Visit to Mt Kaputar National Park – 26 October – 1 November 2024

My friend Wendy invited me to join her on a trip to visit Mt Kaputar National Park. It’s a place that I have never visited, but have been keen to go for a long time. We had a marvellous and fascinating trip.

Mt Kaputar in the highest point of the Nandewar Range which lies east of Narrabri. It features a wild volcanic landscape, a bit like the nearby Warrumbungles.

Wendy drove all the way to Mt Kaputar National Park in one long day from her home in the Blue Mountains. On the way there, via Mudgee, we stopped at the small town of Mullaley where we had lunch in a park. There was a surprising amount of birds within this small park.

This may be a Turquoise Parrot –

Blue-faced Honeyeater

Apostlebirds

We are now on the road to Mt Kaputar. It looked interesting ahead.

Wendy had an ambitious schedule of planned activities. No sooner had we entered the park, and climbed up the road into the higher parts, when we set off for the first walk in the late afternoon.

This was the Mt Coryah Walk. It started off along a pleasant track.

And then got steep.

And then steeper!

This took us to a plateau, and we did a short but very pleasant circuit walk around the mountain.

We saw a lot of these native violets –

Buttercups –

Native Daisies

Here is a view to the north – looking along the Nandewar Range –

Mount Ningadhun

Part of the summit circuit involved walking along a ledge with an amazing display of Grass Trees.

We then camped close to the trackhead. It was a nice spot.

The next morning, we were up early and driving up towards the summit of Mt Kaputar.

Euglah Rock from Doug Sky Lookout

The woodlands were very beautiful shrouded in light mist.

The track to The Governor was closed. Here is a view of The Governor from the Governor Lookout.

In the higher regions there was an amazing display of these yellow wildflowers.

Kaputar Rocks

Our next stop was Mt Kaputar. The peak is 1510 m high. However our views that morning were limited by the mist.

We then set out on one of the short walks – the Bundabilla Lookout loop. This was interesting and very pleasant.

Volcanic Rocks

Billy Button

We saw a number of thee blue butterflies –

And Laird Lookout was part of the same loop walk. And here is the view from Horsearm Lookout –

Lewin’s Honeyeater

Sacred Kingfisher

King Parrot

Skink

After lunch, we did a second walk to Lindsay Lookout. This was also very nice.

We then drove the short distance to our booked campsite at Dawson Springs. This was a very pleasant spot with great facilities (hot showers). But there was also a lot of wildlife nearby.

White-throated Tree Creeper

Wallabies

We then set off along the nearby Nature Walk. Another short but very pleasant outing.

And we then walked up the track to the summit of Mt Kaputar. The earlier mist had cleared and we had amazing views.

We would return to the summit again!

Next morning, at Dawson Springs, we spotted a raptor circling overhead. It was a Nankeen Kestrel.

On this day, Wendy and planned to walk down to an old hit and camp nearby. I preferred to stay at Dawson Springs, but join her for the first part of her walk, around part of the Kaputar Plateau Walk.

Euglah Rock