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Australia🇦🇺 | national parksWarrumbungle National ParkBreadknife, volcanic spires, Grand High Tops, Siding Spring | things to do and best time to go

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Backpacking in Warrumbungle
👌 Worth visitingnational park ranked #16
By Johan Kruseman 🇳🇱 | Updated October 15, 2026

Warrumbungle National Park has a visitor center with trail maps and track conditions, so you can sort your day before you sit in the car park debating it. It sits in the central west of New South Wales, Australia, west of Coonabarabran. The volcanic spires are the draw, but the roads in are long and public transport is absent, so bring your own wheels. I filled my water bottles at the visitor center before the first climb, which beats discovering the trail has no taps. Kangaroos and emus treat the campground like a lawn. Your first day could be the Breadknife and Grand High Tops walk, then sunset on the ridge.

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✨ Why go?
Ranked #16 national park in AustraliaWhy Warrumbungle should be on your travel list

Backpackers pick Warrumbungle because it rewards self-guided travel. The park is a chain of eroded volcanic spires, and the Grand High Tops walk lets you stand among them without a guide or a booking. Trails are well marked and graded, so a first-timer can tackle short lookouts while a seasoned hiker links longer circuits. Camping is simple, and the sites at Camp Blackman keep you close to the trailheads, which makes dawn starts easy. It also holds Australia’s first Dark Sky Park designation, so the night sky is a second attraction that costs nothing beyond staying up late.

💡 HighlightsWhat this place is best known for

  1. Breadknife: a thin, nearly 100-meter-high wall of volcanic rock, a lava-filled crack left standing as softer stone eroded around it. It is the park’s signature sight.
  2. Grand High Tops: a ridge walk through the heart of the spires with sweeping views over the plains and the dome-shaped peaks.
  3. Mount Exmouth: the park’s highest peak, an extinct volcano core reached by a rewarding climb with wide outlooks.
  4. Whitegum Lookout: a short, accessible walk to a platform facing the spires, good for photos and for anyone saving their legs.
  5. Fans Horizon: a steeper climb with a broad outlook over the lava formations and the surrounding country.
  6. Siding Spring Observatory: the telescopes on the ridge by the park, with a discovery center, and a good companion to the park’s dark skies.
  7. Burbie Canyon and Wambelong Nature
… read more 👉
  1. Breadknife: a thin, nearly 100-meter-high wall of volcanic rock, a lava-filled crack left standing as softer stone eroded around it. It is the park’s signature sight.
  2. Grand High Tops: a ridge walk through the heart of the spires with sweeping views over the plains and the dome-shaped peaks.
  3. Mount Exmouth: the park’s highest peak, an extinct volcano core reached by a rewarding climb with wide outlooks.
  4. Whitegum Lookout: a short, accessible walk to a platform facing the spires, good for photos and for anyone saving their legs.
  5. Fans Horizon: a steeper climb with a broad outlook over the lava formations and the surrounding country.
  6. Siding Spring Observatory: the telescopes on the ridge by the park, with a discovery center, and a good companion to the park’s dark skies.
  7. Burbie Canyon and Wambelong Nature Track: gentler bush walks with birdlife, wallabies and kangaroos, suited to slower mornings.
For a first visit, the Breadknife and Grand High Tops walk gives you the most dramatic scenery in a single day.
Spotted a mistake or missing something? Contact us.

🌤️ When to go?Seasonal considerations and timing

  • Autumn (Mar to May): Days run 20 to 26°C (68 to 79°F), nights 5 to 12°C (41 to 54°F), with clear skies and about 11 hours of daylight. Ideal for the Breadknife and Grand High Tops circuit.
  • Winter (Jun to Aug): Days 12 to 16°C (54 to 61°F), frosty nights near or below 0°C (32°F). Crowds thin, and stargazing at the Siding Spring dark-sky area is superb.
  • Spring (Sep to Nov): Wildflowers bloom, 18 to 25°C (64 to 77°F). School holidays fill campsites.
  • Summer (Dec to Feb): 30 to 38°C (86 to 100°F), storms, and total fire bans. Walk at dawn only.
Book powered sites early for Easter and September to October school holidays.

source: climatestotravel.comJANJanuary: fair for travelingFEBFebruary: fair for travelingMARMarch: good for travelingAPRApril: highly recommended for travelingMAYMay: highly recommended for travelingJUNJune: good for travelingJULJuly: good for travelingAUGAugust: good for travelingSEPSeptember: highly recommended for travelingOCTOctober: highly recommended for travelingNOVNovember: good for travelingDECDecember: fair for traveling
australia-national-park-warrumbungle-national-park
© Google | Warrumbungle National Park

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🛏️ Where to stay?How to pick the right area

Camping inside the park is the best base for backpackers. Camp Blackman, near the visitor center, has powered and unpowered sites, hot showers and kangaroos wandering through at dusk. Camp Wambelong and Camp Pincham are quieter, more basic campgrounds with fewer facilities. Balor Hut is a walk-in site reached on foot, handy for the Grand High Tops. The Warrumbungles Mountain Motel sits on the road in from Coonabarabran. Coonabarabran, about 35 km east, is the nearest town, with motels, caravan parks, a supermarket, pubs and fuel. Book park campsites online through NSW National Parks, especially … read more 👉
Camping inside the park is the best base for backpackers. Camp Blackman, near the visitor center, has powered and unpowered sites, hot showers and kangaroos wandering through at dusk. Camp Wambelong and Camp Pincham are quieter, more basic campgrounds with fewer facilities. Balor Hut is a walk-in site reached on foot, handy for the Grand High Tops. The Warrumbungles Mountain Motel sits on the road in from Coonabarabran. Coonabarabran, about 35 km east, is the nearest town, with motels, caravan parks, a supermarket, pubs and fuel. Book park campsites online through NSW National Parks, especially on school holidays. Gilgandra and Coonamble are further options, but Coonabarabran is the practical choice for supplies.
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👛 Costs (as of 15 October 2026)Travel costs and budget guide for Warrumbungle

A day in Warrumbungle National Park costs roughly US$45 to 74 for a backpacker who camps and cooks, with the total in the table based on high-season rates and a car for getting around.
CategoryBudget RangeLocal Reality
Park entryUS$5 to 9Day-use fee per vehicle, paid at the visitor center or by self-registration station. Camping fees often include entry for campers.
CampingUS$10 to 20Camp Blackman has powered and unpowered sites with hot showers. Fees run higher in school holidays and spring.
Local transportUS$15 to 30No public buses reach the park. Fuel for a rental or own car from Coonabarabran covers the 35 km drive in.
Food and suppliesUS$15 to 25Stock up at the Coonabarabran supermarkets before heading in, since the park has no shop.
Total Daily BudgetUS$45 to 74Travelers pay in Australian
… read more 👉
A day in Warrumbungle National Park costs roughly US$45 to 74 for a backpacker who camps and cooks, with the total in the table based on high-season rates and a car for getting around.
CategoryBudget RangeLocal Reality
Park entryUS$5 to 9Day-use fee per vehicle, paid at the visitor center or by self-registration station. Camping fees often include entry for campers.
CampingUS$10 to 20Camp Blackman has powered and unpowered sites with hot showers. Fees run higher in school holidays and spring.
Local transportUS$15 to 30No public buses reach the park. Fuel for a rental or own car from Coonabarabran covers the 35 km drive in.
Food and suppliesUS$15 to 25Stock up at the Coonabarabran supermarkets before heading in, since the park has no shop.
Total Daily BudgetUS$45 to 74Travelers pay in Australian dollars; card is accepted in town, but cash helps at self-registration stations.


source: nationalparks.nsw.gov.au
⚠️ Prices can change and everyone travels differently, so take this as a rough guide. Hope it helps you plan your adventure!

🥾 TrailsWhere to hike in Warrumbungle: trails for every level

Most walking here starts at Pincham car park or the visitor center, and the terrain is rocky, with steep stone steps and exposed ridges.
  • Breadknife and Grand High Tops Walk: a circuit of about 14.5 km, taking 5 to 6 hours. Difficulty is hard, with steady climbing, rock stairs and sweeping spire views.
  • Whitegum Lookout Walk: about 1 km return, 30 to 40 minutes, easy and partly accessible, with a view of the spires.
  • Fans Horizon Track: roughly 3 km return, 1.5 to 2 hours, moderate to hard and steep, ending at a broad outlook.
  • Mount Exmouth Track: a longer day walk of around 17 km return, taking 5 to
… read more 👉
Most walking here starts at Pincham car park or the visitor center, and the terrain is rocky, with steep stone steps and exposed ridges.
  • Breadknife and Grand High Tops Walk: a circuit of about 14.5 km, taking 5 to 6 hours. Difficulty is hard, with steady climbing, rock stairs and sweeping spire views.
  • Whitegum Lookout Walk: about 1 km return, 30 to 40 minutes, easy and partly accessible, with a view of the spires.
  • Fans Horizon Track: roughly 3 km return, 1.5 to 2 hours, moderate to hard and steep, ending at a broad outlook.
  • Mount Exmouth Track: a longer day walk of around 17 km return, taking 5 to 7 hours, hard, with views over the old volcano.
  • Wildlife: eastern grey kangaroos, wallaroos, emus, koalas and many parrots, best seen near the campground and on quieter tracks.
There is no public transport to the park, so a car is the practical choice. Weekends and school holidays bring the most walkers, while weekdays are quiet. A vehicle entry fee applies, and camping carries its own charge. Carry plenty of water, since the high tracks are dry and exposed, and check for closures in extreme fire danger or heat.
⚠️ Hiking info can sometimes be outdated or inaccurate. Before you hit the trail, check the latest conditions with locals. If you do spot anything that's off, I'd love to hear from you, so I can update it for fellow travelers.

🛡️ SafetyTraveler Safety Guide

The main hazards here are heat and fire. Summer days regularly pass 35°C (95°F), so start walks at first light and carry at least 3 liters of water per person, as there is no drinking water on the tops trails. Fire bans are common, and tracks close when danger is high. The Grand High Tops climb is steep with rocky, uneven steps, so allow a full day and wear proper boots. Kangaroos, wallabies and emus are used to people, so keep your distance and never feed them. Snakes are active in warm months, so watch where you step. Mobile coverage is patchy, so tell someone your route.
Check Country Safety

FAQTraveler FAQ

Plan on 2 to 3 days. One day covers the Breadknife and Grand High Tops circuit (about 5 to 6 hours), while a second day suits Mount Exmouth or shorter walks such as Whitegum Lookout. A third day allows the Siding Spring Observatory visit or a quieter walk such as Fans Horizon.
Not easily. No regular public transport reaches the park, which lies about 35 km west of Coonabarabran, a roughly 30 to 40 minute drive. Coonabarabran is served by regional coaches from Dubbo and Sydney, but you would still need a taxi, a lift or a rental car for the final stretch.
Yes, a vehicle entry fee applies, typically around AUD 8 to 12 per day, payable at the park’s pay machines or online. Camping is charged separately, roughly AUD 12 to 30 per person depending on the campground. No hiking permit is needed, though camping should be booked online in advance in busy periods.
⚠️ Things can change over time, so always validate details locally before you go.

Other Australian national parks near Warrumbungle

Explore more nearby:

  • Blue Mountains—Three Sisters, Giant Stairway, Scenic Railway, Jamison Valley| 274 km away
  • Booderee National Park—White quartz sand, Jervis Bay headland, Wreck Bay community, lighthouse ruins| 457 km away
  • Kosciuszko National Park—Mainland summit, glacial Blue Lake, Main Range, alpine wildflowers| 513 km away

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We 💚 feedbackSumming up the experience

Pair it with the Siding Spring Observatory and the small town of Coonabarabran, then roll on toward Dubbo or the Pilliga forest for a different kind of bush. I would stay two nights, climb the High Tops first, and keep the second evening free for the stars.

✈️ When did I visit Australia?
On my trip to New Zealand in 1993, I had a short stop in Australia as well.

✍️ Help improve this page!
The information on this page is based on my own backpacking experience in Australia, supplemented with up-to-date research and feedback from other travelers. Travel details can change, so if you notice anything outdated or incomplete, feel free to let me know.



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