO PUBLISHING for all Back cover: Cathedral Rock National Park.
permission requests.
Set in Frutiger Light
National Library of Australia Cataloguing-in-Publication entry Typeset by Derrick I Stone Design
Printed in China by 1010 Printing International Ltd
Stone, Derrick I. (Derrick Ian), 1944–
CSIRO PUBLISHING publishes and distributes scientific,
Walks, tracks and trails of New South Wales / by Derrick technical and health science books, magazines and journals
Stone. from Australia to a worldwide audience and conducts these
activities autonomously from the research activities of the
9780643106901 (pbk.) Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation
9780643106918 (epdf) (CSIRO).
9780643106925 (epub)
The views expressed in this publication are those of the
author(s) and do not necessarily represent those of, and
Includes bibliographical references.
should not be attributed to, the publisher or CSIRO.
Trails – New South Wales – Guidebooks. Disclaimer: The maps do not imply public access to all areas
New South Wales – Guidebooks. shown. It is the walker’s responsibility to seek permission to
enter. Every effort has been made to ensure the information
796.509944 in the book is up-to-date and accurate at the time of writing.
Derrick Stone disclaims all liability for all loss, damages,
Published by injury, expense and cost incurred by any person relying on
CSIRO PUBLISHING information and data in Walks, Tracks & Trails of New South
150 Oxford Street (PO Box 1139) Wales.
Collingwood VIC 3066
Australia
Telephone: [phone]
Local call: 1300 788 000 (Australia only)
Fax: [phone]
Email: [email protected]
Web site: www.publish.csiro.au
ns (Gariwerd) National Park (Phillip Hayson/SPP)
iv
W,T&T NSW_Final.indd 4 16/07/12 11:01 AM
Contents
Arrangement of walks by environment viii
Walk locations x
Acknowledgements xii
Introduction 1
Walk, track or trail Nearest major town Environs Distance (km) Time Grade Page
NORTH COAST
Palm Forest–Brush Box Falls Walk Murwillumbah rainforest 2 1 hr easy 2
Booyong Walk Murwillumbah rainforest 9 5 hrs medium 3
Bar Mountain Circuit Murwillumbah rainforest 5 3 hrs easy 4
Pinnacle Lookout Walk Murwillumbah rainforest 750 m 10 mins easy 5
Wollumbin–Mt Warning Summit Walk Murwillumbah mountain 9 5 hrs hard 6
Cape Byron Walking Track Cape Byron coastal 6 4 hrs easy/med 8
Protestors Falls Walk Lismore rainforest 3 1.5 hrs easy/med 10
Iluka Bluff Walking Track Grafton coastal 9 3 hrs easy 11
Iluka Rainforest Walk Grafton rainforest/coastal 2.5 1.5 hrs easy 12
Yuraygir Coastal Walk Grafton coastal 65 4 days easy/med 13
Red Rock Headland Walk Grafton coastal 400 m 1 hr easy 14
Marina to Muttonbird Island Coffs Harbour coastal 3 1 hr easy 15
Wonga Walk Dorrigo rainforest 6.5 2–2.5 hrs easy 16
Blackbutt Track Dorigo rainforest 6.4 3 hrs easy 18
Rosewood Creek Track Dorrigo rainforest 5.5 2 hrs easy/med 19
Eagle’s Nest Track Dorrigo/Armidale mountain 2.5 1.5 hrs medium 20
Tea Tree Falls Walk Dorrigo/Armidale mountain 1.2 1 hr easy/med 21
Lyrebird Walk Dorrigo/Armidale mountain 5.5 3 hrs medium 22
Urunga to Hungry Head Coffs Harbour coastal 7 3.5 hrs easy 23
Trial Bay Goal Walk Arakoon heritage short 1 hr easy 24
Smoky Cape Track Arakoon coastal 10 4 hrs med/hard 26
Hat Head to Hungry Gate Arakoon coastal 6 2 hrs medium 28
Port Macquarie Coastal Walk Port Macquarie coastal 8 3 hrs easy 30
Perpendicular Point Walk Laurieton coastal 2.8 1 hr easy 34
Diamond Head Loop Track Taree coastal 4.8 2.5 hrs easy 36
Red Cedar Walk Taree rainforest 450 m 35 mins hard 38
Rowleys Lookout Taree mountain 430 m 45 mins hard 39
Hidden Treasure Trail Gloucester gold heritage 3.2 1.5–2 hrs easy 40
Antarctic Beech Forest Walk Gloucester beech forest 2.5 1.5 hrs easy 42
Gloucester Falls Track Gloucester waterfalls 1.5 1 hr easy 43
Rocky Crossing Walk Gloucester rainforest 16 5 hrs easy/med 44
Link Trail Gloucester rainforest 21 6 hrs medium 45
Polblue Swamp Track Gloucester wetlands 3 1.5 hrs easy 46
Booti Hill Track & Lakeside Walk Forster coastal 3.5 2 hrs easy 47
Sugarloaf Point Lighthouse Forster coastal 700 m 1 hr easy 48
Mungo Brush Rainforest Walk Forster rainforest 1.5 30 mins easy 49
Cabbage Palm & Coachwood Walks Forster eucalypt forest 1.7 1 hr easy 50
Tomaree Headland Track Nelson Bay coastal/heritage 2.4 1.5 hrs easy/med 52
v
W,T&T NSW.indd 5 9/7/12 11:44:35 AM
Walk, track or trail Nearest major town Environs Distance (km) Time Grade Page
WESTERN SLOPES & PLAINS
Bungoona Track Tenterfield mountain 2.5 2.5 hrs easy/med 54
Little Bald Rock Walk Tenterfield mountain 7 4 hrs medium 56
Northern Viewing Point Walk Tenterfield mountain 10 6 hrs med/hard 56
Boonoo Boonoo Falls Walk Tenterfield waterfall 300 m 30 mins easy 57
Mystery Face Walk Tenterfield granite country 2.6 1 hr easy 58
Coombadjha Circuit Walk Glen Innes rainforest 1.5 30 mins easy 59
World Heritage Walk Glen Innes mountain 60 5 days med/hard 60
Anvil Rock Walk Glen Innes mountain 4 1.5 hrs easy/med 62
Murrumbooee Cascades Walk Glen Innes waterfall 6 2.5 hrs easy 64
The Needles Walk Glen Innes mountain 6 2.5 km easy/med 66
Myall Creek Walk Inverell Aboriginal heritage 1 1 km easy 68
Goonoowigal Walks Inverell Aboriginal heritage 5 2 hrs easy 70
Middle Creek Track Inverell granite country 4 2 hrs easy 70
Stonewoman Walk Inverell Aboriginal heritage 2 1 hr easy 72
Waa Gorge Walk Narrabri mountain 2.5 2.5 hrs medium 73
Sawn Rocks Walk Narrabri volcanic 750 m 1 hr easy 74
Mount Kaputar Summit Walk Narrabri volcanic 2 1.5 hrs easy/med 75
Kaputar Plateau Walk Narrabri volcanic 8 4 hrs medium 76
The Governor Narrabri Volcanic 2 1.5 hrs easy/med 78
Yulludunida Crater Walk Narrabri volcanic 4 3.5 hrs hard 79
Rock Painting Walk Armidale Aboriginal heritage 3 1.5–2 hrs easy 80
Cathedral Rock Track Armidale granite country 5.8 2.5 hrs easy/med 82
Woolpack Rocks Walk Armidale granite country 7 3 hrs easy/med 84
Ebor Falls Armidale waterfall 700 m 30 mins easy 85
Wollomombi Gorge Walk Armidale waterfall 4 1.5 hrs easy 86
Threfall Walk–Gara Gorge Armidale cascades 5.5 2.5 hrs easy/med 88
Dangars Gorge Armidale waterfall 2.2 1 hr easy 90
Salisbury Waters Armidale gorge 14 8 hrs med/hard 90
Apsley Gorge Rim Walk Armidale gorge 1 45 mins easy 91
Thunderbolts Way Uralla/Inverell bushranging heritage driving 92
Breadknife & Grand High Tops Coonabarabran volcanic 12.5 5 hrs med/hard 102
Belougery Split Rock Coonabarabran volcanic 4.5 5 hrs med/hard 104
Mount Exmouth Coonabarabran volcanic 16 5–7 hrs med/hard 106
Tara Cave Cultural Walk Coonabarabran Aboriginal/heritage 3.4 1.5 hrs easy 108
Burbie Canyon Walk Coonabarabran gorge 3.8 1.5 hrs easy 109
The Drip Walk–Goulburn River Mudgee river gorge 500 m 30 mins easy 110
Hands on Rock Mudgee Aboriginal/heritage 400 m 20 mins easy 112
Castle Rocks Track Mudgee sandstone country 8 2.5 hrs easy 113
Lees Pinch Lookout Walk Mudgee sandstone country 500 m 25 mins easy/med 114
Burning Mountain Scone burning coal seam 4.5 2 hrs easy 115
Ophir Goldfield Walk Orange gold heritage 5.5 3 hrs easy/med 116
Cobb & Co. Heritage Trail Bathurst/Bourke transport heritage 580 4 days driving 118
Newnes Shale-Oil Ruins Lithgow shale-oil ruins 2 hrs easy 128
Glow Worm Tunnel Lithgow railway 9 3 hrs easy 130
Zig Zag Railway Lithgow railway 2.5 45 mins medium 132
Jenolan Caves–Carlotta Arch Track Lithgow/Oberon limestone caves 800 m 30 mins medium 134
Jenolan River Walk Lithgow/Oberon river 3 1.5 hrs easy/med 136
McKeowns Track Lithgow/Oberon limestone country 4 2–3 hrs med/hard 136
Six Foot Track Katoomba sandstone country 45 3 days med/hard 139
Kanangra Plateau Track Katoomba/Oberon sandstone country 3 2 hrs medium 140
Ben Halls Cave & Berthas Gully Grenfell bushranging heritage 1.5 1 hr easy 142
Eualdrie Trig Grenfell mountain 4.5 3.5 hrs med/hard 144
Ben Hall & Police Trail Forbes bushranging heritage 4 days driving 146
Carcoar Historic Village Carcoar/Blayney heritage town 2 hrs easy 158
Bungonia Lookdown Goulburn limestone gorge 5.5 3 hrs easy 160
Shoalhaven River Goulburn limestone gorge 7 3.5–4 hrs easy to hard 161
Reefers Battery Walks Gundagai gold heritage 0.5–1 hr easy/med 162
Narrandera Common Walking Track Narrandera river 11 4 hrs easy 164
Bundidgerry Walking Track Narrandera river/lake 8.2 3 hrs easy 165
vi
W,T&T NSW.indd 6 9/7/12 11:44:35 AM
Walk, track or trail Nearest major town Environs Distance (km) Time Grade Page
Yerong Nature Trail–The Rock Wagga Wagga mountain 6 3 hrs easy/med 166
Wonga Wetlands Albury river 2.5 1 hr easy 167
SNOWY MOUNTAINS
Mount Kosciuszko Summit Cooma/Thredbo mountain 13 4–5 hrs easy/med 168
Summit Walk–Kosciuszko Cooma/Thredbo mountain 9 3.5 hrs easy/med 170
Main Range Track Cooma/Thredbo mountain 20 1 or 2 days medium 172
Porcupine Track Cooma/Thredbo mountain 5 2 hrs easy/med 176
Rennix Walk Cooma/Thredbo mountain 13 4–5 hrs medium 177
Sawpit Track Cooma/Thredbo creek 2.6 45 mins easy 178
Bullocks Walk Cooma/Thredbo river 5 2 hrs easy 179
Kiandra Heritage Trail Tumut gold heritage 2 1 hr easy 180
Tabletop Trail Tumut gold heritage 29 2 days medium 182
Clarke Gorge Walk Tumut limestone country 2.5 1 hr easy 184
Nicole Gorge Walk Tumut limestone country 6.3 3.5 hrs easy 184
Hume & Hovell Walking Track Yass/Albury mountain 440 18 days medium 186
Mount Wee Jasper Yass mountain 15 1 day med/hard 194
FAR WEST & OUTBACK
The Long Paddock Deniliquin/Hay droving heritage 550 2 days driving 196
Byngnanop Range Walk Broken Hill Aboriginal heritage 7.5 3 hrs medium 206
Mutawintji Gorge Walk Broken Hill Aboriginal heritage 6 3 hrs easy 208
Silverton Heritage Trail Broken Hill mining heritage 8 3 hrs easy 210
Kinchega Woolshed Walk Broken Hill pastoral heritage 60 m 1 hr easy 212
Walls of China Wentworth Aboriginal heritage 500 m 0.5–2 hrs easy 214
Foreshore Nature Walk Wentworth pastoral heritage 2.5 1.5 hrs easy 216
SOUTH COAST
West Rim Walk Moss Vale/Kiama waterfall 4 2 hrs easy 218
East Rim Walk Moss Vale/Kiama waterfall 6.7 2.5 hrs easy 219
Cascades Walk Albion Park rainforest/waterfall 1 1 hr easy 220
Macquarie Rivulet Walk Albion Park cascades 4 1.5 hrs easy/med 221
Carrington Falls Moss Vale/Robertson waterfall 2 30 mins easy 222
Nellies Glen Moss Vale/Robertson waterfall 500 m 30 mins easy 223
Hoddles Track Kiama mountain 7 2 hrs easy/med 224
Griffiths Trail Kiama escarpment 8 3.5 hrs easy 226
Kangaroo Ridge Trail Kiama escarpment 19 7–8 hrs easy/med 226
Flying Fox Track Kiama escarpment 5 2.5 hrs easy 226
Cooks Nose Track Kiama escarpment 6 2.5 hrs easy/med 267
Kiama Coast Walk Kiama coastal 20 1 day easy 228
Bomaderry Creek Walk Nowra gorge 5 2.5 hrs easy 232
Coomies Walk Nowra coastal 9 3 hrs easy/med 234
Wreck Walk Nowra coastal 2.5 1 hr easy 235
White Sands Walk Nowra coastal 6 2.5 hrs easy 236
Hole in the Wall Nowra coastal 6 2.5 hrs easy 237
Steamers Beach Track Nowra coastal 4.5 2.5 hrs easy/med 238
St Georges Head Circuit Trail Nowra coastal 16 6 hrs easy/med 240
Cape St George Lighthouse Nowra coastal/heritage 300 m 40 mins easy 241
Warden Head & Comee Nulunga Ulladulla coastal/Aboriginal 3.2 1.5 hrs easy 242
One Track For All Ulladulla Aboriginal heritage 2 1 hr easy 244
Pigeon House Mountain Ulladulla mountain 5 3–4 hrs medium 246
Durras Discovery Trail Batemans Bay rainforest 1.5 45 mins easy 248
Bingi Dreaming Track Batemans Bay coastal 13.5 5.5 hrs easy 250
Mystery Bay–1080 Beach Walk Narooma coastal 5 2 hrs easy 252
Tilba Tilba Track Bega/Merimbula mountain 11 4.5–5 hrs med/hard 254
Kangarutha Walking Track Bega/Merimbula coastal 9 1 day medium 256
Bournda Lagoon Walk Bega/Merimbula coastal 5 3 hrs easy/med 258
Mount Imlay Eden mountain 6 3–4 hrs med/hard 260
Light to Light Eden coastal 30 2–3 days easy/med 262
vii
W,T&T NSW.indd 7 9/7/12 11:44:36 AM
Arrangement of walks by environment
ABORIGINAL HERITAGE WALKS DRIVING TRAILS
Red Rock Headland Walk 14 Thunderbolts Trail 92
Myall Creek Walk 68 Cobb & Co. Heritage Trail 118
Goonoowigal Walk 70 Ben Hall & Police Trail 146
Stonewoman Walk 72 The Long Paddock 196
Rock Painting Walk 80
Tara Cave Cultural Walk 108 FOREST WALKS
The Drip Walk–Goulburn River 110 Antarctic Beech Forest Walk 42
Hands on Rock 112 Link Trail 45
Byngnanop Range Walk 206 Cabbage Palm & Coachwood Walks 50
Mutawintji Gorge Walk 208 Mount Wee Jasper 194
Walls of China 214 Hoddles Track 224
Warden Head & Comee Nulunga 242 Durras Discovery Trail 248
One Track For All 244
Bingi Dreaming Track 250 GOLD HERITAGE
Hidden Treasure Trail 40
COASTAL WALKS Ophir Goldfield Walk 116
Cape Byron Walking Track 8 Reefers Battery Walks 162
Iluka Bluff Walking Track 11 Kiandra Heritage Trail 180
Iluka Rainforest Walk 12 Tabletop Trail 182
Yuraygir Coastal Walk 13
Red Rock Headland Walk 14 GRANITE COUNTRY
Marina to Muttonbird Island 15 Mystery Face Walk 58
Urunga to Hungry Head 23 Anvil Rock Walk 62
Smoky Cape Track 26 The Needles Walk 66
Hat Head to Hungry Gate 28 Middle Creek Track 70
Port Macquarie Coastal Walk 30 Cathedral Rock Track 82
Perpendicular Point Walk 34 Woolpack Rocks Walk 84
Diamond Head Loop Track 36
Booti Hill Track & Lakeside Walk 47 HERITAGE WALKS
Sugarloaf Point Lighthouse 48 Trial Bay Goal Walk 24
Tomaree Headland Track 52 Tomaree Headland Track 52
Kiama Coast Walk 228 Thunderbolts Way 92
Coomies Walk 234 Cobb & Co. Heritage Trail 118
Wreck Walk 235 Newnes Shale-Oil Ruins 128
White Sands Walk 236 Glow Worm Tunnel 130
Hole in the Wall 237 Zig Zag Railway 132
Steamers Beach Track 238 Ben Halls Cave & Berthas Gully 142
St Georges Head Circuit Trail 240 Ben Hall & Police Trail 146
Warden Head & Comee Nulunga 242 Carcoar Historic Village 158
Bingi Dreaming Track 250 Hume & Hovell Walking Track 186
Mystery Bay–1080 Beach Walk 252 The Long Paddock 196
Kangarutha Walking Track 256 Silverton Heritage Trail 210
Bournda Lagoon Walk 258 Kinchega Woolshed Walk 212
Light to Light 262 Foreshore Nature Walk 216
viii
W,T&T NSW.indd 8 9/7/12 11:44:36 AM
Hoddles Track 224 Wonga Walk 16
Light to Light 262 Blackbutt Track 18
Rosewood Creek Track 19
LAKE WALKS Eagle’s Nest Walk 20
Mungo Brush Rainforest Walk 49 Red Cedar Walk 38
Bundidgerry Walking Track 165 Rocky Crossing Walk 44
Foreshore Nature Walk 216 Link Trail 45
Mungo Brush Rainforest Walk 49
MOUNTAIN WALKS Coombadjha Circuit Walk 59
Wollumbin–Mt Warning Summit Walk 6 Cascades Walk 220
Eagle’s Nest Walk 20
Tea Tree Falls Walk 21 RIVER, STREAM & CASCADE WALKS
Lyrebird Walk 22 Murrumbooee Cascades Walk 64
Rowleys Lookout 39 Middle Creek Track 70
Rocky Crossing Walk 44 Threfall Walk–Gara Gorge 88
Link Trail 45 Salisbury Waters 90
Bungoona Track 54 Apsley Gorge Rim Walk 91
Ltttle Bald Rock Walk 56 The Drip Walk–Goulburn River 110
Northern Viewing Point Walk 56 Ophir Goldfield Walk 116
World Heritage Walk 60 Jenolan River Walk 136
Anvil Rock Walk 62 Bungonia Lookdown 160
The Needles Walk 66 Shoalhaven River 161
Waa Gorge Walk 73 Narrandera Common Walking Track 164
Breadknife & Grand High Tops 102 Wonga Wetlands 167
Belougery Split Rock 104 Sawpit Track 178
Mount Exmouth 106 Bullocks Walk 179
Burbie Canyon Walk 109 Clarke Gorge Walk 184
Lees Pinch Lookout Walk 114 Nicole Gorge Walk 184
Burning Mountain 115 Cascades Walk 220
Jenolan Caves–Carlotta Arch Track 134 Macquarie Rivulet Walk 221
McKeowns Track 136 Bomaderry Creek Walk 232
Six Foot Track 139
TOWN WALK
Kanangra Plateau Track 140
Carcoar Historic Village 158
Eualdrie Trig 144
Yerong Nature Trail–The Rock 166
VOLCANIC FEATURES
Mount Kosciuszko Summit 168
Sawn Rocks Walk 74
Summit Walk–Kosciuszko 170
Mount Kaputar Summit Walk 75
Main Range Circuit 172
Kaputar Plateau Walk 76
Porcupine Track 176
The Governor 78
Rennix Walk 177
Yulludunida Crater Walk 79
Tabletop Trail 182
Breadknife & Grand High Tops 102
Hume & Hovell Walking Track 186
Belougery Split Rock 104
Mount Wee Jasper 194
Mount Exmouth 106
Byngnanop Range Walk 206
Mutawintji Gorge Walk 208 WATERFALLS
Hoddles Track 224 Protestors Falls Walk 10
Griffiths Trail 226 Wonga Walk 16
Kangaroo Ridge Trail 226 Gloucester Falls Track 43
Flying Fox Track 226 Boonoo Boonoo Falls Walk 57
Cooks Nose Track 267 Murrumbooee Cascades Walk 64
Pigeon House Mountain 246 Ebor Falls 85
Tilba Tilba Track 254 Wollomombi Gorge Walk 86
Mount Imlay 260 Dangars Gorge 90
West Rim Walk 218
RAINFOREST WALKS East Rim Walk 219
Palm Forest–Brush Box Falls Walk 2 Carrington Falls 222
Booyong Walk 3 Nellies Glen 223
Bar Mountain Circuit 4
Pinnacle Lookout Walk 5 WETLANDS
Protestors Falls Walk 10 Poleblue Swamp Track 46
Iluka Rainforest Walk 12 Wonga Wetlands 167
ix
W,T&T NSW_Final.indd 9 16/07/12 10:13 AM