Warrumbungle National Park

Warrumbungle National Park is in Warrumbungle Shire, Gilgandra Shire and Coonamble Shire of New South Wales, Australia and the park was the first within Australia to be certified as a Dark Sky Park by the International Dark Sky Association.

Understand

The Breadknife

History

The park was founded as a reserve in 1953, and in 2006, it was added to the list of National Heritage. Much of the park was destroyed by fire in early 2013 but it has much recovered since then.

Landscape

The national park is based on the geographical Warrumbungle Mountain Range, often shortened to "the Warrumbungles", and thus the park name is often heard in the plural.

Flora and fauna

The park lies within the Pilliga Important Bird Area, so identified by BirdLife International because of its importance for a range of woodland bird species, many of which are threatened. Other types of fauna include the typical Eastern Australian fauna.

Visitor information

• Park website
• Warrumbungle Visitor Centre, 4261 John Renshaw Parkway, Warrumbungle, ☏ +61 2 6825 4364, warrumbungle.np@environment.nsw.gov.au. 9AM-4PM (closed noon-1PM). (updated Oct 2021)

Get in

The nearest towns to the park are Baradine, Coonabarabran, Coonamble, Gilgandra, Gulargambone, and Tooraweenah. Access via Coonabarabran to the east is by 27 kilometres via the John Renshaw Parkway, which is paved or via Coonamble to the west, access is by a 57km road with some gravel sections.

Fees and permits

There is a fee of $8 per vehicle per day. Country NSW Parks passes are also valid here.

See

Observatories

• 1 Siding Spring Observatory, Observatory Rd, Coonabarabran (27km west of Coona town centre, perched at the edge of the Warrambungles.), ☏ +61 2 6842 6363. With an elevation of about 1160m, not just with the numerous telescopes, there is also a visitors' gallery and exhibition area open to the public which also incorporates a café and souvenir shop. During NSW school holidays, guided tours of the site are offered. Groups of over 15 adults may apply for Behind the Scenes walking or bus tours. An Open Day is held annually in October, offering talks about astronomy and tours inside many of the telescope domes which are open to the public on this one day of the year. These tours include the AAT 3.9M, UK Schmidt, iTelescope.Net, 2.3M ANU and the LCGTN 2M telescope facilities. Siding Spring also has multiple telescopes ranging in size from 0.45m to about 4m, all which has to show something unique. (updated Aug 2021)

Lookouts

• 2 Grand High Tops lookout, Grand High Tops Track, Tonderburine. From this lookout, you'll see the remains of the once Warrumbungle volcano. It does take a trek to come here, but it's worth the view. (updated Oct 2021)
• 3 Whitegum lookout, Whitegum Track, Warrumbungle. Has some spectacular views of the volcanic landscape, although from a different perspective. (updated Oct 2021)
• 4 Bluff Mountain lookout, Bluff Mountain Track, Warrumbungle. More views of volcanic peaks and domes. (updated Oct 2021)
• 5 Fans Horizon lookout, Fans Horizon track, Warrumbungle. Gives you some views of the Warrumbungles spires and domes. (updated Oct 2021)
• 6 Febar Tor, Goulds Circuit Track, Tonderburine. Another lookout viewing a different rock. (updated Oct 2021)

Eat

There aren't any places to eat. Bring your own food.

Sleep

There are four main campsites. All camping in the park is only permitted after obtaining a permit. There is a visitors centre for bookings and keys to a number of huts. There are free electric barbecues available however firewood is not supplied or to be collected within park grounds.

Camping

Once you obtain a permit to do so, you may camp in one of the park's four main campsites.

• Balor Hut campground, ☏ +61 2 6825 4364. Bookings required via park website. This campground features a historic walkers' hut. (updated Oct 2021)

Go next

• Dubbo is the closest city.