Bushwalking in Coolah Tops National Park

Quick Links: Hazards - Low Impact Bushwalking

Remember you take personal responsibility for the use of any information on this website.

Introduction

There are 7 walks described in this section on the Coolah Tops National Park ranging from a gentle walk down a short track to walks of 10 km. Make sure you read the 'Hazards' section on this page before you go walking.

Map

Coolah Tops National Park Visitor Guide

Walks in the Pinnacle Lookout Area

1. Pinnacle Rd Carpark - Bundella Lookout - Pinnacle Lookout - Pinnacle Rd Carpark

2. Pinnacle Rd Carpark - Bundella Walking Track - Racecourse Track - Pinnacle Rd Carpark

3. Pinnacle Rd Carpark - Rocky Creek Falls - Pinnacle Rd Carpark

Walks in the Barracks Camping Area

4. Barracks Camping Area - - Giant Grass Trees -Pinnacle Rd - Old logging equipment - Barracks Camping Area

Picnic Area to Norfolk Falls

5. Picnic Area - Norfolk Falls - Picnic Area

6. Picnic Area - Norfolk Falls - Bald Creek Falls - Norfolk Falls - Picnic Area

Brackens Hut Area

7.. Brackens Hut - Jacks Hut - Norfolk Creek - Hildegarde Rd - Brackens Hut

1. Pinnacle Rd Carpark - Bundella Lookout - Pinnacle Lookout - Pinnacle Rd Carpark - 2 km return (10 m ascent)

Rating - Easy

This walk has fabulous views from the northern rim of the cliffline out across the Liverpool Plains, is great for sunset shots, and for animal viewing early in the morning or late in the afternoon. A very short walk suitable for families. Take extreme care with children near the lookouts!

Drive along The Forest Rd until you come to the turnoff on the left along Pinnacle Rd. Drive all the way along this road until you come to the end and then park your car. You will notice a large broad area in front of you, devoid of trees which looks like a huge sports field. This is the best place for viewing kangaroos and wallabies if there are any about. Head straight across this open space until you come to a seat. Directly in front of you the view will open out at the top of the cliff and you will be able to see fabulous views across the Liverpool Plains. On a clear day you can see all the way to the Warrumbungle Mountains. This is Bundella Lookout.

Follow the cliff line around to your left and you will pick up a track which goes out to another fabulous lookout - Pinnacle Lookout. The track will eventually come to a gate which you will need to go through and the lookout is a short distance ahead of you. You will be able to see not only the plains but basaltic columns and blocks in the cliffline. Follow the signs back to the carpark without deviating back to Bundella Lookout. There are picnic tables and toilets available near the carpark.

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From the carpark to Bundella Lookout is a clearing which wallabies and kangaroos utilise for grazing. This guy is a red-necked wallaby.		Fabulous views from Bundella and Pinnacle Lookout across the Liverpool Plains and to the Warrumbungles.

The Pinnacle Lookout track can be picked up from Bundella Lookout. There is a small gate which you need to go through (right of photo) and the Lookout is 500 m ahead.
		From Pinnacle Lookout, the obvious volcanic history of the park becomes evident with its basaltic blocks in the cliffline.

2. Pinnacle Rd Carpark - Bundella Walking Track - Racecourse Track - Pinnacle Rd Carpark - 10 km return (20 m ascent)

Rating: Easy to medium (because of the distance)

This is a beautiful walk through forests, some swamps, great views from the plateau rim to the north-east, a great chance to see wallabies and kangaroos, early mornings and an opportunity to really stretch your legs. This walk can be done in conjunction with no.1 above.

Drive along The Forest Rd until you come to the turnoff on the left along Pinnacle Rd. Drive all the way along this road until you come to the end and then park your car. You will notice a large broad area in front of you, devoid of trees which looks like a huge sports field. To the right of this 'field' from the carpark is a track named "Bundella Walking Track" with a locked gate denoting the beginning. The walk begins amongst beautiful eucalypts which have very white trunks after the colourful bark falls off. The contrast in colours make for good photography subjects.

The track is very easy to follow as it is an old vehicular track. There are many birds on this track, including white and black cockatoos, wattle birds, treecreepers,and crimson rosellas just to name a few of the more common species. You may also be lucky to see an echidna.

You will pass though several swamps which are dominated by tea-tree (Leptospermum gregarium and Leptospermum polygalifolium). The tea-trees often have light-green lichen hanging off them.

After walking about 3.5 km you will see an open clearing to your left. Just in front of you is the cliff line. The track skirts around the cliff line and rises slightly in this section. At about the 4.6 km mark you will come to a junction where the Bundella Track meets with the Racecourse Track. Follow the track marker to the right for the 4.2 km that the sign directs you to follow. When you hit Pinnacle Rd, turn right and it is approximately 500 m back along the road to the carpark.

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Beautiful eucalypt trees at the beginning of the Bundella Walking Track		If you are lucky you may see an echidna. This little guy was trying to bury himself, so his legs and head were protected.

Track markers showing the junction of the Bundella Walking Track with the Racecourse Track.

3. Pinnacle Rd Carpark - Rocky Creek Falls - Pinnacle Rd Carpark - 5 km return (If driving directly to Rocky Creek Falls carpark, the walk is only about 1.5 km return) (50 m ascent)

Rating: Easy with some rock hopping

This walk has fabulous views out over the escarpment, allows some waterfall exploration upstream and good swimming on warm days.

This walk can start from the Pinnacle Rd carpark as outlined in Walk No's 1 and 2 above, or you can drive directly to the road turnoff where Rocky Creek Falls track begins. The turnoff is on the left, approximately 1.5 km before you reach the Pinnacle Rd carpark.

After you go down the short turnoff, the road ends in a carpark. The walking track continues downhill several hundred metres until a view opens up over the escarpment. There is a picnic table here. If camping here, you will need to carry everything in with you. About 200 m further along the track there is a large fallen log (pictured in left photo), where the Rocky Creek Falls take a big tumble over rocks. Take extreme care as there is no fence. Of more interest than these falls, are the two further upstream. (One of them shown below right). From the log, turn right and stay on this side of the creek. Although a little bit of log and rock hopping will have to be done, there are numerous animal pads which you should be able to follow.

From the first waterfall you reach (about 150 m), you will be able to hear and just see the next one. Continue carefully upstream until you reach it. If swimming here be careful of rocks and logs in the pools underneath the waterfalls. Because of the clay particles in the basaltic soils, the water has a milky appearance and it is very hard to see what's under the surface.

Retrace your steps to the large fallen log and follow the main track you came down on, back uphill to your starting point.

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Although taken on a wet, misty day, there is a great view from the walk-in campsite at Rocky Creek Falls off the escarpment.

If you walk upstream from the where the falls tumble over a big rock overhang, you will come to 2 other waterfalls like the one above.

4. Barracks Camping Area - Giant Grass Trees -Pinnacle Rd - Old logging equipment - Barracks Camping Area

This walk starts at a convenient location, where many people camp, passes by magnificent large grass trees, and then has a detour to some very old. interesting logging equipment.

Drive to the Barracks Camping area by turning left off The Forest Rd down Pinnacle Rd. The camping area is on your right just after passing over Coxs Creek. You may wish to camp here. The beginning of the track starts at the opposite end of the shelter shed, furthest from the road, and is easy to follow around to the grass trees. These grass trees are quite different to the ones you see on the coast in that they are much larger and older. The trees send up large spears up to 9 m in height which are full of nectar that insects and birds absolutely love. Aboriginal people used the plants in many different ways, including food, weaving, spears, and they also harvested a strong type of resin from the tree.

Instead of following the track back to the camping area there is an alternative track which heads west to the carpark on Pinnacle Rd. There will be a signpost leading to in the right direction. As you reach the carpark turn right and walk down Pinnacle Rd towards the Barracks Camping Area. Just before you cross over Coxs Creek, there is a road on the left which leads down to the Bone Creek Sawmill (approx 200 m). You can have a look at the boiler and various other kinds of machinery left from the 1952 sawmill. The sawmill's name was later changed to the Coxs Creek Sawmill.

Retrace your steps to Pinnacle Rd, cross over Coxs Creek, and the camping area entrance will be on your right. Make sure you read the signage in the camping area as there is a good summary of the logging history in the area.

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The shelter shed at Barracks Camping Area. The track around to the grass trees begins at the and of this camping area, opposite the shed.		One of the interpretive signs explaining the unique qualities of the grass tree (Xanthorrhoea glauca)

An old boiler, part of old machinery left from the Coxs Creek Sawmill.
		The giant grass trees of Xanthorrhoea glauca.

5. Picnic Area - Norfolk Falls - 1 km return.

Rating: short but steep. People who have medical problems should take caution. Make sure you have young children well controlled as there are high dropoffs.

If coming from Coolah, turn right off The Forest Way at the Norfolk Falls sign just before Pinnacle Rd which will be on your left. (100 metres or so further on) If coming from Pinnacle Lookout or the Barracks Camping Area, drive along Pinnacle Rd until it joins The Forest Rd, turn right and you will see a road to Norfolk Falls about 100 metres or so on your left. Drive down this road until you come to the Norfolk Falls Day Use Area. Park your car here.

As you cannot see the Falls from the picnic area, you have to walk down a steep incline including steps (500 return according to the signs). It is uphill all the way. There are seats to rest on along the way. The Falls have a drop of 35 metres.. After reaching the viewing platform, the track continue another 100m or so to where it tumbles over the Falls. Extreme caution should be taken here as the rocks can be very slippery. Return to the picnic area or if continuing to Bald Creek Falls, read the next section.

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Picnic Area for day use visitors at Norfolk Falls and the beginning of the walk to Bald Creek Falls

Norfolk Falls from the top lookout.

6. Picnic Area - Norfolk Falls - Bald Creek Falls - Norfolk Falls - Picnic Area - 4 km return, short but steep sections

Rating:easy - medium

Read the section above (walk no. 5) for instructions on how to get to Norfolk Falls. Continue over Norfolk Creek with caution (DO NOT CROSS AFTER HEAVY RAIN!) and you will pick up the Bald Hill Creek Falls Track on the other side. The track continues through lovely forest for about a kilometre and a half. There are quite a few up and down sections. The track comes out at the top of Bald Hill Creek Falls at the picnic/camping area.

The falls show basaltic rock columns typical of volcanic areas. At the end of the carpark there is a sign pointing the way to another waterfall along Bald Hill Creek. The walk is about 800 m return. Although not as spectacular as other waterfalls in the area. it does tumble well into a rocky gully. Look out for kangaroos in this area. Retrace your steps back to Norfolk Falls Picnic Area.

Note:you will notice on this walk that the water appears quite cloudy in the creeks. This is due to fine clay particles being released from the basalt rich soils and not due to polluted water.

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Bald Creek Falls with basaltic rock columns obvious on the left. of the photo.

Signage at Bald Creek Falls. There is another waterfall about 400 metres downstream from the picnic area.

7. Brackens Hut - Jacks Hut - Norfolk Creek - Hildegarde Rd - Brackens Hut

This walk is not not really a walk in the true sense, but I have included it as a stroll or look around. Brackens Hut may have people staying there and if that is the case, please do not disturb them.

Brackens Hut can be rented out via the Mudgee office of National Parks. It was built in 1937 and was used by various members and employees of the Traill family who held grazing leases over the Tops between 1919 and 1972.It has 3 rooms (4 beds without mattresses), a water tank, pit toilet, and when I visited over a June weekend, there was firewood in the stables (essential as the winter nights are very cold). You would need to bring your own gas stove or cook over the open fire and chairs.

There are a couple of old pieces of farm machinery around, stables and a horse yard for horseriders.From the veranda, you can look out over a swamp which starts about 150 m away. From this vantage point you can look out at wombats, kangaroos and wallabies grazing near the swamp.

On the toilet side of the hut, you will see another hut in the distance (do not go inside, as it is privately owned). Below the hut are some beautiful waterholes and moss-covered rocks along Norfolk Creek which are worth exploring.

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Old farm machinery around Brackens Hut.	Norfolk Creek, below Brackens Hut is worth exploring.

Brackens Hut showing the veranda, which is a good vantage point for watching animals.

Hazards

Remember you take personal responsibility for the use of any information on this website.

• All the roads in the national park are dirt. The area receives a lot of rain, therefore the roads can be very slippery. Modify your speed to suit the road conditions. Most areas up to the junction of the Forest Rd and Hildegarde Rd can be used by conventional 2WD vehicles. After heavy rain the road down to the camping area at Bald Creek Falls can be extremely muddy. I have seen 2WD as well as 4 WD vehicles get bogged on the hill coming out of the camping area, so take care in this section. Hidegarde Rd to Brackens Hut is usually no problem.

• Rangers will often close a gate at the junction of Forest Rd and Hildegarde Rd which leads out along The Forest Road to Breeza Lookout. Even though this road is recommended for 4WD's only, twice when I have visited in winter after rain it has been locked. If you wish to visit the more remote areas I suggest you phone the Mudgee Office to check what the road conditions are, so you won't be disappointed when you get there.

• Take extreme care when crossing creeks or around waterfalls after heavy rain.

• You will be driving through quite dense forest in this park. Take care with fallen trees on the road, especially during strong winds or storms. Trees can fall and block the road for short periods of time.

• Take care not to collide with animals especially between dusk and early morning. There are large numbers of kangaroos, wallabies and wombats in the park.

• Hypothermia (the body loses its ability to keep warm) is caused from wet,/windy/ cold conditions. In the cooler months make sure you carry sensible clothing on day walks, especially for children or very thin people. Take woollen or thermal clothing, including hats and gloves, and wind/waterproof jackets. Avoid heavy cotton garments like jeans and sloppy joes which do not keep the body warm when wet. Nights in winter often fall below zero and occasionally it snows. Make sure you have enough warm clothes and appropriate camping equipment.

• Sunburn is one of the major hazards of walking in this area. Even though the walks are at altitude and it may feel cool, the sun will still burn. Wear sunglasses, long sleeves and pants, hat and 30+ sunscreen liberally applied. This will also protect against any prickly shrubs or grasses.

• Wear supportive shoes/boots.Tracks can be slippery. Some of the walks are very close to cliffs and high drop-offs near waterfalls without fencing. Take particular care with children.

• Focus on where you place your feet and hands. Snakes are common around wet areas and long grass, You may want to consider wearing gaiters if you are doing off track walks. There are quite a lot of wombat holes.

• Carry at least 2 litres of water per person, especially in summer. There are many creeks and swamps in the area which if away from habitation are generally safe, however if you are in any doubt what so ever, treat the water first.

Take great care with fire in summer. Use a fuel stove or gas BBQ's provided in picnic grounds. If in an area where open fires are permitted, keep them small and use any fireplaces provided.

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A large section of eucalypt which had fallen on The Forest Rd after heavy winds during a storm.

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Low Impact and Responsible Bushwalking

Take all rubbish home with you
Do not stress animals by chasing or approaching too closely, particularly nesting birds. Replace smaller creatures or any rocks or logs you have turned over. Remember that all native plants, animals, cultural and historic features are protected.
Fresh drinking water is precious - do not pollute by washing, urinating or defecating within 100 metres of a water source. Others have to drink what you may be polluting!
Leave all your details with someone responsible and include intended route and timings. ALWAYS USE A MAP AND KNOW HOW TO READ IT!
Ensure you have an EPIRB or other emergency communication device. Mobile phones do not always work in this area.
Open fires are often prohibited in National Parks. Use a fuel stove or gas BBQ's provided in picnic grounds if allowed.

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