Warrigal walking track
Cathedral Rock National Park
Overview
Warrigal walking track, close to Native Dog campground in Cathedral Rock National Park, is a short, easy walk that’s popular with families and those who enjoy birdwatching.
- Where
- Cathedral Rock National Park in Country NSW
- Distance
- 1km loop
- Time suggested
- 15 - 45min
- Grade
- Grade 3
- What to
bring - Drinking water, hat, sunscreen
- Please note
- The weather, especially in the cooler months, can be extreme and unpredictable due to the high altitude. Please ensure you’re well-prepared for your visit.
- Remember to take your binoculars if you want to go birdwatching.
- The weather, especially in the cooler months, can be extreme and unpredictable due to the high altitude. Please ensure you’re well-prepared for your visit.
Located in NSW New England Tablelands, Warrigal walking track in Cathedral Rock National Park is an easy loop walk. It invites walkers to take their time and appreciate the area’s flowering heath plants, idyllic creek crossings and granite rocks. Starting at Native Dog campground, the track is mostly level, making it an ideal family walk.
You’ll pass large granite boulders and a picturesque mountain stream, with eucalypts and wattle trees contrasting against patches of heath shrub. It’s also a great place for birdwatching. Look out for native birds such as New Holland, and white-cheeked, honeyeaters as well as red, and little, wattlebirds taking advantage of the heath.
If this short stroll whets your appetite for more adventures, why not pitch a tent and camp overnight? If you’re ready for a challenge, there’s the longer Woolpack Rocks walk to take on.
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/warrigal-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 Cathedral Rock National Park in the Country NSW region
Cathedral Rock National Park is always open, but may have to close at times due to poor weather or fire danger.
Visitor info
All the practical information you need to know about Warrigal walking track.
Track grading
Features of this track
Distance
1km loop
Time
15 - 45min
Quality of markings
Clearly sign posted
Experience required
Some bushwalking experience recommended
Gradient
Flat
Steps
Occasional steps
Quality of path
Formed track, some obstacles
Getting there and parking
Warrigal walking track is in the Native Dog campground precinct of Cathedral Rock National Park. To get there:
From Ebor on Waterfall Way between Armidale and Dorrigo:
- Native Dog campground is about 12km north-west of Ebor on Guyra Road
- 3km west of Ebor, Waterfall Way veers left and Guyra Road continues straight ahead.
- Native Dog is 9km further along on the left-hand side of Guyra Road
Parking
Parking is available at Native Dog campground.
Best times to visit
There are lots of great things waiting for you in Cathedral Rock National Park. Here are some of the highlights.
Autumn
Within the tall, moist forest, kangaroos poise in the mist amongst granite boulders as morning light streams through the canopy,making this the ideal time of year to capture that perfect photograph.
Spring
Feast your eyes on this season's wildflower displays, when heath shrub and ground plants show you what they're really made of. Bring your walking shoes and a macro lens.
Summer
The relatively high altitude of the park offers cool respite from the summer heat of the region's western slopes and coastal lowlands.
Winter
Rug up and come prepared as winter temperatures plunge overnight. The rewards for braving the cold are sparkling frosty mornings and clear sunny days. Winter is also the peak time for the male lyrebird to call with most intensity as he courts a mate.
Weather, temperature and rainfall
Summer temperature
Average
11.5°C and 23°C
Highest recorded
32.8°C
Winter temperature
Average
1°C and 11°C
Lowest recorded
-7°C
Rainfall
Wettest month
January
Driest month
June
The area’s highest recorded rainfall in one day
84mm
Facilities
- Drinking water is limited or not available in this area, so it’s a good idea to bring your own.
- Firewood is available at the campground.
- You’re encouraged to bring gas or fuel stoves, especially in summer during the fire season.
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.
Learn more
Warrigal walking track is in Cathedral Rock National Park. Here are just some of the reasons why this park is special:
270 million years in the making
The granites of the New England batholith, which formed deep beneath the earth's surface 270 million years ago, dominate Cathedral Rock National Park. For the next 50 million years, further intrusions of molten rock were forced into fissures deep within the earth's crust, forming some of the dykes evident in the park today. Weathering has exposed large granite tors - most notably, Cathedral Rock, a series of large granite boulders perched one on top of another to a height of about 200m and extending approximately 1km. The most recent geological feature in the park is the basalt-capping on the summit of Round Mountain, a domed peak in the centre of the park. These basalt flows originated in the Ebor volcano, centred to the east of Point lookout, which was active around 18 million years ago.
- Cathedral Rock track Cathedral Rock track is an exciting and challenging walk, near to Barokee campground and Round Mountain, offering scenic views across the New England Tablelands from the summit.
- Warrigal walking track Warrigal walking track, close to Native Dog campground in Cathedral Rock National Park, is a short, easy walk that’s popular with families and those who enjoy birdwatching.
- Woolpack Rocks Starting from Native Dog campground, follow this track to Woolpack Rocks, where you can picnic, birdwatch and walk to the summit for views across the New England Tablelands.
Rich with colour and biodiversity
Flax lily, pixie cap and wax lip are just some of the flowering plants and understory shrubs you'll find in Cathedral Rock National Park. Most wildflowers emerge in spring, but ground orchids bloom at various times of the year, and banksias display their orange flowers year-round. Keep a particular eye out for the Montane green five-corners - this threatened plant only grows on granite soils in or near the park. You'll also find concentrated areas of wattle, where broad-leaf hickory, silver and fern leaf wattle flower in late winter and early spring. Eastern grey kangaroos graze in the open grassy areas of the park alongside red-necked and swamp wallabies and wallaroos. Other wildlife you're likely to spot here are glossy black cockatoos, skinks, wedge-tailed eagles and rose robins by day, and the threatened brush-tailed phascogales and spotted-tailed quolls by night.
- Barokee to Native Dog Creek walk This track is the longest in Cathedral Rock National Park. It links Barokee and Native Dog campgrounds and takes in both Woolpack Rocks and Cathedral Rock along the way.
- Warrigal walking track Warrigal walking track, close to Native Dog campground in Cathedral Rock National Park, is a short, easy walk that’s popular with families and those who enjoy birdwatching.
Walking experiences for all levels
From a stroll to a scramble, there are plenty of walking opportunities in Cathedral Rock National Park. Hiking tracks are easily accessible from the campgrounds and the longest track - Barokee to Native Dog Creek walk - can be started from either end. Cathedral Rock track is a medium-difficulty walk, and will take you almost three hours. And there are off-track opportunities for those who are experienced, well-equipped, and walking as part of a group.