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Mount Kaputar National Park - NSW

Dawson Springs - ammenities block BBQ

Dawson Springs camping ground

Lookout to 'The Governor'

Mount Kaputar National Park

123456

National Parks,Reserves

Position

DEG: -30.237806 149.992599

DMS: 30º 14' 16.1" S 149º 59' 33.36" E

UTM: 55 J 6651074mN 788004mE

Altitude: 518.22m

Address & Contact Edit

Kaputar NSW

Phone: 02 6792 7300

Email: npws.barwon@environment.nsw.gov.au

Web: https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/visit-a-park/parks/mount-kaputar-national-park

Information

Seventeen million years of erosion have sculpted the now-extinct Nandewar Volcano, forming an island of wilderness rising 1200 metres above the surrounding plains. Rocky outcrops offer breathtaking views while a diverse range of vegetation from semi-arid woodland to wet sclerophyll forest and subalpine communities cling to the mountain slopes. The region is a haven for threatened bats, birds, quolls and a unique large pink slug, which often appears after rain.
Walking tracks range from short easy strolls to more difficult day walks or overnight treks. Picnic at Dawsons Spring in the subalpine area, take an easy walk along the Nature Trail through tall gums and snow grass, or walk to the summit of Mt Kaputar. Car-based camping is available at Dawsons Spring or in the stringybark forest at Bark Hut. Camping areas have free barbecues, hot showers, toilets and fireplaces (bring your own firewood}. Three cabins are available at Dawsons Spring (bookings required).
Sawn Rocks, Australia's best example of the geological formation known as organ-piping, is in the northern section of the park (not accessible from the main part of the park). It's an easy walk and has wheelchair access, free gas barbecues, picnic tables and toilets. Waa Gorge offers a more difficult half-day walk.
Access
The main part of the park is 30 km east of Narrabri on Mt Kaputar Road (head south¬east out of Narrabri on Maitland Street). The first 10 km is unsealed then the last 10km is tar. Caravans are not permitted within the park as the road is steep and narrow.
Sawn Rocks is 30 minutes from Narrabri on the Bingara Road, and Waa Gorge is 50 minutes from Narrabri along the Terry Hie Hie Road (both have unsealed sections). Access to Waa Gorge is through several gates on private property and may be closed after rainfall.
Narrabri, phone 6792 7300

Edit

PlaceID	63985

Additional Files (1)

Map

Nearby Places (3)

Wildflowers

Weather

Temperature
16.1°C
Feels Like	15.9°C
Rel. Humidity	82%
Dew Point	13.0°C
Pressure	1015.5hPa
Rainfall	0.0mm
Wind Direction	WSW
Wind Speed	6km/hr 3knots
Gusts	7km/hr 4knots

Temperature	Feels Like	Rel. Humidity	Dew Point	Pressure	Rainfall	Wind Direction	Wind Speed	Gusts
16.1°C	15.9°C	82%	13.0°C	1015.5hPa	0.0mm	WSW	6km/hr 3knots	7km/hr 4knots


Mean Max. °C
Jan	34.7
Feb	33.2
Mar	30.8
Apr	26.9
May	22.4
Jun	18.4
Jul	17.7
Aug	20.0
Sep	23.9
Oct	27.8
Nov	30.8
Dec	32.2
Mean Min. °C
Jan	20.3
Feb	19.7
Mar	16.2
Apr	12.3
May	6.9
Jun	5.6
Jul	4.0
Aug	4.8
Sep	8.3
Oct	12.0
Nov	16.4
Dec	18.2
Mean Rain mm
Jan	74.2
Feb	68.2
Mar	36.8
Apr	26.1
May	24.4
Jun	54.5
Jul	33.9
Aug	26.5
Sep	34.0
Oct	37.8
Nov	80.0
Dec	81.3

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Mean Max. °C	34.7	33.2	30.8	26.9	22.4	18.4	17.7	20.0	23.9	27.8	30.8	32.2
Mean Min. °C	20.3	19.7	16.2	12.3	6.9	5.6	4.0	4.8	8.3	12.0	16.4	18.2
Mean Rain mm	74.2	68.2	36.8	26.1	24.4	54.5	33.9	26.5	34.0	37.8	80.0	81.3

Update History

Comments & Reviews(1)

02 Apr 21 RobMac (QLD_Member)

Distance: 2782kms Economy: 11.9ltrs/100kms No of Days: 8 days No of vehicles: 4 Link to route taken: 2021 (Mar) - Mt Kaputar & Mid NSW Explore Trip (Part-1) 2021 (Mar) - Mt Kaputar & Mid NSW Explore Trip (Part-2) Link to all Photos: 2021 (Mar) - Mt Kaputar & Mid NSW Explore Trip PHOTOS Link to a video of the trip: 2021 (Mar) - Mt Kaputar & Mid NSW Explore Trip VIDEO Headed out of Brisbane and towards Tenterfield with a detour through Girraween NP to check out a round Stone Hut.

From Tenterfield, we headed west via Mt McKenzie Lookout and continued west via some dirt backroads passing through some brilliant countryside

Reached Torrington State Forest where we stopped to check out the Mystery Face

From there we pushed onwards to the town of Emmaville but not before stopping to check out the old Ottery Mine

From Emmaville we headed towards the town on Inverell and stopped at Copeton Dam for Lunch. The Dam level looked pretty low....

After lunch, we continued along the main road towards the town of Bingara. The road to Bingara passes some great camp spots along the Gwydir River. Stopped at the Ancient Geological Glacial Site for a swim and afternoon Smoko. From here we stopped at Sawn Rocks and made our way up to Mt Kaputar NP for the nights camp.

Woke up to a rainy/windy morning with the weather doing a complete change from hot to freezing cold. With the weather being what it was, it was no point doing any of the walks as u could not see anything due to the cloud cover.

Once back down off the Mountain, it was off twds the Hot Baths at Pilliga stopping in to see the CSIRO Observatory and the nearby Karrie Lake

With the weather still raining and the roads becoming slipperly, we decided to stop at the Salt Caves and setup camp

The following day we headed off to our next destination via the southern 4wd track into Sculptures in the Bush. Had smoko there where I realised that my rear brake pads had worn down to metal on metal. Luckily I had some old 2nd hand ones in my vehicle so while the other fellas had smoko, I changed my rear brake pads out. With the rain not letting up, we decided to do the walk to the 2nd sculpture and then return back to the cars and head out to the next location - Yaminba Sandstone Caves

With time getting on we pushed on to checkout another place I had heard about and definitely wanted to see, especially with all the rain that had fallen - Dripping Falls. This ended up being our camp for the night as well

The next day was a early rise and headed to the next town of Barraba and the local falls - Horton Falls.

From the falls it was off to next destination whick was another old Mine site and our camp for the night on the eastern side of Copeton Dam. This turned out a little more involve as we started to hit flood roads and creeks, so we had to take quite a few backroads to get to our camp for the night...

The next day, it was time to start making our way twds the coastal area visiting the following places along the way - Bakers Creek Falls; the old town of Hillgrove, then Wollomombi Falls and Ebor Falls and Point Lookout

Finally reached our camp for the night - Wattle Flats

The following morning we did a bit of exploring some of the local tracks but were hindered by the fast-flowing rivers. Once out back on the main track, we headed towards Falls Road Lookout. This turned out to be where we all had to use our winches to get through a section that had been washed out. Once we were all clear, we then south to Georges Junction for Lunch.

With time getting on we made our way towards the town of Kempsey not realising that it was one of the towns that got hit hard with the floods. Upon reaching Kempsey it took us a fair bit of time to find a way around the flooded sections to allow us to get to the Hwy and north towards Coffs Harbour and then onto Glenreagh where we had planned to camp for the night... The following morning 2 vehicles had to head homewards while my mate and myself continued exploring the area around Glenreagh; Nana Glen and out twds Ulong. We found one of the old Historical Railway Bridges over Bobo River where we stopped for lunch. After lunch it was time to try and find our last POI which was a couple of old Railway Tunnels near Glenreagh. This proved a little harder as the tracks into the tunnels were washed out and we were running out of time to get back home in time for dinner. We ended up turning around and heading out to the Hwy and head off home...