Cathedral Rock National Park

Walking

A well-graded path through eucalypt forest leads to the base of Woolpack Rocks, Cathedral Rock National Park (Image: Barbara Webster/DECCW)Rock hoppers and explorers will find plenty to discover around the granite outcrops in the park. Well-graded walking tracks through eucalypt forest lead to the base of two major boulder piles. A scramble to the top of these giant boulders gives you extensive views over the surrounding tablelands. Some agility is required to get to the top though, including acsending with the aid of a chain on Cathedral Rock.

 

Walking tracks

Warrigal track

Warrigal track is an easy stroll through dry woodland and granite boulders from Native Dog Creek camping area. Native orchids can often be found here in spring and summer.

Woolpack Rocks

The summit of Woolpack Rocks is a maze of granite boulders with a great view over the New England Tablelands (Image: Geoff Lillyman/DECCW)Woolpack Rocks shouldn’t be overlooked just because the national park wasn’t named after them. Easily accessible from Native Dog campground, this feature is a geological wonder in its own right.

As you walk towards the Woolpack Rocks, their size and shape capture your gaze. You can tell they’re ancient – in fact, they’re around 270 million years old. You can also see some of the dykes created at the same time when molten rock pushed into deep pockets within the earth’s crust; you’re walking along a timeline.

The well-weathered boulders are 1400m above sea level, yet clambering to the summit is even easier than at Cathedral Rock. So, you’re getting a great scenic view for the price of a prehistoric walk and an easy climb.

Panoramic views of the New England Tablelands at the summit of Woolpack Rocks, Cathedral Rock National Park (Image: Geoff Lillyman/DECCW)

Cathedral Rock track

A chain assists walkers to climb up the final boulders to the summit of Cathedral Rock (Image: Barbara Webster/DECCW)Hike up Cathedral Rock to sit on a natural throne – perched on 200m of stacked boulders – and survey your kingdom. The nearby Round Mountain is the highest point of the New England Tablelands, although only by a royal whisker at 1584m.

The track is most easily accessed from Barokee campground. Follow the circuit clockwise and hike through sub-alpine woodland to the summit turnoff. Rock-hopping is the scientific term for what you’ll be doing for much of the next 400m as you clamber over boulders and straddle crevices. On the way back, keep following the circuit around through a protected valley of manna gums.

For the intrepid, pack headlamps and set out to Cathedral Rock at sunrise or sunset. Remember to take your camera, a raincoat, warm clothes, and a flask of coffee to reward yourself with for when you reach the top.

Granite tors form the top of Cathedral Rock (Image: Barbara Webster/DECCW)Some agility is required to get to the top of Cathedral Rock in Cathedral Rock National Park (Image: Barbara Webster/DECCW)

Barokee to Native Dog Creek walk

Barokee to Native Dog Creek walk links Cathedral Rock National Park’s two campgrounds and takes in Woolpack Rocks and Cathedral Rock. The track follows the Snowy Range and is a moderate grade apart from when you climb the rock features.

The track passes through subalpine woodland, open forest, heath and boulder fields. For birdwatchers there is no better track; woodland birds are plentiful here and you’re likely to see honeyeaters, pardalotes, robins, treekeepers, rosellas and lorikeets. Wedge-tailed eagles often circle the granite tors. Be sure to bring your binoculars.

There are a number of options for tackling this track, which can be started from either Barokee campground or Native Dog campground. You might leave your vehicle at one end then camp the night at the other and retrace your steps the next day, car shuffle for a one-way day walk, or hike the return 20.8km in one go.