Colo River

Flowing through the wild heart of Wollemi National Park, the Colo River is one of New South Wales' last truly wild waterways. This pristine sandstone gorge offers a raw, off-grid escape for paddlers, hikers, and anglers who crave solitude and untouched bushland. With no sealed roads touching its banks, reaching the Colo requires a sense of adventure — but the reward is a landscape of dramatic cliffs, ancient eucalypts, and the haunting calls of lyrebirds.

Highlights & What to See

• Canoeing or kayaking the Colo Gorge — a multi-day paddle through deep sandstone canyons, with clear pools perfect for swimming and camping on sandy riverbanks.
• Walking the Wollangambe River confluence — a spectacular junction where the Wollangambe’s warm, orange-tinted waters meet the Colo’s cool green flow; accessible via a rough track from the end of Putty Road.
• Fishing for Australian bass and catfish — the river is a declared ‘Wild River’ and offers superb catch-and-release fishing in pristine conditions.
• Exploring the Colo River walking track — a 6 km return trail from the Upper Colo picnic area that follows the riverbank through rainforest pockets and past Aboriginal rock art sites.
• Camping at Upper Colo Reserve — a basic, unpowered campground right on the river, ideal for launching canoes or simply soaking up the bush serenity.

Suggested Time to Spend

The Colo River is best experienced over two to three days — enough time for a full-day paddle on the gorge, a day hike to the Wollangambe confluence, and a lazy morning fishing or swimming. If you're short on time, a day trip from Sydney (about 2 hours’ drive) can cover the walking track and a picnic at Upper Colo, but you'll miss the heart of the wilderness. Plan your trip outside of summer holidays when the river can be crowded with campers.

Nearby Areas Worth Combining

• Wollemi National Park — the vast wilderness surrounding the Colo, home to the prehistoric Wollemi Pine and the iconic Glow Worm Tunnel.
• Zig Zag Railway — a heritage steam train ride through the Blue Mountains’ Lithgow valley, offering dramatic views of the escarpment.
• Blue Mountains National Park — classic lookouts, waterfalls, and bushwalks at Katoomba, Leura, and Blackheath, just a 40-minute drive south.
• Wisemans Ferry — a historic riverside village with pubs and cafes, perfect for a meal after your Colo adventure; also the starting point for the Great North Walk.
• Dharug National Park — accessible via Wisemans Ferry, with Aboriginal engravings and the scenic Mangrove Creek area.

Please check official sources for current details.