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Yulludunida Walking Track was our favourite hike in Mt Kaputar National Park, but it wasn’t quite what we expected. If you’re planning a trip, here’s what we wish we knew before doing it to help you decide if this hike is for you and how to prepare for it.
Summary
Distance: 4 km
Time: 3 hours
Difficulty: moderate/hard
Disclaimer: The hiking time and difficulty are based on our experience. We are experienced hikers with a good level of fitness, used to hiking long distances and scrambling. But we also enjoy pausing to admire the views, check for wildlife and take photos. We possess good navigation skills and use a Garmin watch with a GPS navigation map. Always check the park alerts and notes, as trail conditions change over time, which may affect the hike’s level of difficulty.
A marked track that disappears into an unmarked climb
The first part of the walk is a clearly marked trail, and it just keeps going uphill. There’s no real flat section or warm-up – it is a steady climb with many stairs from the start. Nothing too hard if you’re okay with stairs, but it may take longer for those who are unfit. We reached the old dingo fence after 40 minutes and the base of the summit 5 minutes later.
From there, the unmarked climb toward the summit begins and it’s all about picking your own route based on what feels comfortable. There is no official path, and if you find something that feels like an “easier” way around but doesn’t go up, it’s usually a goat track that will eventually disappear and lead you nowhere.
It was definitely the hardest hike we did in Mount Kaputar National Park, and our favourite.
Route finding: there is no single correct way up
Once the marked trail ends, you’re essentially route finding the whole way to the summit. The main thing we learned is not to overthink it or try to find a perfect path. If something feels too steep or awkward, you can usually shift slightly and find another line.
There isn’t one correct route, just different ways of getting up the same slope.
General guidance: follow the wooden poles for the first section, roughly along the contour line for about 100 metres. After that, look for a route up to your right to reach the ridge when it feels doable. Once you’re on the ridge, follow it all the way to the summit.
The scramble to the summit looks more impressive than it is
From a distance, the ridge and climb look more intimidating than they actually are. It gives the impression of a technical scramble or difficult route, but the reality is quite different once you start going up. It is steep, but not technical, and the difficulty for me was to commit to a route with a steep incline – thinking there might be an easier way – than any actual climbing.
If you’ve never done rock scrambling before, this hike will probably feel challenging. It is very steep and a few sections almost feel like climbing because of the angle, but there are plenty of easy handholds and footholds along the way. I didn’t find it technical, but the exposure can feel intimidating if you’re scared of heights, and I questioned a few times whether I’d feel comfortable continuing to the summit. It took me to the limit of my comfort zone, but it wasn’t too hard in the end.
Very exposed conditions
This is an exposed hike with very little shade once you leave the lower section. We went at Easter and had perfect weather, but it was still very dry and open the entire way. Make sure you bring sun protection, a hat, and more water than you think you need. Even though the distance isn’t extreme, the exposure makes it feel more demanding.
The descent felt harder than the ascent
Going up was manageable because we were fresh and focused on route finding, but the descent is where it really hit our legs. The steep sections on the unmarked track, followed by the return along the marked trail, can feel tough once your legs are tired. Flexible shoes with a good grip are ideal, and honestly, I also recommend wearing pants you don’t mind using as brakes if you feel more comfortable on your butt on the way down.
Is it worth it? And if you don’t reach the summit?
The summit is absolutely worth it
The summit completely changes the experience.
The views are the best we had anywhere in Mt Kaputar National Park – wide, open, and the most impressive we saw in the entire national park. It’s also where the sense of adventure really comes together after the route finding on the way up. This was easily our favourite view and hike in the park.
I might be worth it even if you don’t reach the summit
You can absolutely give this hike a go and turn around before the scramble to the summit if you feel it’s not for you. It’s still a solid workout and a good adventure, with some views before you reach the top. The effort really only fully pays off if you continue to the summit, but I’d still recommend going up even if you’re unsure about making it to the summit.
Safety and common sense
The main risk here is not technical difficulty, but poor footing or rushing decisions. As long as you are reasonably fit, take your time, watch where you step, and stay within what feels comfortable, it’s a manageable hike. If something doesn’t feel right, it’s always possible to adjust your route or turn back.
We only saw one other group the entire time, which added to the remote feeling of the walk.
Where is Yulludunida Walking Track?
Yulludunida Walking Track is located in Mount Kaputar National Park, near Narrabri in northern New South Wales. It is accessed via the park’s main road network, and is usually combined with other walks and viewpoints in the area. Note that the park is divided into three parts and the famous Sawn Rock and Waa Gorge are a long drive away.
For accommodation, you can either stay in Narrabri or camp within Mount Kaputar National Park if you want to stay closer to the walks and nature.
