Ruby Creek walking track

Southern Blue Mountains area in Blue Mountains National Park

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Overview

Ruby Creek walking track is an easy return walk from Mount Werong campground. It offers mining heritage and waterfall views in the remote Southern Blue Mountains area, near Oberon.

Allow 1.5hrs for this 5.3km return stroll. Starting from Mount Werong campground, you’ll pass through tall forest as the track follows Ruby Creek to the former site of historic Ruby Creek Mine. Once busy with gold miners sifting for alluvial gold, all that remains of the bush huts are a few exotic fruit trees.

From the mine site, make your way down stone and timber steps 140m to Ruby Creek Falls lookout. Soak up beautiful views above the creek and its waterfall that plunges 60m to the valley below. Gaze out over the wild landscape toward the World Heritage Kanangra-Boyd Wilderness and rugged Boyd Plateau.

On your way back up the steps, an optional detour gives you a view of the old mine shaft and machinery. Return to the campground and explore more of this remote area along 4WD Oberon-Colong historic route.

Nearby

  • Mount Werong campground, Blue Moutnains National Park. Photo: J Bros/OEH.

    Mount Werong campground

    Mount Werong campground is a great base to explore the mountain bike trails, bushwalks, and historic heritage in the remote south of Blue Mountains National Park, near Oberon.

  • Park entrance signage along Mount Werong Road, Blue Mountains National Park. Photo: Sarah Morton/OEH

    4WD Oberon Colong historic stock route

    Intrepid 4WD tourers will love the 4WD Oberon Colong historic route. Travel through the wild south of Blue Mountains National Park to a historic mining ghost town in Yerranderie Regional Park.

These maps give a basic overview of park attractions and facilities, and may not be detailed enough for some activities. We recommend that you buy a topographic map before you go exploring.

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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/ruby-creek-walking-track/local-alerts

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Park info

Visitor info

All the practical information you need to know about Ruby Creek walking track.

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Learn more

Ruby Creek walking track is in Southern Blue Mountains area. Here are just some of the reasons why this park is special:

A sanctuary for plants and animals

Spotted-tailed quoll. Photo: John Turbill/OEH

The remote Southern Blue Mountains area provides a sanctuary for many animals and plants. Threatened species take refuge here, including the stuttering frog which you may hear around Mount Werong. The tall, old growth forests provide hollows for powerful owls, greater gliders and vulnerable yellow bellied gliders. The extensive limestone cave system is a favourite haunt of the sooty owl, while spotted-tailed quolls den in fallen logs, small caves, or rock outcrops.

A window into the past

A couple drinking coffee on the verandah of The Bank Room in Yerranderie Private Town, Yerranderie Regional Park. Photo: John Spencer/OEH

The Oberon-Colong stock route, which follows Mount Werong Road, forms part of an old route farmers ran their cattle and sheep from Oberon to the Burragorang Valley. Along the route you can also see evidence of the area’s mining history. Enjoy the scenic walk to Ruby Creek Mine from Mount Werong campground, or tour the silver mining ghost town at Yerranderie.

  • 4WD Oberon Colong historic stock route Intrepid 4WD tourers will love the 4WD Oberon Colong historic route. Travel through the wild south of Blue Mountains National Park to a historic mining ghost town in Yerranderie Regional Park.

Action adventure

A couple pitch a tent at Dunphys campground, Blue Mountains National Park. Photo: Simone Cottrell/OEH.

The long and adventurous drive into the Southern Blue Mountains area means it’s best experienced by camping overnight at Mount Werong campground. Yerranderie Private Town also has camping, or you can stay in one of the rustic accommodation options after a guided tour. Dunphys campground is around 45mins drive from Blackheath but feels worlds away. Walkers can take advantage of family friendly strolls like Ruby Creek walk, climb Yerranderie Peak, or tackle overnight and multi-day hikes. Fire trails wind through the park, ideal for 4WD and mountain bike adventures. They’re also easily combined with visits to neighbouring Jenolan Caves, Kanangra-Boyd National Park or Wombeyan Caves.

  • 4WD Oberon Colong historic stock route Intrepid 4WD tourers will love the 4WD Oberon Colong historic route. Travel through the wild south of Blue Mountains National Park to a historic mining ghost town in Yerranderie Regional Park.

Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area

Kanangra-Boyd Lookout, Kanangra-Boyd National Park. Photo: Steve Alton/NSW Government

Blue Mountains National Park is 1 of 8 national parks and reserves that make up the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area (GBMWHA). In 2000, UNESCO recognised the area's outstanding geology, biodiversity, and Aboriginal significance. The GBMWHA lies within the Country of the Darug, Gundungurra, Wiradjuri, Darkinjung, Wanaruah and Dharawal People. With 1 million hectares of rugged plateaux, sheer cliffs, deep gorges, it protects unique ecosystems teeming with rare plants and animals. Over 95 species of eucalypt trees have evolved here over millions of years, making it the most diverse eucalypt forest in the world. The Southern Blue Mountains area provides access to the protected Kowmung River, a declared Wild River, and the Kanangra Wilderness.

  • Greater Blue Mountains 2-day wilderness safaris Venture deep into Blue Mountains wilderness on this exciting 2-day safari with Dingo Tours. Travelling well beyond the crowds, you'll explore hidden canyons and dense forests and even see native wildlife, all in stunning World Heritage surrounds.

Plants and animals protected in this park

Animals

  • Bare-nosed wombat. Photo: Keith Gillett

    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.

  • Eastern bentwing bat. Photo: Ken Stepnell

    Eastern bentwing-bat (Miniopterus schreibersii oceanensis)

    Eastern bentwing-bats congregate in caves across the east and north-west coasts of Australia, in colonies of up to 150,000. These small Australian animals weigh around 13-17g and can reach speeds of up to 50km per hour. Eastern bentwing-bats use both sight and echolocation to catch small insects mid-air.

  • Lace monitor, Daleys Point walking track, Bouddi National Park. Photo: John Yurasek

    Lace monitor (Varanus varius)

    One of Australia’s largest lizards, the carnivorous tree-dwelling lace monitor, or tree goanna, can grow to 2m in length and is found in forests and coastal tablelands across eastern Australia. These Australian animals are typically dark blue in colour with whitish spots or blotches.

  • Echidna. Photo: Ken Stepnell

    Short-beaked echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus)

    One of only 2 egg-laying mammals in the world, the short-beaked echidna is one of the most widespread of Australian native animals. Covered in spines, or quills, they’re equipped with a keen sense of smell and a tube-like snout which they use to break apart termite mounds in search of ants.

  • Sugar glider. Photo: Jeff Betteridge

    Sugar glider (Petaurus breviceps)

    The sugar glider is a tree-dwelling Australian native marsupial, found in tall eucalypt forests and woodlands along eastern NSW. The nocturnal sugar glider feeds on insects and birds, and satisfies its sweet tooth with nectar and pollens.

  • Tawny frogmouth. Photo: Rosie Nicolai

    Tawny frogmouth (Podargus strigoides)

    Found throughout Australia, the tawny frogmouth is often mistaken for an owl due to its wide, powerful beak, large head and nocturnal hunting habits. The ‘oom oom oom’ call of this native bird can be heard echoing throughout a range of habitats including heath, woodlands and urban areas.

  •  Superb lyrebird, Minnamurra Rainforest, Budderoo National Park. Photo: David Finnegan

    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.

  • Swamp wallaby in Murramarang National Park. Photo: David Finnegan

    Swamp wallaby (Wallabia bicolor)

    The swamp wallaby, also known as the black wallaby or black pademelon, lives in the dense understorey of rainforests, woodlands and dry sclerophyll forest along eastern Australia. This unique Australian macropod has a dark black-grey coat with a distinctive light-coloured cheek stripe.

  • A spotted-tailed quoll walks across a moss-covered forest floor at night. Photo: Lachlan Hall © Lachlan Hall

    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

  • Grass trees, Sugarloaf State Conservation Area. Photo: Michael Van Ewijk

    Grass tree (Xanthorrea spp.)

    An iconic part of the Australian landscape, the grass tree is widespread across eastern NSW. These Australian native plants have a thick fire-blackened trunk and long spiked leaves. They are found in heath and open forests across eastern NSW. The grass tree grows 1-5m in height and produces striking white-flowered spikes which grow up to 1m long.

  • Old man banksia, Moreton National Park. Photo: John Yurasek

    Old man banksia (Banksia serrata)

    Hardy Australian native plants, old man banksias can be found along the coast, and in the dry sclerophyll forests and sandstone mountain ranges of NSW. With roughened bark and gnarled limbs, they produce a distinctive cylindrical yellow-green banksia flower which blossoms from summer to early autumn.

  • A red triangle slug on the trunk of a scribbly gum tree in Blue Mountains National Park. Photo: Elinor Sheargold/OEH

    Scribbly gum (Eucalyptus haemastoma)

    Easily identifiable Australian native plants, scribbly gum trees are found throughout NSW coastal plains and hills in the Sydney region. The most distinctive features of this eucalypt are the ‘scribbles’ made by moth larva as it tunnels between the layers of bark.

Environments in this area