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Mount Kaputar National Park

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Overview

Mount Kaputar National Park is a national park in the Western New England region of New South Wales, located on Mount Kaputar, a volcano active somewhere between 17 and 21 million years ago. It's mostly known for the ico

Wikivoyage guide · 7 sections

▸Introduction235 chars

▸Visitor information12 chars

Park website

▸Get in617 chars

From Narrabri to get to Waa Gorge, head north onto the Newell Highway for three kilometres, and after that three kilometres, turn right onto Bingara Rd/Killarney Gap Rd where you'll need to stay onto Killarney Gap Rd for a good 21 kilometres. After you've done that good 21 kilometres, turn left onto Melburra Rd for 30 kilometres, where after that, turn right on Allambie Rd to Waa Gorge.

To get to the iconic Sawn Rocks from Narrabri, head north onto the Newell Highway for three kilometres, and then turn right onto Bingara Rd/Killarney Gap Rd. Head on that road for 35 kilometres until you're there at Sawn Rocks.

▸Fees and permits

Facts

Rank

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Coordinates

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Source

WBP almanac

External sources

Wikivoyage Wikipedia

Media

From Wikipedia525 words

Introduction

National park in New South Wales, Australia Mount Kaputar National ParkIUCN category II (national park)View of the park from the top of Mount Kaputar, oriented approximately westMount Kaputar National ParkLocationNew South WalesCoordinates30°17′26″S 150°08′34″E / 30.29056°S 150.14278°E / -30.29056; 150.14278Area502.25 km2 (193.92 sq mi)Governing body Regional Board, Australia National Parks and Wildlife Service Managing Authorities The Mount Kaputar National Park is a national park located in New South Wales, Australia, surrounding the proximities of Mount Kaputar, a volcano active between 17 and 21 million years ago. It is located 50 km (31 mi) east of Narrabri and 570 km (354 mi) northwest of Sydney. Millions of years of erosion have since carved the volcanic region into the lava terraces, volcanic plugs, and dykes of Nandewar Range. The central feature of the region is Mount Kaputar, the park's namesake, which rises to an altitude of 1,510 m (4,954 ft). The 360 degree view from the summit of the mountain encompasses one-tenth of New South Wales' area or 80,000 square kilometres (31,000 sq mi). The park protects a wide range of biomes, including semi-arid woodland, subalpine heath, and eucalypt forests, and provides a habitat for a range of animals, including bats, birds, wallabies, quolls, and the unique red triangle slug (Triboniophorus graeffei) and pink slug (Triboniophorus sp. nov. 'Kaputar'), which are known to appear after rainfall.

More in sights0

▸See4,415 chars

1 Mount Kaputar Summit Lookout, Summit Road (51 km from Narrabri via Maitland Street southbound, pass Jenkins Street on the left and continue ahead as Old Gunnedah Road, turn left onto Kaputar Road, pass the Bark Hut Campground and Picnic Area on the right, pass the Doug Sky Lookout on the right, pass the West Kaputar Lookout on the left, continue through the four-way intersection, turn left/north onto Summit Road and follow the one-way loop to the carpark.), ☏ +61 2 6792 7300, npws.barwon@environment.nsw.gov.au. Enjoy 360-degree views from the summit of Mount Kaputar, and bring your binoculars and cameras. Short steep section to the top on a wooden staircase. Picnic table at the carpark, but no toilets. 4-wheel-drive access in wet weather, 2-wheel-drive vehicle at other times. Bring warm and waterproof clothes as the weather is unpredictable. A good spot for birdwatching. Walkers can descend to Dawsons Spring via the Mount Kaputar Summit Walk. Free entry. (updated Apr 2021)

Scutts Hut. (updated Oct 2021)

2 Doug Sky Lookout, Kaputar Road (47 km from Narrabri via Maitland Street southbound, pass Jenkins Street on the left and continue ahead as Old Gunnedah Road, turn left onto Kaputar Road, pass the Bark Hut Campground and Picnic Area on the right, lookout on the right), ☏ +61 2 6792 7300, npws.barwon@environment.nsw.gov.au. Scenic views over north-west New South Wales, the foothills of the Nandewar Ranges, and the Warrumbungle Mountains - bring your binoculars and cameras. Wheel-chair accessible with assistance to lookout but no disabled parking. Bring warm and waterproof clothing as the weather can be unpredictable. Parking but no picnic tables or toilets. Free entry. (updated Apr 2021)

3 Governor Lookout Walking Track, Governor Track (49 km from Narrabri via Maitland Street southbound, pass Jenkins Street on the left and continue ahead as Old Gunnedah Road, turn left onto Kaputar Road, pass the Bark Hut Campground and Picnic Area on the right, pass the Doug Sky Lookout on the right, turn left onto Governor road then turn left again to reach the car park), ☏ +61 2 6792 7300, npws.barwon@environment.nsw.gov.au. A short walk with great views over the Nandewar and Grattai wildernesses and of The Governor Rock formation, with birdwatching opportunities - bring binoculars and cameras. Car park has 1 disabled-access spot, but no picnic tables or toilets. Track is 450 m return (15-30 min), Grade 2, formed, no steps, wheelchair accessible. Access to the Governor Summit (Corrunbral Borawah) Walking Track where you might see skilled rock climbers take on The Governor. (updated Apr 2021)

4 West Kaputar Lookout, Kaputar Road (49.5 km from Narrabri via Maitland Street southbound, pass Jenkins Street on the left and continue ahead as Old Gunnedah Road, turn left onto Kaputar Road, pass the Bark Hut Campground and Picnic Area on the right, pass the Doug Sky Lookout on the right, pass Governor Road on the left, lookout on the left), ☏ +61 2 6792 7300, npws.barwon@environment.nsw.gov.au. Scenic views across Mount Kaputar National Park and of the granite face of the West Kaputar rock formation, and of the Nandewar and Grattai wilderness. Bring your binoculars and cameras. Free entry. (updated Apr 2021)

5 Sawn Rocks (38.5 km from Narrabri via Newell Highway northbound, turn right/east onto Killarney Gap Road, car park is on the right on Sawn Rocks Track), ☏ +61 2 6792 7300, npws.barwon@environment.nsw.gov.au. This trail leads to an unusual rock formation resembling organ pipes. Car park has no amenities. Track is 1.5 km return (15-45 min), Grade 2, wheelchair accessible with some assistance, flat with no steps, formed, signposted. Free entry. (updated Sep 2019)

6 Mount Yulludunida Summit (38.5 km from Narrabri via Kaputar Rd. Parking area on eastern side of road next to small picnic area). A steep 3km return track leads to a lookout at the base of Mount Yulludunida. The track is relatively unimpressive prior to this, but adventurous bushwalkers can continue off-track towards the summit. Some route-finding is necessary and there are some sections where easy scrambling (grade 2) with minor exposure is required, but is very enjoyable. The hike to the summit is 4km return and 350m of elevation gain in total. A similarly impressive peak can be found on the northern end of the same ridge adjacent to the lookout at the base. Free entry. (updated Apr 2023)

▸Camping1,694 chars

1 Bark Hut Campground and Picnic Area, Bark Hut Road (46 km from Narrabri via Maitland Street southbound, pass Jenkins Street on the left and continue ahead as Old Gunnedah Road, turn left onto Kaputar Road, turn-off to the campground is on the right), ☏ +61 1300 072 757, parks.info@environment.nsw.gov.au. A great place to camp or have a picnic, with 9 unpowered sites (suitable for tents or camper-trailers), flush toilets, picnic tables, free gas/electric barbecues, wood barbecues (bring your own wood, do not gather wood), hot showers. Access point for the Euglah Rock Walking Track. Free entry - bookings required for camping. (updated Apr 2021)

2 Dawsons Spring Campground, Dawsons Spring Nature Trail (50.5 km from Narrabri via Maitland Street southbound, pass Jenkins Street on the left and continue ahead as Old Gunnedah Road, turn left onto Kaputar Road, pass the Bark Hut Campground and Picnic Area on the right, pass the Doug Sky Lookout on the right, pass the West Kaputar Lookout on the left, continue ahead to the T-intersection and turn right, then turn right again onto Dawsons Spring Road, pass the Dawsons Spring Cabins to the campground), ☏ +61 1300 072 757, parks.info@environment.nsw.gov.au. Campground with 15 unpowered sites suitable for tents and camper-trailers, flush toilets, free gas/electric barbecues, wood barbecues and fire pits (bring your own firewood, do not gather wood), hot showers. Access point for the Bundabulla Circuit Walking Track, the Dawsons Spring Nature Trail, and the Mount Kaputar Summit Walk. Be careful when camping under trees, and do not remain when high winds are forecast. Free entry - bookings required for camping. (updated Apr 2021)

[edit] Before it was a national park, the area was used largely as grazing land for domestic animals. The conditions in the park are very harsh, but several pioneering families lived there, and remnants of their occupation remain. Sheep and cattle continued to graze on the plateau until around the 1950s. It was an isolated place, and the stockmen in charge of the cattle often would not see another human for months at a time. In 1925, some 775 ha (3 sq mi) of land around Mount Kaputar were declared a "Reserve for Public Recreation". Two years later, a trust, known as the Mount Kaputar Trust, was formed to give guidance on managing the park. The area was expanded to 14,244 ha (55 sq mi) and proclaimed a full national park in 1959. Eight years later, in 1967, the Fund relinquished the duties of controlling the park to the newly established National Parks and Wildlife Service, and the park is still administered by a regional advisory board.

Facilities and activities

[edit] In 1965, two cabins were constructed at Dawsons Spring, providing accommodations including a permanent water supply for showers and toilets, and a picnic facility. Today there are three cabins, including one facilitated from Bark Hut. The park is popular with rockclimbers, and there are 11 walks in the park, as well as a camping ground. However, the most popular site in the park is Scutts Hut, located upward of Kurrawonga Falls. The hut is the former home of the Scutt family, a pioneer family living in the vicinity of the park. it is accessible via a fire trail from the Bark Hut camping grounds. The hut has been restored to its original livery, with an earthen floor and an open fireplace. The hut is built on the banks of Horsearm Creek, which flows into Kurrawonga Falls. Euglah Rock Sawn Rocks Mount Yulludunida (left) and Mount Ningadhun (right) Mount Kaputar and the Nandewar Range