Coolah Tops National Park
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Coolah Tops National Park is situated 30
km east of Coolah where the Liverpool Range, the Warrumbungle Range and
the Great Dividing Range meet. Long occupied by the Kamilaroi Aborigines,
who have left numerous traces of their presence, Allan Cunningham became the first known European in the area in 1823.The park is essentially eucalypt forest atop basalt soils. |
| Wildlife is abundant. One of the most prevalent species is the greater
glider, a one-metre-long possum which can glide for up to 100 metres. The Forest
Road (unsealed) runs right through the park. It is not to be used by any
vehicles in wet weather. At the park entrance is an information board. Another 3
km brings you to a 1-km side road on the right that leads to a car park and
picnic site from where there is a 1.5-km walking track which leads to the
spectacular Norfolk Falls and on to the Bald Hill Creek Falls where there is a
no-facilities bush camping area. Coolah Tops Road Distance |
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Continue a short distance along The Forest Rd
to Pinnacle Rd which heads off to the left. You will soon come to a short track
on the left that leads to Cox Creek Falls Camping Area. Continue a short distance along The Forest Rd
to Pinnacle Rd which heads off to the left. You will soon come to a short track
on the left that leads to Cox Creek Falls Camping Area. About another 700 m
along Pinnacle Rd, to the right, is the park's main campsite known as The
Barracks where there is an information bay and toilet-barbecue-picnic
facilities. Coolah Tops Bird Life |
Another 3 km along Pinnacle Rd a short side road on the left leads
to a car park from whence there is a short walk to Rocky Creek Falls where there
are day facilities and some fine lookout points along the escarpment where Rocky
Creek tumbles over the cliff. As you continue north along Pinnacle Rd you will
pass, on the right-hand side of the road, the signposted departure points for
the Racecourse Walking Track (6 km) and, about another kilometre north, the
Bundella Walking Track (7 km). The latter leads past a lookout area. The two
eventually join. At the end of Pinnacle Rd there is a short walking track to the
Pinnacle Lookout, a steep basalt outcrop with fine views to the north and west
to the Warrumbungle's. A rough walking track heads south from the lookout to the
basalt caves (the largest being 70-m deep). The park has a stand of the largest
known snow gums in existence. They are located on the right-hand side of The
Forest Rd as you head east, about 22 km from Pinnacle Rd. A walk through the
stand is being organised and will soon be signposted from The Forest Rd. About
24 km east of Pinnacle Rd, on the left-hand side of The Forest Rd, is Breeza
Lookout which proffers extensive views out over the Liverpool Plains. There is a
small picnic area and an information bay. If you are fit there is a short but
steep track from here to Shepherds Peak protruding from the northern escarpment.
At the end of The Forest Rd, Jemmy's Creek Trail (4WD only) heads south where it
joins the Merriwa-Cassilis Rd. To get there head out of town on the road to
Cassilis. After 2 km turn left on to the Coolah Creek Rd. After about 19 km
there is a turnoff on the right to Coolah Tops National Park
www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au