Cathedral Rock National Park

• Introduction
• Fact file


Introduction

Cathedral Rock National Park, in the New England Tablelands, is great bushwalking and rock-climbing territory, and offers peaceful camping and myriad opportunities for photography. Weathering and erosion of the area’s ancient granite has created a rugged, undulating landscape punctuated by giant boulders, massive tors and curious rock formations, with the domed peak of Round Mountain, at 1584 metres, the highest point. The poor quality granite soils support dry forest, dominated largely by stringybark and peppermint gum. Beneath that is shrub and in some parts heathland with fl owering species such as Christmas bells and waratah. Isolated pockets of rainforest can be found in the sheltered, wetter gullies. The area can be extremely cold in winter, evidenced by patches of sphagnum moss, alpine fan fl ower, and snowgrass in boggy areas. The park is the haunt of wedge-tailed eagles, but yellow-tailed black-cockatoos, thornbills and fi nches are regularly sighted, and honeyeaters are common when fl owers are blooming. Swamp wallabies and eastern grey kangaroos are sometimes seen feeding in the early morning or dusk light. Use a torch at night to observe gliders or possums out foraging for food.Walking tracks crisscross the park. Cathedral Rock Track (5.8-km loop, 2–3 hours, easy) leaves from the Barokee rest area. Take the 400-metre spur track to the top of Cathedral Rock (note rocks can be slippery and there are dangerous crevices). Woolpack Rocks Walk (7.4 km return, 3 hours, medium diffi culty) from Native Dog Creek through stringybark forest is also popular. Barokee is the most popular campground with some secluded campsites amid eucalypts and banksia.

Fact file

Camping

Barokee and Native Dog Creek; fees apply

Location and access

636 km north-west of Sydney; 60 km west of Dorrigo via Waterfall Way; via Ebor–Guyra Rd (northern section)

Park Information

• NSWNPWS 1300 361 967
• NPWS Dorrigo (02) 6657 2309

Size

8839 ha

Where to Stay

Dorrigo/Ebor (02) 6657 2486
www.dorrigo.com


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• Campsites

Campsites

Barokee Rest Area

Barokee is the most popular campground, with secluded campsites amid eucalypts and banksia. There’s water in a nearby creek, but it needs to be treated or boiled, otherwise bring your own. Walkers can take on the... Find out more

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Native Dog Rest Area

There’s enough room here for your caravan or camper trailer, and a number of walks leave from here, including the easy Warrigal Track (1 km, 30 mins return) and the Woolpack Rocks (7.4 km, 3 hours return).... Find out more

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