Great North Walk: Wondabyne to Mooney Mooney Creek Trackhead

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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

Full Journey	Great North Walk
Start	(-33.4920793,151.2569295)
Mode	Train
Finish	At the intersection of Old Pacific Highway & Mooney Trail (-33.4379972,151.2520678)
Mode (end)	Car (There is free parking available.)

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.....

Turn map	Directions & comments
	Start. Wondabyne (about 55 m back from 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. Find the emergency call device at the start. After another 130 m head up the steps (about 30 m long) After another 315 m (from the Rifle Range Firetrail) continue straight, to head along Rifle Range Firetrail.
	After another 260 m (from the Rifle Range Firetrail) veer right, to head along Rifle Range Firetrail. After another 700 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). From the Rifle Range Firetrail continue straight, to head along Rifle Range Firetrail. After another 155 m come to the viewpoint.
	After another 980 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.
	The starting point of an optional sidetrip. An optional side trip to Camp Kariong. Only for scouts who have registered to stay. To start this optional side trip continue straight here. On returning from this side trip turn right when you get back to this intersection. Details below. 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)
	From the Piles Creek Loop veer left, to head along Piles Creek Loop (a walking track). After another 25 m head up the 18 metal steps (about 9 m long) After another 25 m 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 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 (from the The Great North Walk) veer right, to head along The Great North Walk. After another 75 m cross the bridge (about 7 m long) After another 260 m find the "Old Pacific Highway Mooney Mooney Creek Bridge" (30 m on your left). 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.
	At the intersection of Mooney Trail & The Great North Walk turn right, to head along Mooney Trail (a vehicle track). After another 245 m come to a gate. Then to find the car park.
	Continue another 2 m to find at the intersection of Old Pacific Highway & Mooney Trail at the end.

An optional side trip to Camp Kariong. Only for scouts who have registered to stay.

Turn map	Directions & comments
	At the intersection of The Great North Walk & Piles Creek Loop Start heading along Piles Creek Loop (a walking track). Then cross the ford. Then head up the 37 earthen steps (about 25 m long) After another 170 m head down the 5 earthen steps (about 3 m long) After another 20 m head down the 21 earthen steps (about 10 m long) After another 15 m cross the ford. Then cross the bridge (about 5 m long) After another 65 m come to the viewpoint (on your right). After another 195 m find the "Monolith Cave" (on your left). Monolith Cave Monolith Cave is an informally named cave and interesting rock formation high on the ridge east of Piles Creek and North of Rat Gully in the Brisbane Water National Park. The cave is a fairly large sandstone overhang on the edge of the track. The cave provides shelter for walkers and is a great spot to rest and enjoy the area. This rock and the more Monolithic rock about 60m to the south are interesting to explore, and provide great views of the surrounding area. Take great care if exploring the rocks. After another 65 m find the "Piles Creek Lookout" (20 m on your left). Piles Creek Lookout Piles Creek lookout (not formally named), Brisbane Water National Park, sits high on the ridge, east of Piles Creek and north of Rat Gully. This lookout provides views over the Piles Creek valley and can be enjoyed from behind a fence. The valley is surprisingly steep at this point and the views downstream are quite extensive. From the Piles Creek Loop turn right, to head along Piles Creek Loop. Then head up the 8 wooden steps (about 2 m long)
	After another 140 m (from the Piles Creek Loop) turn right. After another 920 m find the "Camp Kariong" (10 m on your left). Camp Kariong Camp Kariong is a Scout Association run campsite with facilities for small to large groups. The campsite is well established with a range of good facilities in a pleasant bush setting. For groups of around 40 there are bunk rooms, Kitchen and a hall. For small to larger groups there are bush campsites, camp fires, toilets, showers, an outdoor camp chapel and a treated water supply. As an extra bonus there is a stone hut, know as the 'Gosford Apex Hut' that can be hired, and saves the need for a tent. The single room hut has a fire place, small kitchen, fridge, TV, crockery, tables , chairs and water tap near by. The hut has been recently renovated and can sleep four with a queen bed that has a single bunk above and there is a separate single bed. The Hut is $25 a night for two people. This campsite can also accessed by car from the signposted driveway on Woy Woy Rd south of Kariong. Visits must be pre-booked, contact your friendly hosts Andrew & Rebecca on (02) 4323 7095 or [email protected]
	After another 300 m come to the end. Turn around and retrace your steps back the 1.9 km to the main route.

Terrain Know the Hills, grading & facilities

Great North Walk: Wondabyne to Mooney Mooney Creek Trackhead

Grading

	Class 4/6 Hard track
Length	9.9 km
Time	4 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	Minimal directional signs (4/6)
Infrastructure	Limited facilities, not all cliffs are fenced (3/6)
Experience Required	Some bushwalking experience recommended (3/6)
Weather	Weather generally has little impact on safety (1/6)

Some facilities on route

Campsite: There are 2 on route, on average they are 4.4 km apart with the largest gap of 9 km.

Order of key facilities on route

Item	From Start	Name & link to notes
Campsite	7.4 km + 1.6 km	Camp Kariong
Camp site	7.6 km	[camp site]

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.

Camp Kariong
Camp Kariong is a Scout Association run campsite with facilities for small to large groups. The campsite is well established with a range of good facilities in a pleasant bush setting. For groups of around 40 there are bunk rooms, Kitchen and a hall. For small to larger groups there are bush campsites, camp fires, toilets, showers, an outdoor camp chapel and a treated water supply. As an extra bonus there is a stone hut, know as the 'Gosford Apex Hut' that can be hired, and saves the need for a tent. The single room hut has a fire place, small kitchen, fridge, TV, crockery, tables , chairs and water tap near by. The hut has been recently renovated and can sleep four with a queen bed that has a single bunk above and there is a separate single bed. The Hut is $25 a night for two people. This campsite can also accessed by car from the signposted driveway on Woy Woy Rd south of Kariong. Visits must be pre-booked, contact your friendly hosts Andrew & Rebecca on (02) 4323 7095 or [email protected]

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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Weather & Alerts Check forecasts & closures
Weather Forecast
- Woy Woy Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed
  
  Wednesday 30 April
  
  Showers.
  
  Cloudy. High chance of showers along the coastal fringe, medium chance elsewhere. The chance of a thunderstorm early this evening. Winds southeast to southwesterly 15 to 25 km/h.
  
  Alert: Large and powerful surf conditions for the rest of the day are expected to be hazardous for coastal activities such as rock fishing, swimming and surfing.
  
  Thursday 1 May
  
  12°C → 19°C
  Showers.
  90% chance of rain
  3 → 20mm
  
  Partly cloudy. Very high chance of showers along the coastal fringe, medium chance elsewhere. The chance of a thunderstorm near the coast. Winds southeast to southwesterly 20 to 30 km/h. Overnight temperatures falling to between 8 and 12 with daytime temperatures reaching between 15 and 20.
  
  Alert: Large and powerful surf conditions are expected to be hazardous for coastal activities such as rock fishing, swimming and surfing.
  
  UV Alert: Sun protection 9:40am to 2:00pm, UV Index predicted to reach 5 [Moderate]
  
  Friday 2 May
  
  13°C → 20°C
  Showers.
  80% chance of rain
  1 → 9mm
  
  Partly cloudy. High chance of showers near the coast, medium chance elsewhere. The chance of a thunderstorm near the coast. Light winds becoming south to southeasterly 15 to 25 km/h in the morning then becoming light in the evening. Overnight temperatures falling to between 8 and 12 with daytime temperatures reaching between 16 and 21.
  
  Alert: Large and powerful surf conditions are expected to be hazardous for coastal activities such as rock fishing, swimming and surfing.
  
  Saturday 3 May
  
  13°C → 22°C
  Shower or two.
  50% chance of rain
  0 → 2mm
  
  Partly cloudy. The chance of morning fog. Medium chance of showers along the coastal fringe, slight chance elsewhere. Light winds becoming southeasterly 15 to 20 km/h during the morning then becoming light during the evening. Overnight temperatures falling to between 8 and 12 with daytime temperatures reaching between 18 and 22.
  
  Sunday 4 May
  
  13°C → 22°C
  Shower or two.
  50% chance of rain
  0 → 1mm
  
  Partly cloudy. Slight chance of a shower, most likely in the morning and afternoon. Light winds becoming east to southeasterly 15 to 20 km/h during the afternoon then becoming light during the evening. Overnight temperatures falling to between 8 and 12 with daytime temperatures reaching between 19 and 23.
  
  Monday 5 May
  
  14°C → 23°C
  Possible shower.
  40% chance of rain
  0 → 1mm
  
  Possible shower.
  
  Tuesday 6 May
  
  13°C → 25°C
  Sunny.
  20% chance of rain
  
  Sunny.
  
  Wednesday 7 May
  
  13°C → 25°C
  Partly cloudy.
  30% chance of rain
  0 → 1mm
  
  Partly cloudy.
  
  Forecast data thanks to © Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
Alerts
- Great North Walk Alerts
  Fire Season: The Great North Walk is automatically closed on days of Total Fire Bans (TOBAN); walkers are responsible for knowing the current fire danger and fire bans. The Great North Walk spans two fire regions. Greater Sydney fire region from Sydney to just north of Cedar Brush Trackhead. Hunter fire region from just north of Cedar Brush Trackhead to Newcastle. Total Fire bans are usually only declared the day before. Fire danger ratings are forecast 4 days ahead; if you see an Extreme or Catastrophic Fire Danger Rating, a TOBAN will likely be declared, but it depends on many factors. Check the RFS website for current and forecast fire danger ratings and TOBANs. You can also see NPWS alerts on their website.
  The current status of the Great North Walk is;
  
  Track disruptions: Brooklyn Dam trail. Surface works will be carried out on the Brooklyn Dam Trail and Brooklyn Dam South Trail until 1st May 2025, weather permitting. Please follow all signage and instructions from NPWS staff and contractors.
  
  Mooney Mooney North & South campgrounds Closed: These campsites are no longer to be used due to flood risk; the infrastructure and signage are being removed. The nearest alternative camping locations are Mt Wondabyne (or near Wondabyne Station) to the south and the Quarry Campsite to the north.
  
  Olney State Forest area: During April 2025, diversions are likely along the Great North Walk through Olney State Forest. Forestry is planning some weather-dependent prescribed burns in the area. Please keep an eye out for detour signs and be prepared for a delay or diversion.
  
  Open to walkers between Cherry Lane, Kulnura to Newcastle, however:
  
  Some areas of GNW in the Watagans remain currently inaccessible by private vehicles and only accessible to walkers. Walkers must be self-sufficient and also be aware of local track damage from recent rain/flood events.
  
  Many forest roads (outside of closure notice https://www.forestrycorporation.com.au/visit/closures/olney-state-forest-partially-closed) are open and accessible. Access to the Watagan Forestry HQ Campsite and general areas is via Watagan Forest Road Only - Due to weather damage, there is no access from Quorrobolong, Cooranbong or Freemans Waterhole via Mount Faulk Road or Heatons Road. Visitors are to remain on alert for heavy vehicle movements, road grading and vegetation road edge maintenance.
  
  The following roads are accessible for 4WD only - they are damaged and not currently scheduled for upgrades:
  
  Hammonds Road
  
  Barniers Road
  
  Archery Road, Wakefield
  
  Gap Rd off Freemans Drive
- Brisbane Water National Park alerts
  Closed areas: Partial closure Piles Creek Loop Walking Track
  Part of Piles Creek Loop Walking Track is closed while rockfall investigations and mitigation works are undertaken.
  The closed area is between the suspension bridge and Bundilla Lookout on the western side of Piles Creek.
  Areas that will remain open are:
  
  Piles Creek Loop Walking Track on the eastern side of Piles Creek
  
  Access to the Great North Walk from Girrakool Picnic Area
  
  Bundilla Lookout
  
  Barriers and signage are in place around the closed area.
  Penalties apply for non-compliance. For more information, contact the local NPWS office on 02 4320 4200.
  
  Closed areas: Somersby Falls walking track closed for upgrade
  Somersby Falls walking track, including access to the middle and bottom waterfalls will be closed from 24 March to 31 August 2025 while the track is upgraded.
  The picnic area and carpark will remain open during the works.
  Consider visiting the nearby Girrakool picnic area less than 5 minutes away which also has waterfalls, walking tracks and a well established picnic area.
  Penalties apply for non-compliance. For more information, contact the local NPWS Central Coast Area Office on 02 4320 4200.
  
  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 an 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

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