Wow. That’s all we have to say. The Warrumbungle National Park is easily the best national park NSW has to offer and one of the most visually unique landscapes in Australia. And hiking Warrumbungle National Park is honestly surreal. We spent a week in the park and did a range of hikes. To make your visit a little easier and help you decide what to do we have decided what we feel are the best hikes Warrumbungle National Park has to offer. There is something for everyone in this article. So stay here it is! The best hikes Warrumbungle National Park has to offer.
The Warrumbungle National Park prides itself on having accessible hikes and walks for everyone. So no matter your fitness you’re still able to see Grand High Tops and other notable landmarks throughout the park.
If you’re interested in our trip, you can check it out here.
You can also find out what you need to know about camping in the Warrumbungles here.
The best walks Warrumbungle National Park have been ranked from easy to hard.
First Things First
Every time you go hiking remember to pack the following:
- First Aid Kit – We recommend this emergency first aid kit as it is designed for travel and can easily be placed in your day pack.
- Water – For obvious reasons.
- An offline map – not everywhere has access to the internet and you need to be prepared.
- Snacks – for extra energy.
- Camera – so you can capture some memories.
- Multi tool – So you’re prepared for anything.
White Gum Lookout
Grade – Easy – 1km return
If you’re looking for an easy, accessible trail that won’t take you hours, then this is the one for you. The White Gum Lookout is the only trail in the park that features a concrete path the entire distance, which makes it much more family-friendly than any of the other trails. This doesn’t mean that you’re missing out though. The short but sweet trail takes a steep hill up to the lookout where you will receive one of the best views of the park. From the lookout, you can see the Grand High Tops, the valley and Split Rock. The trail also features many seats, and educational boards for you to read as you catch your breath before you get to take it all in.
This is one of the best walks in Warrumbungles due to the accessible path. This track is the perfect entry-level hike and still offers pristine views of the park!
Hot Tip: Pack a few drinks and head up for sunset. You won’t be disappointed.
Wambelong Nature Trail
Grade – Easy – 2.4km loop
Don’t let the easy grade deter you. This is one of our favourites. Starting from Camp Blackman, this trail takes you through the gulleys and canyons. You’ll be in awe as you walk through the canyons and just see and feel the vastness of nature all around you. The track is well-signposted and well-maintained and only has 1 set of man-made stairs. Once you reach the Canyon Picnic Area, you can make the ascent up the rock face and see the best view of Belougery Split Rock. Make sure you head up and check it out. It won’t disappoint.
Hot Tip: there are a few creek crossings and if it’s rained recently you might get wet shoes.
Pilliga Sandstone Caves
Grade – Moderate – 1.8km loop
Okay technically not in the park. But it’s worth the trip. Only an hour from the park is the Pilliga Sandstone Caves. These caves were formed by millions of years of rain and wind erosion. In the past, the caves were used by Indigenous Australians for shelter and they are currently used by wallabies and other animals for the same purpose. The local council has collaborated with the Indigenous Elders to help preserve the caves whilst also keeping them as an interactive window to the past. Only two caves have been closed off due to vandalism and the historical value is risked. The rest of the caves can be explored.
There are very few staircases on this trail and only becomes moderate if exploring the caves are your intention.
Hot Tip: There is no sign for this track off of Newell Hwy. Look for the Yanimba Fire Trail and follow it for 1km until you find the parking area.
Grand High Tops Circuit
Grade – Moderate – 14.5km loop
People say if you’re only doing one hike in the Warrumbungle National Park this is the one to do. And they’re right. This is a must! Most people that come to the park, come to complete this circuit, or at least summit Grand High Tops. This hike is arguably the best hike at Warrumbungle National Park if not all of NSW. Starting at the Pincham Carpark you’ll start the ascent.
There are two options here. You can summit and do the trail as an out-and-back 10km walk, up Hundreds of stairs to reach the summit. These stairs are man-made and include a lot of rest areas (thank god). Once you hike past Breadknife, there is a small 200-meter rock scramble that takes you to the summit of Grand High Tops. Here you can take a break and remember that every ounce of sweat was worth this unrivalled view.
The other option is to do this track as a circuit. This is how we chose to do it and it took us a total of 7 hours. Although we did spend 1.5 hours at the summit for lunch. This we won’t lie is a tough walk. It’s long and steep. But you won’t regret doing it. We recommend doing the circuit anti-clockwise. This way you go down the stairs, and by the time you reach the summit, you’re past the halfway point. Trust us. It’s nice to know when you get to the top you’re on the home stretch.
Hot Tip: Pack a Lunch for the summit. The view is one you’ll want to see for a while
Belougery Split Rock Circuit + summit
Grade – hard – 4.5km loop
Okay okay. We saved the best to last. This circuit is a lot less trafficked than any of the other tracks in the park, and should only be considered moderate unless you’re planning on summiting. When we were in the park half the track was closed, so we cannot speak on the other half of the track but it was probably one of the least maintained trails in the park and the hardest to navigate. We did summit for sunrise, so that would have had something to do with it. But the only form of signage on the trail is warn-out painted arrows on rocks and road reflections sporadically placed along the trail.
The summit is hard. We won’t lie. This is not for someone who is not steady on their feet, comfortable with heights, or new to hiking. Honestly, at the summit, we wouldn’t even call it rock scrambling, there were times when we were climbing the rocks to get there, but just like at high tops, it was worth it to see the view. From the top, you can see Grand High Tops and the entire park. If you look hard enough you can probably even see your campsite!
Climbing the split rock for sunrise was the highlight of our entire trip, and we could not recommend it enough. The 3 am wake-up was worth it.
Hot Tip: Pack a Windbreaker. Its very windy and chilly up there. Also, DO NOT attempt to summit after recent rain. The rocks are slippery and unstable at the best of times.
