Basin Gully to Eualdrie lookout track

Weddin Mountains National Park

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Overview

Enjoy a challenging walk? Highlights on this fantastic hiking track include ridges, gullies and scenic views that stretch toward Grenfell, as well as great birdwatching.

Distance
9km return
Time suggested
6 - 7hrs
Grade
Grade 5
Trip Intention Form

It's a good idea to let someone know where you're going. Fill in a trip intention form to send important details about your trip to your emergency contact.

What to
bring
Clothes for all weather conditions, drinking water, hat, sunscreen
Please note
  • If you’re bushwalking, it’s a good idea to bring a topographic map and compass, or a GPS.
  • The weather in this area can be extreme and unpredictable, so please ensure you’re well-prepared for your visit.
  • Remember to take your binoculars if you want to bird watch

This fascinating and challenging walk takes you through several different vegetation communities, deep gullies and ridges and then onto a plateau where you can look out to the east towards Grenfell. You’ll be surrounded by white box, Blakely’s red gum, grey box and fuzzy box. As you move up the slope, you go through heathland dominated by shrubby she-oak and then into open forest dominated by mugga ironbark and black cypress pine. The views across the surrounding farming country and along the rugged escarpment on the eastern side of the Weddin Mountains are equally breathtaking.

The walk up to Eualdrie lookout at the top of this range is an adventurous hike. Start from Ben Hall’s campground and follow a marked trail through rugged terrain to the spectacular Eualdrie lookout, where wonderful scenic views await. You can return the same way or keep moving on to Peregrine lookout and Holy Camp.

Up the mountain where the understorey gets thicker, smaller birds like wrens, robins and warblers can be spotted flittering among the treetops. Emus often dart in among the trees as well. At the lookouts, birdwatchers will be in their element as wedge-tailed eagles and peregrine falcons are often seen swooping and plunging overhead.

For directions, safety and practical information, see visitor info

Map


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Current alerts in this area

There are no current alerts in this area.

Local alerts

For the latest updates on fires, closures and other alerts in this area, see https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/things-to-do/walking-tracks/basin-gully-to-eualdrie-lookout-track/local-alerts

General enquiries

Park info

See more visitor info

Visitor info

All the practical information you need to know about Basin Gully to Eualdrie lookout track.

Track grading

Features of this track

Distance

9km return

Time

6 - 7hrs

Quality of markings

Limited signage

Experience required

Some bushwalking experience recommended

Gradient

Short steep hills

Steps

Occasional steps

Quality of path

Rough unformed track

Getting there and parking

Basin Gully to Eualdrie lookout walking track takes you from the western side of Weddin Mountains National Park to the eastern side of the park. To get there:

  • From Grenfell, travel 5.5km west along the Mid-Western Highway towards West Wyalong, then turn left onto Back Piney Range Road.
  • Follow the signs to Weddin Mountains National Park and continue along the road for 23km
  • Turn left onto the park entrance road, over the grid, and go through State Forest
  • Turn left, and then right, into Ben Halls campground.
  • The trailhead is at the north-eastern end of the campground

Parking

Parking is available at Ben Halls campground.

Best times to visit

There are lots of great things waiting for you in Weddin Mountains National Park. Here are some of the highlights.

Autumn

Cooler days make it an ideal time to undertake some of the longer walks. It's also a good time to wander around Seaton's Farm to investigate and compare machinery used back then to what we have today.

Spring

A great time to see the wildflowers that blanket much of the ground. Venture up to the lookouts to see the sprawling surrounding farming country.

Summer

Enjoy a free barbecue at Ben Hall's campground.

Weather, temperature and rainfall

Summer temperature

Average

30°C and 33°C

Highest recorded

43.9°C

Winter temperature

Average

12°C and 15°C

Lowest recorded

-5°C

Rainfall

Wettest month

June

Driest month

February

The area’s highest recorded rainfall in one day

110.7mm

Facilities

Drinking water is not available in this area, please bring plenty of your own.

Maps and downloads

Safety messages

Bushwalking safety

If you're keen to head out on a longer walk or a backpack camp, always be prepared. Read these bushwalking safety tips before you set off on a walking adventure in national parks.

Mobile safety

Dial Triple Zero (000) in an emergency. Download the Emergency Plus app before you visit, it helps emergency services locate you using your smartphone's GPS. Please note there is limited mobile phone reception in this park and you’ll need mobile reception to call Triple Zero (000).

Outback safety

Safety is of high priority in outback areas. In summer, temperatures can reach up to 50°C in some places. Food, water and fuel supplies can be scarce. Before you head off, check for road closures and use our contacts to stay safe in the outback.

Prohibited

Pets

Pets and domestic animals (other than certified assistance animals) are not permitted. Find out which regional parks allow dog walking and see the pets in parks policy for more information.

Smoking

NSW national parks are no smoking areas.

Learn more

Basin Gully to Eualdrie lookout track is in Weddin Mountains National Park. Here are just some of the reasons why this park is special:

Any way you like it

Ben Halls campground, Weddin Mountains National Park. Photo: M Cooper

The park offers both relaxing and adventurous recreational opportunities. Picnickers can enjoy a campfire and barbecue at Ben Hall's campground, while more adventurous visitors can walk the mountain range on a variety of walking tracks.

Protected population

Basin Gully wildflowers, Weddin Mountains National Park. Photo: C Davis

The Weddin Mountains harbour 12 threatened plant species and 39 threatened bird species. In spring, many lilies and orchids come into bloom, as do winged peppercress and slender darling pea. The diversity in vegetation from the base of the mountain to the top also accommodates a variety of bird species, from larger emus to smaller robins and thornbills. Raptors such as wedge-tailed eagles and peregrine falcons are often seen swooping and diving from the lookouts.

  • Bertha's Gully walking track This medium difficulty walk near Grenfell passes small waterfalls and rock overhangs along Bertha’s Gully. Stop by at the campground for a rest after your 6km walk.
  • Eualdrie walking track Eualdrie walking track is a short hiking route that offers scenic views, birdwatching and spring wildflowers.
  • Lynchs loop trail Lynchs loop trail is a short hike within Weddin Mountains National Park. The route is scenic and there are birdwatching opportunities.

Rock stars

Eualdrie lookout, Weddin Mountains National Park. Photo: OEH

The Weddin Mountains are a large, crescent-shaped range that rises sharply from the surrounding plains. This prominent feature can be seen from up to 50km away. There are a number of interesting rock formations, cliff lines and small caves, particularly on the northern and eastern side of the mountain. Deep gullies between gentler slopes produce some lovely small waterfalls after a good rain.

  • Basin Gully to Eualdrie lookout track Enjoy a challenging walk? Highlights on this fantastic hiking track include ridges, gullies and scenic views that stretch toward Grenfell, as well as great birdwatching.

Where there's a will

Seatons Farm historic site, Weddin Mountains National Park. Photo: Claire Davis

In 1936, the Seaton family began developing property on the western side of the Weddin Mountains as a pastoral enterprise. Money and resources were scarce during the Great Depression, so the farm was built using second-hand materials fashioned into solid structures. Seaton's Farm is a testimony to the ingenuity used by the Seatons when times were tough. It provides brilliant insight into how this farming family lived during the mid-1900s. The Weddin Mountains are also well-known as the hideout of bushrangers Ben Hall and John Bow, infamously involved in the Escort Robbery at Eugowra.

  • Seaton's Farm historic site An easy scenic walk to a perfect picnic spot against a backdrop of historic agricultural relics. Binoculars are also a must for the enthusiastic birdwatcher.

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