Mount Murga walking track
Nangar National Park
Overview
Enjoy scenic views, spring wildflowers, varied wildlife and birdwatching on Mount Murga walking track; great for a day of bushwalking near Orange and Forbes.
- Where
- Nangar National Park in Country NSW
- Distance
- 8km return
- Time suggested
- 5 - 6hrs
- 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 - Hat, sunscreen, drinking water
- Please note
- Summer is generally too hot for bushwalking in this park.
If you’re reasonably fit, why not take on Mount Murga walking track? It’s a varied and attractive walk up the side of Mount Murga and along the ridgeline to the plateau and lookout at the top. From here, you can see the extensive open farmland lying to the north of the park.
Follow an old bulldozer track up the hill through red stringybark and scribbly gum woodland, and in spring or early summer, keep your eyes open for flowering orchids, such as spotted doubletail or midget greenhood. A real treat may await you at the summit, where wattles and goodenia light up the surrounds with bright yellow hues.
Wildlife such as kangaroos, wallabies and many bird species can be seen in the surrounding vegetation. Listen out for animals – even if you don’t see them, you may hear a kangaroo as it hops away or birds calling in the treetops or shrubs.
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-murga-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 Nangar National Park in the Country NSW region
- Nangar National Park is always open but may have to close at times due to extreme weather or fire danger.
Visitor info
All the practical information you need to know about Mount Murga walking track.
Track grading
Features of this track
Distance
8km return
Time
5 - 6hrs
Quality of markings
Limited signage
Experience required
Some bushwalking experience recommended
Gradient
Very steep
Steps
Occasional steps
Quality of path
Rough unformed track
Getting there and parking
Get driving directions
To get to Mount Murga walking track:
- Take Escort Way 10km from Eugowra or 70km from Orange
- The park entrance sign is at the intersection with Dripping Rock Road
- Turn south here and travel 2.5km along Dripping Rock Road, where you’ll cross a cattle grid into the park.
- Continue along this trail for another 3.5km to reach Mount Murga walking track.
Road quality
Check the weather before you set out as the road to Terarra Creek camping and picnic area may be closed following heavy rain.
Parking
Parking is limited - there's only room for two vehicles opposite the trackhead. Alternatively, parking is available at Terarra Creek camping and picnic area 1km further along the trail.
Best times to visit
There are lots of great things waiting for you in Nangar National Park. Here are some of the highlights.
Autumn
As the days cool down, it's perfect weather for taking some of the longer walks along the walking tracks and fire trails.
Spring
Bushwalkers will be rewarded with beautiful wildflowers and flowering shrubs.
Winter
Build a cosy campfire at Terarra Creek camping and picnic area and spend a cool, clear night gazing at the stars.
Weather, temperature and rainfall
Summer temperature
Average
13°C and 33°C
Highest recorded
43.5°C
Winter temperature
Average
2°C and 18°C
Lowest recorded
–6.9°C
Rainfall
Wettest month
January
Driest month
April
The area’s highest recorded rainfall in one day
129.5mm
Facilities
Drinking water is not available in this area, so remember to bring your own supply.
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
Mount Murga walking track is in Nangar National Park. Here are just some of the reasons why this park is special:
A refuge for wildlife
Amid the extensive farmlands of the central west, Nangar is home to many sedentary and migratory birds and local native animals. Among many bird species are several birds of prey such as the peregrine falcon, wedge-tailed eagle and brown falcon, which use the cliff face along the northern boundary for nesting and perching. The park is also home to the eastern grey kangaroo, common wallaroo, red-necked wallaby, swamp wallaby, little mastiff-bat and chocolate wattled bat. You may also spot the southern rainbow skink, eastern long-necked tortoise and spotted grass frog.
- Mount Murga walking track Enjoy scenic views, spring wildflowers, varied wildlife and birdwatching on Mount Murga walking track; great for a day of bushwalking near Orange and Forbes.
- Mount Nangar walking track Mount Nangar walking track to the lookout takes you bushwalking through varied landscapes to scenic views over Nangar National Park and surrounding farmlands in search of wildlife and wildflowers.
An ever-changing landscape
Ranging from the undulating hills in the south of the park to the long cliff line of red siltstone on the northern boundary - and the 770m-high Mount Nangar - the park offers a great variety of landscapes and views. Terarra Creek valley is open with wide creek flats and gentle slopes and the upper tributaries of Mogong Creek contains several natural springs. You'll see from the high vantage points of the park that the valley floor and more accessible lower slopes have been cleared by grazing and logging. Old growth forest is found in the steeper areas, but under national park protection, the park's vegetation communities will grow ever stronger.
- Mount Murga walking track Enjoy scenic views, spring wildflowers, varied wildlife and birdwatching on Mount Murga walking track; great for a day of bushwalking near Orange and Forbes.
- Mount Nangar walking track Mount Nangar walking track to the lookout takes you bushwalking through varied landscapes to scenic views over Nangar National Park and surrounding farmlands in search of wildlife and wildflowers.
Historic treasure
Gold was discovered around Eugowra in the 1860s, drawing miners and bushrangers, including the Gardener and Ben Hall gangs who roamed the area that the park now covers. Chinese miners lived here in the early 1900s, prospecting for copper. Historical remains in the park include remnants of gardens and orchards of Dripping Rock homestead, lost to fire in recent years, and its piggery, ruined hay shed and yards.
Wiradjuri country
A vast area of the central west of New South Wales, including Nangar National Park, is Wiradjuri country. Evidence suggests that Nangar Range has been an important landmark in Aboriginal culture and that the surrounding area was occupied for long periods. Places of significance include archaeological sites containing artefacts, stone scatters, quarries and scar trees.