Gundabooka National Park

Gundabooka National Park, a rugged outback sanctuary in far western New South Wales, offers a raw and ancient landscape of red sandstones, deep gorges, and ghost gums. This is a place where the presence of the traditional custodians, the Mutawintji people, is palpable, with abundant rock art and scarred trees telling stories of millennia. For travellers seeking solitude and a deep connection to the land, Gundabooka is a profound detour off the beaten track.

Highlights & What to See

• Rock Art Sites: Explore the park’s most significant cultural draw — a series of ochre stencils and engravings on sandstone overhangs, best seen on the Gundabooka Walking Track.
• Gundabooka Gorge: A dramatic cleft in the scarp, where a permanent waterhole is framed by towering red cliffs and ancient cypress pines. It’s a serene spot for a picnic and birdwatching.
• Mount Gundabooka Summit: A challenging but rewarding 8 km return hike to the park’s high point, offering panoramic views over the vast, flat plains of the Darling Riverine Plain.
• Scarred Trees and Aboriginal Heritage: Look for culturally modified trees (canoe and shield scars) along the Gundabooka Creek, a testament to the living Aboriginal culture.
• Wildlife Spotting: Keep an eye out for red kangaroos, emus, and the elusive yellow-footed rock-wallaby along the rocky slopes.

Suggested Time to Spend

Allocate at least a full day to do justice to the park’s walks and cultural sites. If you’re self-driving and can camp overnight at the basic campground, a two-day stay allows you to hike the summit at sunrise, explore the gorge in the cool of the afternoon, and visit the rock art without rushing. Most travellers combine it with a visit to nearby Bourke or the Darling River Run.

Nearby Areas Worth Combining

• Bourke: The historic river town on the Darling, with the iconic ‘Back o’ Bourke’ sign, river cruises, and the Kidman Way stock route.
• Mutawintji National Park: Another Aboriginal cultural powerhouse, with outstanding rock art and hand stencils, about 150 km south-west.
• Darling River Run: A scenic self-drive route following the meandering Darling, with opportunities for fishing, birding, and visiting tiny outback pubs.
• Cobar: A historic mining town with a fascinating Great Cobar Heritage Centre and the nearby Mount Drysdale ghost town.
• Louth: A tiny outback settlement on the Darling, famous for its annual Louth Races and the iconic Shindy’s Inn pub.

Please check official sources for current details.