Pindar Cave
Darkinjung & Guringai Country

4 h, 6 h to 2 days

11.5 km
return

↑ 450 m
↓ -450 m

Very challenging
This great walk goes to some amazing places. Pindar Lookout, Pool and Cave are the greatest features of the walk, with each feature deserving of its own unique track. Stand in awe of the cave, one of the largest in the region and great place to camp. The walk takes off from the tiny Wondabyne Station to climb onto the plateau and continues along the ridgeline to Mt Pindar. The track is faint, passing over rocky terrain with many spider webs across the track, so only for people comfortable with off-track navigation. Unless you come by water, the only access is by train, you cannot drive to the start of this walk. 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
Public Pontoon Wondabyne Station. | Photo by admin
Wondabyne Quarry. | Photo by admin
Pindar Cave Track Intersection. | Photo by admin
Pindar Cave Track. | Photo by admin
Birds of prey above Pindar Cave Track. | Photo by admin
Mt Pindar Lookout. | Photo by admin
Tree. | Photo by admin
Pindar Pool. | Photo by admin
Pindar Cave hidden behind trees. | Photo by admin
Pindar Cave. | Photo by admin
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Warning
This journey requires significant bushwalking experience, specialised equipment and navigation skills.
Please ensure you and your group well prepared and equiped for this journey.

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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 Special (Even when timetabled trains only stop at Wondabyne Station when passengers have requested the stop. Let the train guard know you want to get off at Wondabyne Station as you get on the train. Travel in the last carriage and exit from the last doors as the platform is very short. To catch the train from Wondabyne, wave to the driver so they know to stop. This is remote train station, there is no road access. Access by foot, boat or train only.) Train
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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.....
Turn map Directions & comments
Start.
After 10 m find the "Wondabyne" (65 m on your left).
Wondabyne
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.
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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.

After another 130 m head up the steps (about 30 m long)
After another 315 m continue straight, to head along Rifle Range Firetrail.
After another 960 m (at the intersection of Rifle Range Firetrail & Pindar Walking Track) turn left, to head along Pindar Walking Track.
After another 2.3 km come to the "Mooney Mooney Creek Lookout" (9 m on your right).
After another 1.3 km find the "Mt Pindar lookout" (25 m on your left).
Mt Pindar lookout
Mt Pindar lookout

From the rocky perch of Mt Pindar, Brisbane Waters National Park, you can enjoy views over Mullet Creek, Dangar Island and the Hawkesbery River. This is an informal lookout, with no fencing or other facilities.
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From the rocky perch of Mt Pindar, Brisbane Waters National Park, you can enjoy views over Mullet Creek, Dangar Island and the Hawkesbery River. This is an informal lookout, with no fencing or other facilities.

After another 480 m find the "Pindar Pool" (15 m on your left).
Pindar Pool
Pindar Pool

The pool between Mt Pindar and Pindar Cave is an ephemeral (short-lived, unreliable) waterhole. The pool is a refreshing place for a swim when full, with many birds enjoying the area too. The pool is a 10m by 5m tub which is quite deep. Being ephemeral, it is not always full of water.
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The pool between Mt Pindar and Pindar Cave is an ephemeral (short-lived, unreliable) waterhole. The pool is a refreshing place for a swim when full, with many birds enjoying the area too. The pool is a 10m by 5m tub which is quite deep. Being ephemeral, it is not always full of water.

The starting point of an optional sidetrip. An optional side trip to Pindar Waterfall. To start this optional side trip veer right here. On returning from this side trip turn right when you get back to this intersection. Details below.
Continue another 250 m to find the end. Then turn around here and retrace the main route for 5.7 km to get back to the start.
About 30 m past the end is "Pindar Cave".
Pindar Cave
Pindar Cave

Pindar Cave, Brisbane Waters National Park, is a large expanse of overhanging rock. The cave is made by a sandstone overhang of 15m, which spans approximately 50m along the hillside. The floor of the cave is a good spot for a sleep, while the roof of the cave is black from many campfires. Access to water is relatively good, however the waterfall and nearby pool are ephemeral (transient) streams with irregular and unreliable water patterns.
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Pindar Cave, Brisbane Waters National Park, is a large expanse of overhanging rock. The cave is made by a sandstone overhang of 15m, which spans approximately 50m along the hillside. The floor of the cave is a good spot for a sleep, while the roof of the cave is black from many campfires. Access to water is relatively good, however the waterfall and nearby pool are ephemeral (transient) streams with irregular and unreliable water patterns.


An optional side trip to Pindar Waterfall.
Turn map Directions & comments
Start.
After another 390 m turn right.
After another 70 m come to "Pindar Falls".
The end.
Turn around and retrace your steps back the 460 m to the main route.
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Terrain
Know the Hills, grading & facilities

Pindar Cave


Grading
Class 5/6
Very challenging
Length 11.5 km
Time 4 h, 6 h to 2 days
Quality of track Rough unclear track (5/6)
Gradient Very steep (4/6)
Signage No directional signs (5/6)
Infrastructure No facilities provided (5/6)
Experience Required Some bushwalking experience recommended (3/6)
Weather Storms may impact on navigation and safety (3/6)
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