The Mount Kaputar Summit walk winds its way up through towering eucalypts to emerge at a lookout with stunning 360° views of the dramatic mountain range. Starting from Dawsons Spring picnic area and following Dawsons Spring Nature trail, the walk to the summit will have your heart racing, but the spectacular view is well worth the journey.
Millions of years in the making, it's definitely worth packing your camera to capture the beauty of the park from a bird's eye view. To make the trip extra special, combine the walk with a stay at Dawsons Spring cabins and walk up before sunrise or sunset and watch the colours flood across the landscape. For an easier journey try driving to the summit and walking back down.
Grade 3 (Moderate) - Walks for Most Fitness Levels: Grade 3 on the
AWTGS represents moderate walking tracks. These are ideal for walkers with some fitness who are comfortable with some hills and uneven terrain. While suitable for most ages, some bushwalking experience is recommended to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience. Tracks may have short, steep hill sections, a rough surface, and many steps. The total distance of a Grade 3 walk can be up to 20 kilometers.
The walk starts near Dawsons Spring picnic area - a good place for a picnic or barbecue if you have time.
It's a good idea to put sunscreen on before you set out and remember to take a hat and plenty of drinking water.
Remember to take your binoculars if you want to bird watch.
Visit NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service for more information on this trail.
The longitude and latitude of the start and end points are approximately only and should not be used for navigation purposes. Please contact me if you know the correct coordinates.
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Before you go, complete a trip intentions form and share it with a trusted contact. Agree on a Late-Back Time and ask them to call 000 (Police) if you have not checked in. A clear trip plan is one of the simplest and most effective safety steps you can take.
Download the hiking preparation and safety checklists before leaving home to help you think through your plans. They help ensure important considerations are not overlooked and support safer decision-making on the trail.
Getting to the trailhead: Mount Kaputar National Park.
To Dawsons Spring picnic area. Mount Kaputar summit walk starts at Dawsons Spring picnic area in the Kaputar Plateau section of Mount Kaputar National Park.To get there:Drive south along the Old Gunnedah Road from Narrabri for about 4km, then turn left onto Mount Kaputar Road.After approximately 46km you will reach a t-junction, turn right and take the next right into Dawsons Spring.Alternatively, if starting from Mount Kaputar summitDrive south along the Old Gunnedah Road from Narrabri for about 4km, then turn left onto Mount Kaputar Road.After approximately 46km you will reach a t-junction, turn left and follow to the summit. Park entry points Dawsons Spring picnic area See on map Road quality Mount Kaputar Road is not suitable for caravans. Parking Parking is available at Dawsons Spring picnic area and Mount Kaputar summit.
Need a rental car to get you to the hike? Find one here.
Find accommodation close to the trailhead including hotels, cabins, and campgrounds. Use the interactive map to explore available options in nearby towns.
Nearby towns: Baan Baa, Baradine, Bellata, Bingara, Bundarra, Coonabarabran, Gunnedah, Manilla, Moree, Narrabri, Walgett, Wee Waa
With camping, cycling, walking, horse riding and bird watching waiting for you on this scenic mountain range, Mount Kaputar is a fantastic wilderness escape in NSW. Be awed by towering forests, breathtaking rock formations and stunning scenery at Mount Kaputar National Park. Roughly 1 hour's drive from Narrabri in northern NSW, Mount Kaputar is an explorer's paradise.
Take in the views from the park's lookouts, have a relaxing picnic or barbecue, or stay overnight in a picturesque campground or cabin accommodation. Bring your binoculars to enjoy bird watching, or to search for possums and greater gliders after dark. Or for a more adventurous trip; walk one of the park's many tracks, or go for a mountain bike or horse ride through the spectacular landscape.
Looking for more walks in or near Mount Kaputar National Park? Try these trails with a similar difficulty grade.
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