Twister and Rocky Creek canyons
Wollemi National Park
Overview
Twister and Rocky Creek canyons are in Wollemi National Park near Newnes. Fit, experienced canyoners can do these 2 canyons separately or combine them for a bigger challenge. Guides recommended.
- Accessibility
- No wheelchair access
- Distance
- 4km
- Time suggested
- 8hrs
- Grade
- Hard. Twister and Rocky Creek canyons require a moderate level of fitness and proficiency with ropes and other canyoning equipment.
- Trip Intention Form
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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 - Drinking water, canyoning equipment, helmet, wetsuit, topographic map, compass, gps, personal locator beacon, first aid kit, sturdy shoes, suitable clothing, snacks
- Please note
- Don't visit Twister and Rocky Creek canyons just before, during or after heavy rainfall or storms. Check park alerts before you go.
- Only attempt Twister and Rocky Creek canyons with a competent guide.
- Be sure to choose a Park Eco Pass operator. Only Parks Eco Pass holders are permitted to operate tours in Wollemi National Park.
- You may encounter commercial tour groups.
- NPWS does not manage, mark or clear canyon access routes. These routes cross natural bushland, cliffs and forest. You must research and be responsible for your own directions and entry and exit information.
Come prepared for jumps, down-climbs, slides, scrambles and swims when you do Twister and Rock Creek canyons. If tackling both canyons, plan for an 8-hour trip with a total walk in and out of 4km.
Twister Canyon, also known as Sheep Dip Canyon, is the smaller of the 2. Twister Canyon descends into Rocky Creek Canyon and is the starting point if you’re doing both canyons. If only doing Twister Canyon, plan for a 3-hour trip and a total walk in and out of 2km.
Twister Canyon features slides into cold pools and has many jumps that can also be down-climbed. After the last jump you’ll need to descend a 5m waterfall. Be sure to bring your own rope for a hand-over-hand descent of the waterfall. Don’t rely on others to leave a fixed line here.
Rocky Creek Canyon is long and deep. If you’re only doing Rocky Creek Canyon, plan for a 5-hour trip and total walk in and out of 3km. Rocky Creek Canyon features down-climbs, scrambles and swims, including a long swim near the end of the canyon.
Warm summer days are the best time to attempt these cold canyons because you’ll spend plenty of time in chilly water. Access to the canyons starts along the main fire trail from Galah Mountain and Rocky Creek carpark.
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/adventure-sports-experiences/twister-and-rocky-creek-canyons/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 Wollemi National Park in the Sydney and surrounds, North Coast and Country NSW regions
Wollemi 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 Twister and Rocky Creek canyons.
Getting there and parking
Twister Canyon and Rocky Creek canyons are in the south-west part of Wollemi National Park.
To get there from Clarence:
- Drive north on Old Bells Line of Road for almost 9km.
- Turn right onto Glowworm Tunnel Road and drive for about 15km.
- Turn right onto Galah Mountain Road and drive for about 5km.
- Turn right onto Rocky Creek Trail and drive for about 1.4km.
- Park at the carpark for Galah Mountain and Rocky Creek.
Access to Twister and Rocky Creek canyons starts from the carpark.
Road quality
A 4WD vehicle is required in all weather.
- Unsealed roads
Vehicle access
- All roads require 4WD vehicle
Weather restrictions
- All weather
Parking
Parking is available at the carpark for Galah Mountain and Rocky Creek.
Facilities
Carpark
Maps and downloads
Accessibility
Disability access level - no wheelchair access
Prohibited
Fishing
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
Twister and Rocky Creek canyons is in Wollemi National Park. Here are just some of the reasons why this park is special:
Ancient connections
The area that is now Wollemi National Park has held significance to Aboriginal people for at least 12,000 years. Evidence of this connection can be seen throughout the park, including ceremonial grounds, stone arrangements, grinding grooves, scarred trees and rock engravings. There are around 120 known Aboriginal sites in the park and probably many more yet to be discovered. The Wiradjuri, Dharug, Wanaruah and Darkinjung people have a strong and ongoing cultural association with their traditional lands and waters.
- Guided kayak tours of Ganguddy-Dunns Swamp Experience the natural beauty of escarpments, gorges and wildlife on a guided paddling tour of Gunguddy-Dunns Swamp with Southern Cross Kayaking.
- Pagoda Lookout walking track Pagoda Lookout walking track is a short but steep walk near Rylstone in Wollemi National Park. Enjoy incredible views over ancient pagoda rock formations and the Cudgegong River.
Geological marvels
Wollemi's landscape has been sculpted over millennia into a magnificent network of soaring sandstone escarpments, plunging gorges and canyons, winding river valleys and awe-inspiring geological and geomorphological features such as pagoda rock formations, basalt-capped mountains and diatremes. The spectacular Colo gorge and its tributaries form the most extensive sandstone canyon system in eastern Australia. Grab your camera and discover for yourself the breathtaking vistas and natural marvels that make this a World Heritage treasure.
- Explore Wollemi's wonders guided tour Experience the highlights of Wollemi National Park on this guided tour with Hikeandseek NSW. Traverse canyons, tunnels and valleys while learning about the area’s history.
- Guided kayak tours of Ganguddy-Dunns Swamp Experience the natural beauty of escarpments, gorges and wildlife on a guided paddling tour of Gunguddy-Dunns Swamp with Southern Cross Kayaking.
- Pagoda Lookout walking track Pagoda Lookout walking track is a short but steep walk near Rylstone in Wollemi National Park. Enjoy incredible views over ancient pagoda rock formations and the Cudgegong River.
- Wollemi camping and canyoning expeditions Join Roam Adventures and Training on a camping and canyoning adventure in the stunning Wollemi National Park.
Nature's haven
It's little surprise that Wollemi's spectacular landscape shelters a rich diversity of plants and animals. The rare Wollemi pine - a 'living fossil' whose closest relatives thrived some 90 million years ago was rediscovered here in 1994, and the park protects an incredible array of botanical species and communities, from open eucalypt forest and woodlands including Hawkesbury and grey box, to rainforests and perched swamps. This variety makes it an appealing habitat for eastern grey kangaroos, red-necked wallabies and the elusive brush-tailed rock wallaby, as well as the beautifully marked broad-headed snake, regent honeyeater and glossy black cockatoo. Around 55 species of butterfly have also been recorded.
- Wollemi guided Glow Worm Tunnel walk Join Wolgan Valley Eco Tours on the popular Glow Worm Tunnel walking track in Wollemi National Park and see the magical natural light show created by thousands of glow worms.
Outdoor adventure
Pitch a tent at one of Wollemi's great campgrounds, like the secluded Colo Meroo backpack campground, the car-accessible Coorongooba campground or the dramatically-situated, car-accessible Newnes campground. With your base set up, you're free to get out and enjoy the park's fantastic outdoor attractions, be they more relaxed pursuits such as picnicking, canoeing and swimming or something more adventurous like rock climbing, horseriding and hiking.
Plants and animals protected in this park
Animals
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Superb lyrebird (Menura novaehollandiae)
With a complex mimicking call and an elaborate courtship dance to match, the superb lyrebird is one of the most spectacular Australian animals. A bird watching must-see, the superb lyrebird can be found in rainforests and wet woodlands across eastern NSW and Victoria.
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Bare-nosed wombat (Vombatus ursinus)
A large, squat marsupial, the Australian bare-nosed wombat is a burrowing mammal found in coastal forests and mountain ranges across NSW and Victoria. The only other remaining species of wombat in NSW, the endangered southern hairy-nosed wombat, was considered extinct until relatively recently.
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Southern boobook (Ninox novaeseelandiae)
The southern boobook, also known as the mopoke, is the smallest and most common native owl in Australia. With a musical 'boo-book' call that echoes through forests and woodlands, the southern boobook is a great one to look out for while bird watching.
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Satin bowerbird (Ptilonorhynchus violaceus)
With vibrant blue-violet eyes and curious antics, the satin bowerbird is a favourite for bird watching and easy to spot as it forages for food in open forest. Relatively common across eastern Australia, in NSW they’re found in coastal rainforests and adjacent woodlands and mountain ranges.
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Spotted-tailed quoll (Dasyurus maculatus)
The spotted-tailed quoll is the largest remaining carnivorous marsupial on the Australian mainland. It’s protected as a vulnerable species in NSW.
Plants
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Smooth-barked apple (Angophora costata)
Smooth-barked apple gums, also known as Sydney red gum or rusty gum trees, are Australian native plants found along the NSW coast, and in the Sydney basin and parts of Queensland. Growing to heights of 15-30m, the russet-coloured angophoras shed their bark in spring to reveal spectacular new salmon-coloured bark.
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Wollemi pine (Wollemia nobilis)
The Wollemi pine is one of the world’s oldest and rarest trees. Only 46 adult trees and 43 juveniles remain in the wild. Belonging to a 200 million year-old plant family, this critically endangered Australian species is considered a global treasure.