Wondabyne to Yarramalong

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Safer Bushwalks Tips on staying safe on track
Before you start any bushwalk ensure you;
• Tell someone you trust where you are going and what to do if you are overdue
• Have adequate equipment, supplies, skills & knowledge for the whole journey
• Consider the impact of weather forecasts, park/track closures & fire dangers
• Can respond to emergencies & call for help at any point
• Are healthy and fit enough for this journey
If not, change plans and stay safe. It is okay to delay and ask people for help.

Getting There Transport options and directions

Start (-33.4919895,151.2571288)
Mode Ferry Train
Directions From , Kariong.
Finish At the intersection of Yarramalong Road & Bumble Hill Road (-33.224046,151.278565)
Mode (end) Car

Track Notes Turn by turn instructions & maps

Turn map	Directions & comments
	Start. Find the Wondabyne at the start. Wondabyne Wondabyne is situated in Brisbane Waters National Park on the banks of Mullet River, which feeds into the Hawkesbury River north of Brooklyn. The area is defined by the National Park's flora and fauna, the quarry, railway station and a few houses sitting above the water around the river. The quarry produced sandstone building materials, used in the construction of the National War Memorial in Canberra. More recently, in 2000, the quarry was re-opened for restoration of St Mary's Cathedral spire in Sydney. Wondabyne Station, named after the nearby Mt Wondabyne, was built in 1889 and exclusively used for the quarry - it was then known as Mullet Creek Station. The station is one of the smallest on the line and one of very few railway stations in a NSW National Park. When you catch the train to Wondabyne, let the guard know you want to get off at Wondabyne Station, otherwise the train will not stop. Travel in the last carriage as the platform is very short. To catch the train from Wondabyne, wave to the driver.
	After another 10 m turn right. After another 15 m pass the emergency call device (4 m on your left). After another 130 m head up the steps (about 30 m long)
	After another 315 m continue straight, to head along Rifle Range Firetrail.
	After another 960 m (at the intersection of Rifle Range Firetrail & Pindar Walking Track) continue straight, to head along Rifle Range Firetrail. After another 650 m pass the sign (on your right). Continue straight, to head along Rifle Range Firetrail. After another 155 m come to the viewpoint.
	After another 970 m (at the intersection of The Great North Walk & Rifle Range Firetrail) veer left, to head along The Great North Walk (a walking track). After another 1.1 km pass the "Scopas Peak" (25 m on your right). After another 1.5 km come to the viewpoint. After another 320 m come to the viewpoint.
	After another 1.2 km (at the intersection of Piles Creek Loop & The Great North Walk) turn left, to head along Piles Creek Loop. After another 15 m head down the 13 earthen steps (about 10 m long) After another 65 m head down the 9 earthen steps After another 10 m head down the 57 earthen steps (about 60 m long)
	Veer left, to head along Piles Creek Loop. After another 25 m head up the 18 metal steps (about 9 m long) Then cross the Phil Houghton Bridge (about 25 m long) Then cross the Phil Houghton Bridge (about 20 m long) Then find the "Phil Houghton Bridge" (on your left). Phil Houghton Bridge The Phil Houghton Bridge is a metal suspension bridge that crosses Piles Creek. It is part of the Great North Walk and replaces an older bridge, with part still visible upstream. The bridge can hold up to 8 people and feels very stable. There are great views both up and downstream half way across this bridge. There is a clearing on the northern side that people have used for camping. After another 10 m come to the camp site (10 m on your left). This is a free campsite. Then cross the Phil Houghton Bridge (about 3 m long) Then head down the 15 metal steps (about 7 m long)
	At the intersection of The Great North Walk & Piles Creek Loop turn left, to head along The Great North Walk (a walking track). After another 990 m cross the bridge (about 5 m long) Then cross the bridge (about 4 m long) After another 720 m head down the 5 earthen steps (about 5 m long) After another 20 m veer right, to head along The Great North Walk. After another 75 m cross the bridge (about 7 m long)
	After another 205 m (at the intersection of The Great North Walk & Mooney Trail) continue straight, to head along The Great North Walk. After another 20 m head down the 53 metal steps (about 15 m long) Then cross the bridge (about 75 m long) Then find the "Old Pacific Highway Mooney Mooney Creek Bridge" (on your right). Old Pacific Highway Mooney Mooney Creek Bridge The Sydney-Hawkesbury stretch of the Pacific Highway was built in the 1920s, replacing a route that had existed since the 1830s. The original Peats Ferry Road was cut by a settler named George Peat, making a track to his property on the banks of the Hawkesbury River. This road became the 'Old Pacific Highway' upon the opening of the F3, or Sydney-Newcastle Freeway, in the 1980s. This bridge is the smaller of two crossing Mooney Mooney Creek - the other, Mooney Mooney Bridge, is part of the F3 freeway and is the highest road bridge in Australia. After another 7 m cross the bridge (about 15 m long)
	After another 30 m (at the intersection of Karool Road & Old Pacific Highway) continue straight, to head along Karool Road (a vehicle track). After another 830 m continue straight, to head along Karool Road. After another 410 m head through/around the gate. After another 530 m find the "Mooney Mooney Creek Campsite (south)" (15 m on your right). After another 1.3 km find the "Mooney Mooney Creek Campsite (north)" (on your right). After another 2.1 km cross the ford. After another 1.2 km find the "Lower Mooney Dam" (30 m on your left). Lower Mooney Dam Lower Mooney Dam is located on the Mooney Mooney Creek, about 21 km upstream from the Hawkesbury River. In March 1938 the Gosford Mayor turned the tap to add the water from this dam into the small town water supply of the time. It is a concrete arch dam, with a capacity of 1,000 megalitres, and was superseded by the more than 4 times larger 'Upper Mooney Dam' in 1982. There is a set of timber steps and a faint track that leads down to the waters edge on the uphill side of the dam wall, the dam wall is fenced and is clearly out of bounds. A sign reminds visitors that swimming is not allowed. After another 2.2 km find the "Quarry Camping Area" (4 m on your left). Quarry Camping Area This is a small signposted campsite set among heath, grass tress, scribbly gums and aother eucalpyts. The clearing is flat and sandy and provides room to set up a few tents with and a small metal fireplace with hotplate. There is no water or other facilites here.
	After another 1.1 km continue straight.
	After another 95 m continue straight. After another 1.9 km cross the ford. After another 350 m continue straight, to head along Hawkesbury Track.
	After another 155 m turn right, to head along Hawkesbury Track.
	After another 105 m continue straight. After another 260 m veer left.
	After another 185 m veer left.
	After another 275 m veer right, to head along Silvesters Road.
	After another 820 m continue straight, to head along Silvesters Road.
	After another 40 m continue straight, to head along Silvesters Road.
	After another 620 m (at the intersection of Wisemans Ferry Road & Silvesters Road) turn left, to head along Wisemans Ferry Road (a road).
	After another 550 m (at the intersection of Wisemans Ferry Road & Marabunga Road) continue straight, to head along Wisemans Ferry Road. After another 350 m find the "Somersby Store" (40 m on your left). Somersby Store Somersby Store offers a good place to have lunch or pick up the basic food supplies. The store serves hot food including burgers, chips, pies etc and cold drinks. Opening hours are 6am - 6pm Monday to Friday and 6.30am to 4pm on Saturdays (closed Sundays). There is a pay phone and a bus stop however services are limited to two buses a day. Contact details are (02)4372 1269, at 841 Wisemans Ferry Road Somersby, NSW 2250. The store owners are happy for you to phone ahead. If you are a large group you can order ahead to save the stress. I always encourage people to use local stores like this on track, but since it is a small store it is worth phoning ahead to see what they have what you want in stock. After another 7 m pass the car park (15 m on your left). After another 20 m pass the toilet (15 m on your left). After another 80 m cross the bridge (about 20 m long)
	After another 750 m (at the intersection of Dog Trap Road & Wisemans Ferry Road) turn right, to head along Dog Trap Road (a residential road).
	After another 105 m (at the intersection of Kilkenny Road & Dog Trap Road) turn left, to head along Kilkenny Road (a vehicle track).
	After another 910 m continue straight, to head along Kilkenny Road. After another 45 m continue straight, to head along Kilkenny Road. After another 295 m cross the ford. After another 2.5 km find the "Palm Grove Campsite" (30 m on your right). Palm Grove Campsite A Great North Walk signposted campsite with plenty of room for a few tents but providing minimal facilities ie. no water, toilets or tables however there is a bench and barbeque plate and room for a fire.
	After another 940 m turn left, to head along Ourimbah Creek Road. After another 9 m pass the "Great North Walk" (on your left).
	After another 1.8 km (at the intersection of Ourimbah Creek Road & Platypus Creek Lane) continue straight, to head along Ourimbah Creek Road (a vehicle track). After another 80 m head through/around the gate. After another 740 m cross the ford.
	After another 1.1 km (at the intersection of Cedar Brush Walk & Ourimbah Creek Road) turn left, to head along Cedar Brush Walk (a walking track). After another 1.6 km find the "Tooheys Road campsite" (6 m on your left). Tooheys Road campsite This is a small camping area on the side of Tooheys Road, with room for a small number of tents but providing no facilities. After another 530 m find the "Stringy Bark Point" (on your left). Stringy Bark Point This campsite is in a small clearing at Stringy Bark Point, just on the southern side of the bridge. This campsite provides room for a small campfire and a few tents. Water is usually available from the creek running by the campsite, please treat before drinking. After another 155 m cross the ford.
	After another 1.3 km (at the intersection of Tooheys Road & Cedar Brush Walk) veer left, to head along Tooheys Road (a vehicle track).
	After another 2.3 km turn left. After another 95 m find the "Campsite" (15 m on your right). Campsite A basic clearing for an overnight stay, providing room for a fire and small number of tents. There is no water at this campsite so you will need to carry sufficient.
	After another 1.7 km continue straight.
	After another 200 m veer left.
	After another 75 m continue straight.
	After another 660 m continue straight.
	After another 10 m continue straight.
	After another 600 m turn right, to head along Cherry Lane.
	After another 1.4 km (at the intersection of Greta Road & Cherry Lane) turn right, to head along Greta Road (a highway\|tertiary).
	After another 410 m turn sharp left. After another 265 m continue straight.
	After another 40 m continue straight.
	After another 185 m veer left.
	After another 120 m turn right. After another 4.1 km continue straight, to head along Bumble Hill Road. After another 530 m come to "Yarramalong Store". Yarramalong Store Yarramalong Store is good place to have lunch or pick up the basic food supplies. The store serves hot food including burgers, chips, pies etc as well as cold drinks. The store is open 7am to 7pm, 7 days a week. There is a pay phone outside and a tap to refill water, and the store has its own fuel pump. Phone on (02)4356 1222. The address is 1625 Yarramalong Rd, Yarramalong NSW 2259. I always encourage people to use local stores like this on track, but since it is a small store it is worth phoning ahead to see what they have what you want in stock. It is a small store so choice is limited.
	Continue another 0 m to find at the intersection of Yarramalong Road & Bumble Hill Road at the end.

Terrain Know the Hills, grading & facilities

Wondabyne to Yarramalong

Grading

	Class 4/6 Hard track
Length	50.8 km
Time	16 h to 2 days

Quality of track	Rough track, where fallen trees and other obstacles are likely (4/6)
Gradient	Very steep (4/6)
Signage	Directional signs along the way (3/6)
Infrastructure	Limited facilities, not all cliffs are fenced (3/6)
Experience Required	Some bushwalking experience recommended (3/6)
Weather	Storms may impact on navigation and safety (3/6)

Some facilities on route

Campsite: There are 7 on route, on average they are 6.3 km apart with the largest gap of 17 km.

Toilet: There is one 25.2 km from the start.

Order of key facilities on route

Item	From Start	Name & link to notes
Camp site	7.6 km	[camp site]
Campsite	11.6 km	Mooney Mooney Creek Campsite (south)
Campsite	12.9 km	Mooney Mooney Creek Campsite (north)
Toilet	25.2 km	[toilet]
Campsite	29.9 km	Palm Grove Campsite
Campsite	36.1 km	Tooheys Road campsite
Campsite	36.7 km	Stringy Bark Point
Campsite	40.5 km	Campsite

Weather & Alerts Check forecasts & closures
Weather Forecast
- Woy Woy Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri
  
  Saturday 27 July
  
  18°C
  Showers.
  90% chance of rain
  
  Cloudy. The chance of fog this morning. Very high chance of showers, becoming less likely in the late afternoon and evening. The chance of a thunderstorm. Light winds becoming northwesterly 15 to 20 km/h in the middle of the day then becoming light in the late afternoon. Daytime maximum temperatures between 15 and 19.
  
  UV Alert: Sun protection 10:40am to 1:20pm, UV Index predicted to reach 3 [Moderate]
  
  Sunday 28 July
  
  6°C → 15°C
  Sunny.
  20% chance of rain
  
  Partly cloudy. Slight chance of a shower. Snow possible above 1000 metres. Winds westerly 20 to 30 km/h. Overnight temperatures falling to between 4 and 8 with daytime temperatures reaching between 11 and 16.
  
  Monday 29 July
  
  5°C → 15°C
  Partly cloudy.
  30% chance of rain
  0 → 1mm
  
  Partly cloudy. Areas of morning frost about the Upper Hunter. Medium chance of showers along the coastal fringe, most likely in the afternoon and evening. Near zero chance of rain elsewhere. Winds west to southwesterly 15 to 25 km/h tending south to southwesterly during the day then tending west to southwesterly 15 to 20 km/h during the evening. Overnight temperatures falling to between minus 1 and 5 above zero with daytime temperatures reaching between 12 and 16.
  
  Alert: Large and powerful surf conditions are expected to be hazardous for coastal activities such as rock fishing, swimming and surfing.
  
  Tuesday 30 July
  
  4°C → 15°C
  Partly cloudy.
  30% chance of rain
  0 → 1mm
  
  Partly cloudy. Areas of morning frost about the Upper Hunter. Medium chance of showers near the coast, near zero chance elsewhere. Winds west to southwesterly 15 to 25 km/h tending south to southwesterly during the morning. Overnight temperatures falling to between minus 1 and 5 above zero with daytime temperatures reaching between 12 and 16.
  
  Wednesday 31 July
  
  5°C → 16°C
  Shower or two.
  50% chance of rain
  0 → 1mm
  
  Shower or two.
  
  Thursday 1 August
  
  6°C → 16°C
  Shower or two.
  50% chance of rain
  0 → 2mm
  
  Shower or two.
  
  Friday 2 August
  
  7°C → 17°C
  Shower or two.
  50% chance of rain
  0 → 1mm
  
  Shower or two.
  
  Forecast data thanks to © Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
Alerts
- Brisbane Water National Park alerts
  Closed areas: Brieses fire trail partial closure
  The section of Brieses fire trail between Mooney Mooney Creek and Old Mooney Dam trail is closed until further notice due to a landslip, making it unsafe for vehicles.
  Signs are in place around closed areas. This area will re-open as soon as it is safe and repair works have been completed.
  Penalties apply for non-compliance. For more information, contact the local NPWS office on 02 4320 4200.
  
  Closed areas: Warrah Trig Road closed to vehicles
  Warrah Trig Road is closed to vehicles due to a recent increase in illegal activities throughout the area.
  The road will remain closed until investigations are completed and further recommendations are made.
  The road is open to pedestrians and cyclists.
  
  Penalties apply for non-compliance. For more information, contact the local NPWS office.
  
  Alert kindly provided by © NSW Nataional Parks and Wildlife Service
- Jilliby State Conservation Area alerts
  Other planned events: Watagan Forest Road traffic delays due to road maintenance works
  Drivers / vehicles on Watagan Forest Road are advised to expect temporary delays due to road maintenance works being carried out.
  Works include vegetation maintenance and surface grading on the road. Traffic control will maintain contraflow through out the works but delays may be incurred.
  
  Safety alerts: Major Roadworks in Jilliby State Conservation Area - Commencing 27 December 2023
  Major roadworks are ongoing in Jilliby State Conservation Area (Southern Precinct) and part of Ourimbah State Forest.
  Partial and intermittent road closures should be expected. The roads that will be affected are:
  
  Red Hill Road
  
  Prestons Ridge Road
  
  Bradleys Point Road
  
  Campbells Point Road and
  
  Tooheys Road.
  
  Visitors are asked to avoid the area (if possible). Otherwise, please be aware of trucks and machinery using and working on the above roads and to drive to the conditions. Warning signs and traffic control will be in place. Work is expected to be completed by September 2024. The work is funded as part of the Fire Access and Fire Trail (FAFT) program aimed at providing safe and strategic fire trails for fire response and access.
  For more information, please contact the NPWS Central Coast Area Office at Lake Munmorah on 02 4972 9000 or visit the NSW National Parks safety page for park safety guidelines.
  
  Safety alerts: Prickly Ridge Road 4WD only
  The section of Prickly Ridge Road between Watagan Forest Road and Cut-Rock Road is suitable for 4WD vehicles only.
  To prevent further damage to the road and to protect visitor safety, please avoid this area and other trails in the reserve that are still slippery and potentially hazardous.
  For further information, please contact the Central Coast Area Office at Lake Munmorah on 02 4972 9000.
  
  Closed areas: Muirs Lookout Picnic Area - Closed
  Muirs Lookout Picnic Area on Prickly Ridge Road has been closed due to ageing infrastructure, obstructed lookout views to the coast and very low public visitation. Alternative picnic facilities are located nearby in Olney State Forest and Watagans National Park. Further information on other places to visit can be obtained via the NPWS or Forestry Corporation websites.
  
  Alert kindly provided by © NSW Nataional Parks and Wildlife Service
- Palm Grove Nature Reserve alerts
  Other planned events: Notice of 1080 program
  NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) is conducting a ground baiting program from Monday 10 June 2024 to Tuesday 30 July 2024.
  The operation will use 1080 (sodium fluoroacetate) poison for the control of wild dogs.
  The program will take place in Palm Grove Nature Reserve.
  The program is designed to minimise predator impacts on wildlife, especially threatened species, and to minimise impact of wild dogs on neighbouring stock.
  Signs will be placed at the entry to the baiting location. Domestic pets are not permitted in NSW National Parks managed lands. Pets and working dogs may be affected (1080 is lethal to cats and dogs). Pets and working dogs must be restrained or muzzled in the vicinity and must not enter the baiting location. In the event of accidental poisoning seek immediate veterinary assistance.
  Please contact the Girrakool NPWS area office for more information on (02) 43204200.
  
  Alert kindly provided by © NSW Nataional Parks and Wildlife Service

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