This moderately short trek can be incorporated with the Yengo National Park trek note as a side trip, or completed by itself. The Howes Valley - Yengo NP trek can be easily undertaken in a day, although an overnight camp at Big Yango Camp can be utilised to give you more time to explore around the park.
Big Yango's large group campground brings a unique camping experience, catering for large groups (up to 100 people) or small vehicle-based bush camping. This area is suitable for 4WD touring, cycling, horse riding and wilderness walks - or just simply relaxing in a remote location. There are wood barbecues and non-flush toilets, although you will need to bring your own water. This camping ground is within the Big Yango Precinct and requires access through a locked gate. Contact the park office for more details.
4WDs are recommended, although the track is ok for soft-roaders and even 4WDs towing camper trailers. Some of the highlights of this trip include: viewing Aboriginal rock carvings, bushwalking, bird and nature spotting, and moderate 4WDriving. Additional supplies can be picked up from Wollembi, Singleton, Half-way road-house on the Putty Road.
How to Use this Trek Note
- To download this information and the route file for offline use on a phone, tablet, headunit or laptop, go to the app store and purchase ExplorOz Traveller. This app enables offline navigation and mapping and will show where you are as you travel along the route. For more info see the ExplorOz Traveller webpage and the EOTopo webpage.
Environment
Yengo is a wilderness of steep gorges and rocky ridges. There are several
rock types scattered throughout the park, the oldest being Narrabeen
sandstone. Geologists think it formed when sand particles began washing down from mountains in northern NSW about 230 million years ago. Hawkesbury
sandstone then formed on top. The youngest and rarest
rock type in the park is Wianamatta shale. Because shale areas are very fertile they have mostly been used for farming. Areas in their natural state like those in the park are now quite scarce.
History
According to local Aboriginal lore, Mt Yengo is the place where Biamie departed to the skies after finishing his creative tasks during the Dreamtime. The mountain top was flattened when he stepped on it. Aboriginal people have probably live in the area for about 13,000 years. Yengo is criss-crossed with Aboriginal routes used by highland and coastal tribes, where reciprocal visits were often arranged to exploit seasonally abundant food. The path of the historic Old Great North Rd was probably an Aboriginal travelling route shown to surveyors by local people.
The land and waterways, and the plants and animals that live in them, feature in all facets of Aboriginal culture – including recreational, ceremonial, and spiritual and as a main source of food and medicine. They are associated with dreaming stories and cultural learning that is still passed on today. We work with local Aboriginal communities to protect this rich heritage.
To find out more about Aboriginal heritage in the park, you can get in touch with the local Aboriginal community. Contact the park office for more details.
The Old Great North Road, which runs along the park's south-east border, was one of the most important civil engineering feats of the early years of the colony of New South Wales. It was built using convict labour over the period 1826–1836 to provide a route from Sydney to the Hunter Valley. Today you can see spectacular and beautifully preserved examples of convict-built stonework including buttresses, culverts, bridges and 12 m high retaining walls. Unlike most major roads of the period, the Old Great North Road has survived in its original form because it fell into disuse almost before it was completed. Steamers between Sydney and Newcastle became the preferred mode of transport in the 1830s and an alternative road to the Hunter also became more popular.
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