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Category: Bushwalking

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Sawn Rocks Mount Kaputar National Park

The Cliff Face From the Viewing Platform

Sawn Rocks Mount Kaputar National Park

Getting There

Located around 40 km north east of Narrabri, Sawn Rocks is a geological formation of columnar basalt which resembles organ pipes. As part of the Mount Kaputar National Park, the area is managed by NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, which ensures it is managed correctly.

The road from Narrabri is fully sealed and was in very good condition when we visited.

Car Park

Designed for travellers, the car park has lots of space, so there is room for caravans to easily park. For somewhere so far from a town, the facilities are excellent, making it a great place to stop and relax. Next to the car park is a composting toilet. On the opposite side is a picnic area with sunshades and gas barbecues, which were in excellent condition.

There is a series of information boards explaining the formation of Sawn Rocks, as well as other things to do in the area.

  • Picnic Area and Bar-B-cues Near the Car Park
    Picnic Area and Bar-B-cues Near the Car Park
  • Information Board in the Car Park
    Information Board in the Car Park

Walking Track

The track from the car park to the viewing area only takes around 15 minutes to walk, but remember to take water. Winding through the bush, it is either paved with bitumen, or is a metal walkway, which makes the walk easy.

  • Bitumen Paved Access Track
    Bitumen Paved Access Track
  • Metal Walkway into Sawn Rocks
    Metal Walkway into Sawn Rocks

Sawn Rocks Viewing Platform

On reaching the viewing platform you look directly at the cliff face which is perfect for taking photos.

  • The Sawn Rocks Cliff Face From the Viewing Platform
    The Cliff Face From the Viewing Platform
  • Sawn Rocks
    Sawn Rocks
  • The sawn rocks Cliff Face From the Viewing Platform
    The Cliff Face From the Viewing Platform

Creek Bed

A short walk down from the viewing platform gets you to the creek bed. There is a path cut into the rocks to form a stairway, makes for and easy descent. The base of the cliff is littered with fallen boulders, so be careful of you footing and wear good walking shoes.

You get a different perspective of the formation from here because you can look up at the cliff. Even the boulders on the ground are interesting, as they show the piping of the rocks and how they have a cross sectional polygon.

  • Steps Down to the Creek Bed
    Steps Down to the Creek Bed
  • Looking Up From the Creek Bed at the Cliff Face Sawn Rocks
    Looking Up From the Creek Bed at the Cliff Face
  • Looking Up From the Creek Bed at the Cliff Face
    Looking Up From the Creek Bed at the Cliff Face
  • Fallen Columns in the Creek Bed
    Fallen Columns in the Creek Bed
  • Fallen Columns in the Creek Bed
    Fallen Columns in the Creek Bed
  • Lichen Covered Columns in the Creek Bed
    Lichen Covered Columns in the Creek Bed Sawn Rocks

This was a great place to visit, with an easy well maintained track, amazing views and great facilities.

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Aberdare South Abandoned Mine at Abernethy

The Old Ruined Winder House

Aberdare South Abandoned Mine at Abernethy

The Aberdare South Colliery operated from 1913 to 1927, making it long abandoned. All that remains of the old mine are the winder house and chimney, but these make the trip worthwhile, so that you can see some of the original industry of the Hunter Valley.

Getting There

Located in the village of Abernethy, the best place to start the walk is from Abernethy House, an old pub now operating as a guest house. Cars can park in a small cleared area opposite the house. This is convenient, because it is at the start of the walking track. The track is not suitable for two wheel drive vehicles, as the road is not well maintained. When we were there, it was badly rutted and eroded by heavy rain, making four wheel drive vehicle access impossible as well.

Abernethy House From the Car Park near the Aberdare South Abandoned Mine
Abernethy House From the Car Park

The Track

Follow the track until you pass an intersection to the left. At this point, keep walking along the main track until you come to a second track to the left, which you take. This track, will lead you to a dam on the left hand side at which point you will also see a large chimney.

After rain the tack is muddy and rutted by previous traffic, which makes is rough in places. Be careful how you walk as some places are slippery and covered in water. Even if the weather is dry, the road will be badly rutted.

  • Access Track After Rain
    Access Track After Rain
  • Access Track After Rain
    Access Track After Rain

The Old Winder House at the Aberdare South Abandoned Mine

Once an impressive building, the old winder house is now a ruin with the roof and floor collapsed. Even in this state it is fun to look around and take pictures, as long as you are careful.

The interior was overgrown with grass and the collapsed floor and old basement were full of water, so we didn’t go inside. We were also wary of the surrounding area as the grass was very long and we were concerned about snakes.

  • Inside the Winder House
    Inside the Winder House
  • Outside the Winder House Aberdare South Abandoned Mine
    Outside the Winder House
  • The Old Ruined Winder House
    The Old Ruined Winder House

The Chimney

Still standing after 100 year, the chimney is starting to look old, as the brickwork has cracks making it look unstable. Standing in the middle of the bush, it looks out of place, making it a unique and interesting photo opportunity.

Old Chimney at the Aberdare South Abandoned Mine
Old Chimney at the Mine Site

The Dam and Returning to The Start

Once we had looked around the chimney and winder house, we followed the track down to the dam, which was full of water and surrounded by eucalyptus trees. From here, we walked around the dam until we found the track which took us back to our car. This track is the first one we passed on the way in, allowing us to do the walk as a circuit.

View Over the Dam
View Over the Dam

Things to be Aware Of

We aware that snakes are common in the area, so be careful around long grass. The old buildings are not maintained, so are unstable, particularly inside the winder house.

What Did We Think?

This was a great place to visit, because of the unusual sight of abandoned mine buildings. The walk was short and quite easy, despite the wet ground.

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To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.

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Wyrrabalong National Park

Fallen Trees on the Lilli Pilli Loop Track

Wyrrabalong National Park

Getting There and Parking

Located on the Central Coast Highway near Norah Head, Wyrrabalong National Park is an hours drive south of Newcastle. We parked in a small car park just past the Pelican Beach Road turn-off, which was small, but well maintained. Signs and an information board provide information about the park and its tacks.

  • Entrance Sign
    Entrance Sign

Lilli Pilli Loop Track

The day we visited was wet and overcast, but this added to the fun of the walk, making the trails very atmospheric. The Lilli Pilli Loop Trail meanders through coastal rain forest along narrow bush tracks. The tracks are often made of sand, but have been reinforced with wooden boards to prevent erosion of this fragile environment.

This is one of the few remaining intact areas of rainforest on the Central Coast, which makes it a very special place. An information board on the lake side of the track details the forest and its wildlife.

The damp conditions encouraged mushroom to grow on dead trees which let us see some beautiful ones as we walked by.

  • Typical Walking Track
    Typical Walking Track
  • Fallen Trees on the Lilli Pilli Loop Track
    Fallen Trees on the Lilli Pilli Loop Track
  • Lilli Pilli Track
    Lilli Pilli Track
  • Mushrooms Growing on a Fallen Log on the Lilli Pilli Track Wyrrabalong National Park
    Mushrooms Growing on a Fallen Log on the Lilli Pilli Track

Red Gum Loop Track

The Lilli Pilli Loop Track joins the Red Gum Loop, at this point you can either return to your car or continue on. We chose to walk the new track, because the vegetation changes to red gum forest, from the rainforest we had just walked through.

The path down to the track is steep, but reinforce with sturdy wooden sleepers, making it safe to walk down. This also prevents erosion of the sand dune, so is environmentally safe too.

The forest in this area is more open with less undergrowth, making views of Tuggerah Lake possible in places. Lookouts have been built in places where the views are best, but it was overcast during our visit, so the lake was not visible. On a clear day, the view would be great.

  • Steep Descent on the Track Reinforced With Wooden Sleepers Wyrrabalong National Park
    Steep Descent on the Track Reinforced With Wooden Sleepers
  • Lookout and Seat on the Red Gum Loop Track
    Lookout and Seat on the Red Gum Loop Track
  • Red Gum Loop Track
    Red Gum Loop Track
  • Red Gum Trees
    Red Gum Trees

What Did We Think of Wyrrabalong National Park?

Both of the loop tracks in the Wyrrabalong National Park were fun to do, because of the different vegetation. We were also pleased we did it while it was wet and damp, as this added to the fun and the environment we passed through.

  • Sign Post at the Intersection of the Tracks Wyrrabalong National Park
    Sign Post at the Intersection of the Tracks
  • Information Board Wyrrabalong National Park
    Information Board