This post contains affiliate links. I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. More information.
If you’re planning to explore Mount Kaputar National Park, you’ll find a surprisingly good variety of walks. From short lookouts to more challenging hikes, it’s a great destination if you like mixing things up and keeping your days flexible. We didn’t have time to do every single walk in the park, but we covered most of them. In this article, I’ve ranked the walks based on our experience to help you prioritise and plan your time.
Plan your hikes
Before getting into the list, one important thing to know: the walks are spread across three different areas, and it takes time to drive between them. This means you’ll need to plan your itinerary carefully to avoid spending too much time driving if you’re staying overnight in the park.
- The main summit area (around Dawsons Spring and Bark Hut campgrounds) has most of the walks
- Waa Gorge is about 2 hours away north
- Sawn Rock is about 1.5 hours from the main area, also north
It’s also worth planning your hikes depending on the season and weather forecast. Some tracks can close due to weather conditions, so always check the national park alerts before heading out. Many walks are exposed with little to no shade, so even when the temperature doesn’t feel extreme, the sun can be very strong. Make sure you bring sun protection (I love my long-sleeve hiking tops) and enough water, as there’s no drinking water available in the park.
Planning to visit Mount Kaputar National Park over a long weekend? Check out our itinerary!
Our favourite Mount Kaputar National Park walks (ranked)
1. Yulludunida Walking Track
This was our favourite walk in the national park.
The views are stunning, and the hike itself is fun and a bit adventurous. After a section with stairs, the track becomes unmarked and you have to find your way up the rocky mountain. It involves some scrambling, but we didn’t find it as difficult as it looked. This is the most challenging walk we did in the park, especially if you’re not comfortable with heights.
Just make sure you commit early to heading up towards the ridge rather than trying to find an easier way around – you could end up following a goat track instead.
- Distance: 4 km return
- Grade: Hard
- Time: 2–3 hours
2. Waa Gorge
Very different from the other walks, as you’re not perched on a mount admiring views but immersed inside the gorge. But it’s only worth it if you plan for it.
It’s far from the main area (about a 2-hour drive), so we wouldn’t recommend doing it as a return trip. We did it on our way back towards Brisbane, which worked really well if you don’t mind arriving late. It also involves driving on unsealed roads for a while, which can feel long and tiring in a 2WD, especially with low clearance.
The track follows the gorge and isn’t marked, but it’s easy enough to navigate by simply staying within it. The key thing to know is that the best part is at the very end – the gorge opens up and feels much more impressive. The beginning can feel underwhelming, so it’s only worth it if you commit to going all the way.
- Distance: 2.5 km return
- Grade: Medium
- Time: ~2 hours
3. The Governor
A short, fun and very rewarding walk.
It includes stairs and some rock sections, but nothing we found difficult. The views are impressive throughout, and especially at the end. Compared to Waa Gorge, this one feels much more rewarding for the effort and time, which makes it an easy recommendation.
- Distance: 2 km return
- Grade: Medium
- Time: ~1 hour
4. Sawn Rock
Not really a hike, it’s a short easy walk, but still worth including.
Sawn Rock is a unique rock formation made of hexagonal basalt columns, similar to a natural organ pipe structure. It’s very different from the rest of the park. It’s not as accessible as the walk to the lookout, but make sure you walk down to the (often dry) riverbed for a closer look. Since it’s about 1.5 hours from the main area, in the north like Waa Gorge, it’s best added as a stop on your way in or out of the park rather than a separate trip.
- Distance: 1.5 km return
- Grade: Easy
- Time: ~30 minutes
Other walks worth doing
These are all nice additions, but not absolute must-dos if you’re short on time. We enjoyed every walk we did in the park, and these are great if you’re after something easier.
Mount Coryah Walking Track
A good loop with a mix of forest, views and some unique sections with grass trees.
The first part in the forest felt a bit less interesting, but the views at the top and the side of the rock with grass trees made it worthwhile.
- Distance: 4 km return
- Grade: Medium
- Time: ~1.5 hours
Bundabulla Circuit (including lookouts)
An easy and enjoyable walk, especially if you’re staying at Dawsons Spring campground.
It connects several lookouts, including Eckford Lookout, Bundabulla Lookout and Mount Lindsay. The views are nice, although not our favourite in the park. It’s a great option if you want a longer walk without too much difficulty, and even better if you can start directly from the campground.
- Distance: 3.5 km loop (longer with lookout detours)
- Grade: Medium (felt easy to us)
- Time: ~2 hours (with detours)
Lindsay Rock Tops Walk
If you don’t have time for the full Bundabulla Circuit, this is a good shorter option to still get similar views.
- Distance: 2 km return
- Grade: Easy
Euglah Rock Track
A very short walk to a lookout near Bark Hut campground. Not a priority, but easy to fit in.
- Distance: 1km return
- Grade: Easy
Walks we skipped (and why)
Mount Kaputar Summit Walking Track
This was closed when we visited. It leads to the highest point in the park, and you can also drive to the summit. Considering the location and views, this would likely be a must-do when open.
Dawsons Spring Nature Trail
An easy loop from the campground, but without views. We skipped it in favour of other walks and time relaxing around the campfire, and honestly didn’t feel like we missed out.
Kaputar Plateau Walk
This one didn’t appeal to us as it follows fire trails and requires walking along the road to complete a loop.
Scutts Hut – Kurrawonga Falls Walk
A much longer walk (19 km return), often done as an overnight hike. It wasn’t the type of experience we were looking for on this trip, but could be interesting if you want something more remote.
Have you visited Mount Kaputar National Park? Share your favourite walks in the comments below!
Where is Mount Kaputar National Park?
Mount Kaputar National Park is located in northern New South Wales, inland from the coast and west of the Great Dividing Range. It takes around 6 to 7 hours to drive from Sydney or Brisbane.
The closest town is Narrabri, about 45 minutes to 1 hour from the main summit area. From there, a winding road leads up into the park. The two other areas, Waa Gorge and Sawn Rock, are at a lower altitude and further north.
Because of its inland location, Mount Kaputar National Park feels quite remote and quiet, which is part of what makes it such a unique place to explore.
Save this article for later!
Planning a trip to Mount Kaputar National Park? Save this article on Pinterest to find it easily later!
