Mount Wood Summit walking track
Sturt National Park
Overview
Get an eagle eye view of the vast Sturt National Park by climbing the Mount Wood summit.
- Where
- Sturt National Park in Outback NSW
- Distance
- 3km return
- Time suggested
- 3hrs 30min - 4hrs 30min
- Grade
- Grade 5
- Entry fees
- Park entry fees apply
Cone-shaped Mount Wood stands tall among the gibber plains of Sturt National Park, said to be one of the most inhospitable places in Australia.
The walk to the summit is relatively short and quite challenging, but the breathtaking views of this ancient landscape are sure to impress. The gibber plains are a flat expanse where desert winds have blown away sand and dust.
Along the walk you may catch a glimpse of the bandicoots, desert rat-kangaroos and hare-wallabies that inhabit the plains. From the top, you’ll most probably catch a glimpse of eagles and kestrels soaring high above you.
Map
Map
Map legend
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/mount-wood-summit-walking-track/local-alerts
General enquiries
- National Parks Contact Centre
- 7am to 7pm daily
- 1300 072 757 (13000 PARKS) for the cost of a local call within Australia excluding mobiles
- parks.info@environment.nsw.gov.au
Park info
- in Sturt National Park in the Outback NSW region
Sturt National Park is always open but may have to close at times due to poor weather or fire danger.
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Park entry fees:
$8 per vehicle per day. The park has coin-operated pay and display machines - please bring correct coins.
Buy annual pass.
Visitor info
All the practical information you need to know about Mount Wood Summit walking track .
Track grading
Features of this track
Distance
3km return
Time
3hrs 30min - 4hrs 30min
Quality of markings
No directional signage
Experience required
Experienced bushwalkers
Gradient
Very steep
Steps
Many steps
Quality of path
Rough unformed track
Getting there and parking
Get driving directions
Mount Wood Summit walk is located in the eastern part of Sturt National Park, about 30km from Mount Wood campground. To get there, drive 25km east from Tibooburra following the Tibooburra-Wanaaring Road to the Mount Wood turn-off. Turn onto the Gorge Loop Road and keep driving another 30km to the signposted carpark at the bottom of the walk.
Parking
Parking is available at start of the Mount Wood Summit walking track.
Best times to visit
There are lots of great things waiting for you in Sturt National Park. Here are some of the highlights.
Autumn
A great time of year to visit when daytime temperatures are pleasant and night times not too chilly.
Spring
Depending on the rainfall the park's wildflowers, including the distinctive red Sturt Desert Pea will be on show throughout the park.
Weather, temperature and rainfall
Summer temperature
Average
22°C and 36°C
Highest recorded
47.6°C
Winter temperature
Average
5°C and 17°C
Lowest recorded
-2.8°C
Rainfall
Wettest month
February
Driest month
August and September
The area’s highest recorded rainfall in one day
178.2mm
Maps and downloads
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.
Visitor centre
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Tibooburra Visitor Centre
51 Briscoe Street, Tibooburra NSW 2880 - Tibooburra Visitor Centre is always open but it's unstaffed (self service)
- 08 8091 3308
Learn more
Mount Wood Summit walking track is in Sturt National Park. Here are just some of the reasons why this park is special:
A vast and varied precious landscape
Tibooburra means 'heaps of rocks' in the local Aboriginal language, and you can't miss the rocks - ancient granite tors that surround Tibooburra and line the road on the way to the park. This contrasts with the red sand of the desert on the western side of the park and with the 'Jump Ups' that rise from the plains in the central part of the park. Wherever you go in Sturt National Park, you're sure to be inspired by the dramatic changes in scenery and amazed by the true scale of the vast, arid expanse of outback.
- Jump-Up Loop Road drive A fantastic self-guided car tour of the outback country of Sturt National Park, Jump-Up Loop Road drive offers scenic desert views, historic heritage and excellent birdwatching.
- The Granites walking track Explore the geological history of Sturt National Park along The Granites walking track. See wildflowers, kangaroos and lizards as you walk over the ancient boulders.
A feral predator-free area
Locally extinct mammals are being reintroduced to Sturt National Park as part of the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) feral predator-free areas project, in partnership with Wild Deserts. Over 10 years this project will reintroduce the greater bilby, crest-tailed mulgara, western barred bandicoot, greater stick-nest rat, golden bandicoot, burrowing bettong and western quoll.
Reintroducing these species, some of which have been absent for over 100 years, will play an important role in restoring the desert ecosystem in Sturt National Park. The project, funded by the NSW government, is a collaboration between NPWS and Wild Deserts (University of New South Wales and Ecological Horizons).
- Talpero lookout Visit Talpero lookout for expansive desert views and see ‘the big bandicoot’ sculpture. It’s located 2 hours from Tibooburra, near Fort Grey campground in Sturt National Park.
- Wells and Sturt’s tree walking track Retrace the footsteps of a famous explorer in the stunning and remote outback landscape of NSW’s far north-west. You'll rediscover history, see majestic red river gums and cross a dry lakebed, near Cameron Corner.
Ancient connections
Sturt National Park is the traditional land of the Wangkumara People, whose Country extended from what is now southwest Queensland and northeast South Australia down through Tibooburra to Milparinka. The Wangkumara People travelled widely throughout this large and arid land to make the most of waterholes, permanent soaks, useful plants and animals. Today there is much evidence of the Wangkumara People's connection with this land - throughout the park you might notice middens and stone relics; reminders of the role this landscape played as the giver and sustainer of life.
- Jump-Up walking track Discover the landscape of Sturt National Park along the Jump-Up walking track; you’re likely to see Aboriginal sites, wildflowers and kangaroos along the way.
- Talpero lookout Visit Talpero lookout for expansive desert views and see ‘the big bandicoot’ sculpture. It’s located 2 hours from Tibooburra, near Fort Grey campground in Sturt National Park.
A waterbird oasis
Lake Pinaroo is around 80 km north west of Tibooburra and 24km south east of Cameron Corner. It’s an ephemeral lake, meaning it floods for short periods of time and then may not hold water for several years, depending on rainfall. In 1996, it was listed as an internationally important wetland under the Ramsar Convention because of its retention of water for long periods, and the rarity of wetlands in arid NSW. Lake Pinaroo plays a crucial role in the survival of many plants and animal species, and supports large numbers of waterbirds and waders, including international migratory species and threatened species. When full, Lake Pinaroo is a stunning contrast to the dry landscapes of Sturt National Park, and you can see waterbirds like the freckled and blue-billed ducks, as well as brolgas, grey falcons and budgerigars.
Heritage values of the homestead
Historic Mount Wood Homestead is located on the oldest sheep station in northwest NSW, taken up around 1881. Listed on the State Heritage Register, it’s one of the most complete examples of a self-reliant sheep station in the region, spanning 368,385 acres. It was a hub for washing sheep wool on the long journey by camel train or cart to Wilcannia, prior to shipping. Today, the woolscour is a rare example of a complete set of wool washing equipment, and the only 19th century station-based scour in NSW to survive intact. Surviving the harsh outback, you can still see the original stone hut built in 1890, a stone homestead (1897), and an art deco-styled homestead (1935). There’s also a woolshed, shearers’ quarters, woolscour, blacksmith shop, stables, windmills and outstations. The buildings provide a fascinating window into pastoral life and changing technology over almost 100 years.
- Wells and Sturt’s tree walking track Retrace the footsteps of a famous explorer in the stunning and remote outback landscape of NSW’s far north-west. You'll rediscover history, see majestic red river gums and cross a dry lakebed, near Cameron Corner.
Plants and animals protected in this park
Animals
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Wedge-tailed eagle (Aquila audax)
With a wingspan of up to 2.5m, the wedge-tailed eagle is Australia’s largest bird of prey. These Australian animals are found in woodlands across NSW, and have the ability to soar to heights of over 2km. If you’re bird watching, look out for the distinctive diamond-shaped tail of the eagle.
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Emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae)
The largest of Australian birds, the emu stands up to 2m high and is the second largest bird in the world, after the ostrich. Emus live in pairs or family groups. The male emu incubates and rears the young, which will stay with the adult emus for up to 2 years.
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Red kangaroo (Macropus rufus)
The red kangaroo is one of the most iconic Australian animals and the largest marsupial in the world. Large males have reddish fur and can reach a height of 2m, while females are considerably smaller and have blue-grey fur. Red kangaroos are herbivores and mainly eat grass.
Plants
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Sturt's desert pea (Swainsona formosa)
One of Australia’s most famous desert wildflowers, Sturt’s desert pea is found across inland arid regions of Australia, including far west NSW. One of the most easily-recognised Australian native plants, Sturt’s desert pea thrives in red sandy soil, or loam, and has vibrant red leaf-shaped flowers with a black centre, known as a ‘boss’.
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Saltbush (Atriplex nummularia)
A hardy Australian native plant, the saltbush is a small spreading shrub that can withstand dry salty soils such as those found in the desert plains of western NSW. It is grey-white in colour and has small spear-shaped succulent leaves. It flowers from December to April.