Guula Ngurra National Park Walks and Hikes

Guula Ngurra National Park sits in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales, near Moss Vale, about 130 kilometres south-west of Sydney. Set among rural landscapes, sandstone ridges, river valleys and forested slopes, it is a park that invites you to slow down and pay attention. Its name was provided by the Gundungurra People and translates as Koala Country, with “Guula” meaning koala and “Ngurra” carrying a deeper meaning of Country, belonging, stories, landforms, waters, plants, animals and people.

The park holds strong Aboriginal cultural significance, particularly around the meeting point of the Wollondilly and Wingecarribee rivers on the northern boundary. This place forms part of the Creation Story in which Mirragan fought Gurangatch, and remains deeply important to Aboriginal culture. As you move through the park, there is a real sense that the landscape is not just scenic, but layered with meaning, memory and connection.

For walkers and hikers, Guula Ngurra National Park offers a more rugged Southern Highlands experience than many of the better-known nearby reserves. Its bushwalks can be challenging, with tracks leading through sandstone country, heath-woodland, red gum slopes, river flats, caves and rocky gullies shaped by the park’s waterways. Mount Penang and Baldy Billy Peak offer sweeping views across the valleys, giving you a strong sense of how the rivers have carved and shaped this part of Country over time.

The park sits on the boundary of two bioregions, with the South Eastern Highlands to the west and the sandstone landscapes of the Sydney Basin to the east. This meeting of landscapes gives Guula Ngurra National Park its rich biodiversity. It supports high-quality koala habitat within the Great Western Wildlife Corridor, along with a wide range of other wildlife, including the endangered glossy-black cockatoo. The park is home to 139 recorded fauna species, including 22 listed as threatened.

Spring is one of the most rewarding times to visit, when wildflowers bring colour to the heath and woodland areas and the conditions are generally comfortable for hiking. Autumn is also a good choice, with milder days after the heat of summer and before the chill of winter sets in. Whether you are planning longer hikes, shorter walks, or more demanding bushwalks, it is worth checking track conditions before you go and choosing routes that suit your experience and fitness. All trails in this park should be approached with care, as terrain can be uneven, exposed and remote in places.

Want to find the best trails in Guula Ngurra National Park for an adventurous hike, casual walk, or a family trip? Trail Hiking Australia has the best trails for walking, hiking, running, and more.