Historic Water Race walking track
Mullion Range State Conservation Area
Overview
Historic Water Race walking track, near Orange, is a medium-difficulty walk offering birdwatching and gold mining history as well as swimming and fishing along Summer Hill Creek.
- Distance
- 2.6km loop
- Time suggested
- 1hr - 1hr 30min
- Grade
- Grade 4
- Please note
- It’s a good idea to put sunscreen on before you set out and remember to take a hat and drinking water
- Remember to take your binoculars if you want to birdwatch
- There is limited/no mobile reception in this park
- The return section of the walking track along Summer Hill Creek back to the Fourth Crossing Picnic Area sometime floods, so you may need to navigate your own path.
Historic Water Race walking track is a living legacy of Australia’s early and intriguing gold mining history. Intrepid gold miners made the track by hand in the 1860s, and today you can still see how water was captured and directed from Summer Hill Creek down to the mining areas. See the precision of construction; the miners painstakingly hand-cut rocks in order to create accurate contour levels.
When you’re not experiencing this gold mining heritage, cool off with a swim, or go fishing in the creek. Summer Hill Creek also offers some spectacular scenic views. Because you’ll be starting and finishing this track at Fourth Crossing picnic area, you can enjoy a picnic before or after your journey of discovery.
Neaarby
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Fourth Crossing picnic area
Fourth Crossing picnic area next to Summer Hill Creek, near Orange, is a great base for exploring gold mining history on walking tracks, swimming or trout fishing.
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/historic-water-race-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 Mullion Range State Conservation Area in the Country NSW region
Mullion Range State Conservation Area 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 Historic Water Race walking track.
Track grading
Features of this track
Distance
2.6km loop
Time
1hr - 1hr 30min
Quality of markings
Limited signage
Experience required
No experience required
Gradient
Short steep hills
Steps
Occasional steps
Quality of path
Rough track, many obstacles
Getting there and parking
Historic Water Race walking track is in the Fourth Crossing precinct of Mullion Range State Conservation Area. To get there, travel north-east from Orange along Ophir Road for 19km to Fourth Crossing picnic area.
Parking
Parking is available nearby at Fourth Crossing picnic area.
Best times to visit
There are lots of great things waiting for you at Mullion Range State Conservation Area. Here are some of the highlights.
Autumn
The cooler months are a great time for enjoying bushwalks, birdwatching and 4WD touring in the area.
Spring
Relax and dine al fresco surrounded by blooming wildflowers at Fourth Crossing picnic area.
Summer
Cool off with a splash in the creek or go trout fishing when the weather gets steamy.
Winter
The Falls Water Falls is particularly striking when there are high levels of water in Summer Hill Creek following heavy rainfall.
Weather, temperature and rainfall
Summer temperature
Average
12°C and 28°C
Highest recorded
38.3°C
Winter temperature
Average
2°C and 13°C
Lowest recorded
-5.6°C
Rainfall
Wettest month
August
Driest month
April
The area’s highest recorded rainfall in one day
98.6mm
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
Historic Water Race walking track is in Mullion Range State Conservation Area. Here are just some of the reasons why this park is special:
Striking scenic water landscapes
A prominent feature of the landscape of this reserve is the mix of rocky outcrops and the waters of Summer Hill Creek.
Good as gold
Explore the past by discovering fascinating remnants of the Mullion's gold mining boom. From 1860 to 1920, intrepid gold mining pioneers created mining sites and a water race that was built by hand to transport water from the creek to the mining areas.
- Historic Water Race walking track Historic Water Race walking track, near Orange, is a medium-difficulty walk offering birdwatching and gold mining history as well as swimming and fishing along Summer Hill Creek.
- The Falls The Falls, near Summer Hill Creek in Mullion Range State Conservation Area, provide a scenic vista and popular swimming location.
Unique plant and birdlife
You may spot interesting wildlife here, like eastern grey kangaroos, red-necked wallabies and wallaroos bounding through open fields. Gliders scurry among the treetops and platypus paddle their way along the creek. Large swathes of vegetation on the flatter areas of Mullion Range State Conservation Area have remained relatively undisturbed, thanks to the area's mining past. This means you can see a number of plant species and communities here that are rarely found elsewhere in central western NSW, including inland scribby gum, red stringybark and river oak. Mullion Range also provides habitat for many unique and interesting species of woodland birds, such as native parrots, including eastern rosellas and crimson rosellas, superb parrots in the springtime, and owls.
- Fourth Crossing picnic area Fourth Crossing picnic area next to Summer Hill Creek, near Orange, is a great base for exploring gold mining history on walking tracks, swimming or trout fishing.
- The Falls The Falls, near Summer Hill Creek in Mullion Range State Conservation Area, provide a scenic vista and popular swimming location.
Education resources (1)
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
Operated by
- Bathurst office
- Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 4.30pm.
- 02 6332 7640
- 02 6332 7680 To contact the KARST Conservation Unit in this office.
- npws.centralwest@environment.nsw.gov.au
- Level 2, 203-209 Russell Street, Bathurst NSW 2795
Park info
- in Mullion Range State Conservation Area in the Country NSW region
Mullion Range State Conservation Area is always open but may have to close at times due to poor weather or fire danger.