Wondabyne Station to Somersby Store
Darkinjung & Guringai Country

8 h to 11 h

25.3 km
oneway

↑ 911 m
↓ -634 m

Hard track
This walk, following a section of the Great North Walk, starts from the Wondabyne Train Station and winds north, into the Brisbane Waters National Park. The walk climbs all the way up to the top of Scopas Peak, and down to the Phill Haughton bridge, then follows the Mooney Mooney Creek north, winding through the bush to the Somersby general store. In Somersby you can use a public phone, enjoy a hot meal and pick up some basic supplies. Let us begin by acknowledging the Darkinjung & Guringai people, Traditional Custodians of the land on which we travel today, and pay our respects to their Elders past and present. 
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Wondabyne Station. | Photo by admin
steps leading up into the Brisbane Waters National Park. | Photo by admin
wild flowers. | Photo by admin
view of mooney mooney creek. | Photo by admin
Twisted tree south of Scopas Peak. | Photo by admin
Rock Flats. | Photo by admin, 2008.
Way up from Phil Houghton Bridge. | Photo by admin, 2008.
Phil Houghton bridge. | Photo by admin, 2008.
Clearing west of Phil Houghton bridge. | Photo by admin, 2008.
Following Pile Creek. | Photo by admin, 2008.
Old Pacific Highway - Mooney Mooney bridge. | Photo by admin, 2008.
Mooney Mooney Creek campsite. | Photo by admin, 2008.
Mooney Mooney Creek Crossing. | Photo by admin, 2008.
Mooney Dam. | Photo by admin, 2008.
Small creek on Great north walk. | Photo by admin, 2008.
Duck board near Quarry. | Photo by admin, 2008.
Robinson Road. | Photo by admin, 2008.
Somersby Store. | Photo by admin, 2008.
Downloads GPX PDF

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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.
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Getting There
Transport options and directions
Start (-33.4920915,151.2569603)
Mode Train
DirectionsFrom Pacific Motorway, M1
  • Turn on to Central Coast Highway, A49 then drive for 2.5 km
  • Turn right and drive for another 55 m
  • Turn slight left onto Woy Woy Road and drive for another 420 m
  • At roundabout, take exit 2 onto Woy Woy Road and drive for another 5.8 km
  • Turn sharp right onto Tunnel Trail and drive for another 1.8 km
  • Turn right onto Mullet Creek Firetrail and drive for another 920 m
  • Turn slight left onto Mullet Creek Firetrail and drive for another 610 m
Finish (-33.3577287,151.2903258)
Mode (end) Bus   Car   (There is free parking available.) Special   (A bus service runs along Wisemans Ferry Rd passing Somersby store. The service runs between Gosford and Spencer only a few times a day. Please check timetable for more info or Phone Busway on (02) 4368 2277. The bus only picks passengers up to head to Somersby on the afternoon runs. More info)
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Track Notes
Turn by turn instructions & maps
Getting started
From the north-bound platform of Wondabyne Station, this walk follows the 'The Great North Walk' sign off the southern the end of the platform, keeping the train lines (and water) to your left. The track soon leads past a strangler fig and a large boulder then bends right and heads up a timber staircase with a metal landing at the top. The track winds steeply uphill, up a series of timber and rock steps for just over 200m to pass a filtered view of the cranes (right), down at the old Gosford Quarry. Here the walk continues a bit more steeply uphill for another 150m, up a series of rock steps, and then, soon after passing up the carved steps in a cleft in a rock, the track flattens out and comes to a clearing at the end of a management trail, marked with a 'Brisbane Water National Park' sign.
From the clearing, this walk follows the wide management trail uphill past the 'Brisbane Water National Park' sign. The trail leads up quite steeply for about 250m, where the trail bends right then leads gently uphill for about 600m. Here the trail leads up a short but quite steep hill, to then bend left and, about 150m later, come to an intersection with the Pindar Cave track (that leads over a rock platform, on your left), marked with a GNW arrow post (on your right).....
Turn map Directions & comments
Start.
After another 10 m continue straight.
After another 130 m head up the steps (about 30 m long)
After another 315 m continue straight.
After another 960 m continue straight.
After another 630 m continue straight.
After another 50 m pass the sign (on your right).
After another 205 m come to the viewpoint.
After another 870 m veer left.
After another 1.2 km pass the "Scopas Peak" (25 m on your right).
After another 1.4 km come to the viewpoint.
After another 315 m come to the viewpoint.
After another 1.2 km veer left.
After another 120 m head up the metal steps (about 4 m long)
Then cross the bridge (about 20 m long)
Then head up the metal steps (about 3 m long)
After another 35 m come to the "Phil Houghton Bridge".
Phil Houghton Bridge
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.
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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.
Turn left.
After another 55 m come to the camp site (5 m on your left).
After another 2 km turn left.
After another 25 m cross the bridge (about 50 m long)
After another 25 m find the "Old Pacific Highway Mooney Mooney Creek Bridge" (on your right).
Old Pacific Highway Mooney Mooney Creek Bridge
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.
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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.

Turn right.
After another 830 m continue straight.
After another 520 m head through/around the gate.
After another 510 m find the "Mooney Mooney Creek Campsite (south)" (20 m on your right).
Mooney Mooney Creek Campsite (south)
Mooney Mooney Creek Campsite (south)

This is clearing is beside the wide Mooney Mooney Creek and provides a large flat area to pitch a few tents. There are some high tension power lines nearby and you can hear the hum of the F3 from here, so it is not the most remote campsite. There are no facilities or water (the creek is salty). All that said it is still a pleasant spot beside the wide creek to rest for a while or for the night.
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This is clearing is beside the wide Mooney Mooney Creek and provides a large flat area to pitch a few tents. There are some high tension power lines nearby and you can hear the hum of the F3 from here, so it is not the most remote campsite. There are no facilities or water (the creek is salty). All that said it is still a pleasant spot beside the wide creek to rest for a while or for the night.

After another 1.3 km find the "Mooney Mooney Creek Campsite (north)" (on your right).
Mooney Mooney Creek Campsite (north)
Mooney Mooney Creek Campsite (north)

This signposted campsite is sits among the tall eucalypt and bracken fern forest beside the Mooney Mooney Creek. This is a very pleasant flat clearing to spend a night, there is a small metal fireplace hotplate and room for a small number of tents. There is No drinking water or other facilities at this campsite (Mooney Mooney Creek is salty at this point, treatable water may be found about 2km north).
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This signposted campsite is sits among the tall eucalypt and bracken fern forest beside the Mooney Mooney Creek. This is a very pleasant flat clearing to spend a night, there is a small metal fireplace hotplate and room for a small number of tents. There is No drinking water or other facilities at this campsite (Mooney Mooney Creek is salty at this point, treatable water may be found about 2km north).

After another 2 km cross the ford.
After another 1.3 km find the "Lower Mooney Dam" (35 m on your left).
Lower Mooney Dam
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.
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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 2.3 km find the "Quarry Camping Area" (5 m on your left).
Quarry Camping Area
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.
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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 890 m continue straight.
After another 95 m continue straight.
After another 2 km cross the ford.
After another 330 m continue straight.
After another 155 m turn right.
After another 105 m veer left.
After another 265 m veer left.
After another 370 m turn right.
After another 360 m continue straight.
After another 35 m continue straight.
After another 225 m continue straight.
After another 1.1 km continue straight.
After another 145 m turn left.
After another 550 m continue straight.
After another 60 m continue straight.
After another 245 m continue straight.
About 45 m past the end is "Somersby Store".
Somersby Store
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.
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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.

The end.
About 30 m past the end is a car park.
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Terrain
Know the Hills, grading & facilities

Wondabyne Station to Somersby Store


Grading
Class 4/6
Hard track
Length 25.3 km
Time 8 h to 11 h
Quality of track Rough track, where fallen trees and other obstacles are likely (4/6)
Gradient Very steep (4/6)
Signage Minimal directional signs (4/6)
Infrastructure Limited facilities (such as cliffs not fenced, significant creeks not bridged) (4/6)
Experience Required Moderate level of bushwalking experience recommended (4/6)
Weather Storms may impact on navigation and safety (3/6)

Some facilities on route
Campsite: There are 3 on route, on average they are 6.3 km apart with the largest gap of 12.5 km.


Order of key facilities on route
ItemFrom StartName & link to notes
Camp site
7.6 km[camp site]
Campsite
11.5 kmMooney Mooney Creek Campsite (south)
Campsite
12.8 kmMooney Mooney Creek Campsite (north)
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Articles
Discover more details to thrive on track
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.
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.
Mooney Mooney Creek Campsite (south)
This is clearing is beside the wide Mooney Mooney Creek and provides a large flat area to pitch a few tents. There are some high tension power lines nearby and you can hear the hum of the F3 from here, so it is not the most remote campsite. There are no facilities or water (the creek is salty). All that said it is still a pleasant spot beside the wide creek to rest for a while or for the night.
Mooney Mooney Creek Campsite (north)
This signposted campsite is sits among the tall eucalypt and bracken fern forest beside the Mooney Mooney Creek. This is a very pleasant flat clearing to spend a night, there is a small metal fireplace hotplate and room for a small number of tents. There is No drinking water or other facilities at this campsite (Mooney Mooney Creek is salty at this point, treatable water may be found about 2km north).
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.
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.
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.
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