Girrakool to Wondabyne station via Pindar caves
Download & Print Map and Notes7 hrs 30 mins
741 m
Experienced only
Girrakool Picnic Area
(0km) Girrakool picnic area car park → Illoura Lookout
270 m
6 mins
0m
-33m
Easy track
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk follows the ‘Girrakool Loop’ sign down along the stone path. The path soon heads down some steps and comes to a fenced and signposted ‘Illoura Lookout’.
Illoura Lookout
(0.27km) Illoura Lookout → Int of Girrakool and Piles Ck lookout tracks
1.1 km
27 mins
47m
-83m
Moderate track
Veer left: From the top of Piles Creek waterfall, this walk follows the track heading south away from the waterfall (keeping the big valley to the right). The clear track winds through the thick bush crossing a few small tributaries and though four sandstone caves. The caves provide good shelter and a great spot to rest. The track then flattens out and comes to a 3-way intersection and a ‘Girrakool’ sign.
Continue straight: From the intersection, the walk heads south along the wide track in the opposite direction of the ‘Girrakool’ sign. Soon the track heads down a short wooden staircase to the intersection at the bottom (Piles Creek Lookout visible to the right).
(1.38km) Int of Girrakool and Piles Ck lookout tracks → Monolith Cave
80 m
2 mins
16m
0m
Moderate track
Monolith Cave
(1.46km) Monolith Cave → Rat Gully Lookout
220 m
7 mins
13m
-29m
Moderate track
(1.68km) Rat Gully Lookout → Tributary Crossing
1 km
29 mins
96m
-81m
Hard track
Turn sharp left: From the intersection, this walk follows the ‘Patonga Ferry’ sign[3] up the side of the gully, keeping the intermittent creek[4] to your left. The track leads past a ‘Patonga’ sign then winds steeply up the hill for about 130m, through a cleft in the rock[5] and past a few rock walls, and then the track mostly flattens out with some filtered distant views[6]. The track continues gently uphill for another 300m, becoming progressively flatter[7] before passing along the side of a long rock wall[8], with a tall sandstone overhang[9]. The track then crosses a small gully and leads past another overhang, where the track begins to lead downhill. The rocky track winds steeply downhill for about 130m to then cross an intermittent creek which flows over the solid sandstone platform[10].
(2.69km) Tributary Crossing → Scopas Peak
2.4 km
57 mins
189m
-33m
Hard track
(5.11km) Scopas Peak → South end of Scopas Peak Track
1.2 km
23 mins
14m
-80m
Hard track
Continue straight: From the Great North Walk intentions book[29], after leaving your comments, this walk heads south, gently downhill[30] along the clear track. After about 150m, the walk comes to a T-intersection[31] with the Gosford Rifle Range trail – At this intersection is a ‘Girrakool’ sign[32], pointing back along the track.
(6.27km) Int of GNW and Gosford Rifle Range trail → Int of GNW and Wondabyne trail
1.1 km
22 mins
40m
-27m
Moderate track
(7.4km) Int of GNW and Wondabyne Station tracks → Eastern end of the Pindar Cave Track
630 m
11 mins
5m
-19m
Moderate track
(8.02km) Int. Rifle Range Service Track and Pindar Cave Track → Mt Pindar Lookout
3.5 km
1 hr 12 mins
129m
-129m
Hard track
Mt Pindar lookout
(11.52km) Mt Pindar Lookout → Pool
480 m
9 mins
2m
-25m
Experienced only
Pindar Pool
(12km) Pool → Pindar Cave
320 m
6 mins
12m
-6m
Experienced only
Pindar Cave
(12.32km) Pindar Cave → Waterfall
570 m
12 mins
10m
-57m
Very experienced only
Pindar Waterfall
(12.32km) Pindar Cave → Mt Pindar Lookout
800 m
15 mins
31m
-14m
Experienced only
Turn right: From the pool, the walk follows the bush track east, out of the clearing. The track passes through an area of thick vegetation as is slowly climbs up the spur, before the vegetation gives way to a rocky area. The track winds further up the hill and along the ridge edge to the lookout.
(13.12km) Mt Pindar Lookout → Int. Rifle Range Service Track and Pindar Cave Track
3.5 km
1 hr 12 mins
129m
-129m
Hard track
(16.61km) Eastern end of the Pindar Cave Track → Clearing above Wondabyne Station
1 km
19 mins
3m
-72m
Hard track
(17.65km) Clearing above Wondabyne Station → Wondabyne Station
440 m
13 mins
15m
-100m
Hard track
Wondabyne
Maps for the Girrakool to Wondabyne station via Pindar caves walk
You can download the PDF for this walk to print a map.These maps below cover the walk and the wider area around the walk, they are worth carrying for safety reasons.
Gunderman | 1:25 000 Map Series | 91313S GUNDERMAN | NSW-91313S |
Gosford | 1:25 000 Map Series | 91312S GOSFORD | NSW-91312S |
Gosford | 1:100 000 Map Series | 9131 GOSFORD | 9131 |
Cross sectional view of the Girrakool to Wondabyne station via Pindar caves bushwalking track
Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Girrakool to Wondabyne station via Pindar caves
Overview of this walks grade – based on the AS 2156.1 – 2001
Under this standard, a walk is graded based on the most difficult section of the walk.
Length | 18.1 km | ||
Time | 7 hrs 30 mins | ||
. | |||
Grade 5/6 Experienced only |
AS 2156.1 | Gradient | Very steep (4/6) |
Quality of track | Rough unclear track (5/6) | ||
Signs | No directional signs (5/6) | ||
Experience Required | Moderate level of bushwalking experience recommended (4/6) | ||
Weather | Storms may impact on navigation and safety (3/6) | ||
Infrastructure | Limited facilities (such as cliffs not fenced, significant creeks not bridged) (4/6) |
Some more details of this walks Grading
Here is a bit more details explaining grading looking at sections of the walk
Gradient
14km of this walk is very steep and another 2.6km has short steep hills. Whilst another 1.7km has gentle hills with occasional steps and the remaining 130m is flat with no steps.
Quality of track
9km of this walk follows a rough track, where fallen trees and other obstacles are likely and another 4km follows a clear and well formed track or trail. Whilst another 3km follows a formed track, with some branches and other obstacles and the remaining 1.6km follows a rough unclear track.
Signs
9km of this walk has minimal directional signs and another 6km has directional signs at most intersection. Whilst another 1.6km Has no directional signs and the remaining 630m is clearly signposted.
Experience Required
14km of this walk requires some bushwalking experience and another 2.3km requires no previous bushwalking experience. The remaining (1.6km) requires a leader a with moderate level of bushwalking experience.
weather
Around 17km of this walk is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation), whilst the remaining 970m is affected by storms that may impact your navigation and safety.
Infrastructure
9km of this walk has limited facilities (such as cliffs not fenced, significant creeks not bridged) and another 4.9km has limited facilities (such as not all cliffs fenced). The remaining (4.6km) is close to useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats).
Similar walks
Other Nearby walks
Plan your trip to and from the walk here
The Girrakool to Wondabyne station via Pindar caves walk starts at the Girrakool picnic area car park (gps: -33.43168, 151.2766)Your main transport option to Girrakool picnic area car park is by;
Car. A park entry fee is required for driving into the park.
(get details)
The Girrakool to Wondabyne station via Pindar caves ends at the Wondabyne Station (gps: -33.492083, 151.25696)
Your main transport option to Wondabyne Station is by;
Train. (get details)
Important Note: There is no car transport option to the end of this walk.
Fire Danger
Each park may have its own fire ban, this rating is only valid for today and is based on information from the RFS Please check the RFS Website for more information.Weather Forest
This walk starts in the Hunter weather district always check the formal BOM forecast or pdf before starting your walk.Forecast snapshot
Park Information & Alerts
Short URL = http://wild.tl/gtwsvpc
Gallery images
There are other downloads I am still working on.
You will probably need to login to access these — still all free.
* KML (google earth file)
* GPX (GPS file)
Special Maps/ brochures
* A3 topo maps
* PDF with Lands Topo map base
* PDF with arial image (and map overlay)
I wanted to get the main site live first, this extra stuff will come in time.
Happy walking
Matt 🙂
Comments