To get to the Southern Blue Mountains area of Blue Mountains National Park:

From Sydney via Oberon (3.5hrs):

• Head west on the M4 Motorway  and Great Western Highway
• At Hartley, turn left onto Jenolan Caves Road and follow the signs to Oberon.
• From Oberon, take Edith Road and Butter Factory Lane to Shooters Hill Road.
• Turn left onto Mount Werong Road (also known as Colong Oberon historic stock route) and follow this road to the park entrance.
• Dunphys campground is accessed from Blackheath, along Megalong Road.

From Goulburn (1.5hrs):

• Take Taralga-Oberon Road for around 95km
• Turn right onto Cosgrove Road, then right onto Mount Werong Road.
• 4WDs can also take The Range fire trail to Mt Werong from Wombeyan Caves Road.

The nearest fuel and supplies are located in Oberon or Taralga.

Parking

• Dunphys campground See on map
• Galong cabins See on map
• Mount Werong campground See on map

Road access restrictions and conditions

• There’s no direct access to Southern Blue Mountains area or Yerranderie through the Burragorang Valley from East Picton or Oakdale. This is a Schedule 1 protected water catchment with access restrictions. If you’re using GPS or online mapping, please enter Oberon or Goulburn as your destination to avoid navigational issues.
• In wet weather, check road conditions or closures with Oberon office.
• Watch for kangaroos, wombats and fallen trees on the Oberon Colong stock route. Keep speed down to avoid accidents and punctures.

• Unsealed roads

Southern Blue Mountains area is a great place to visit at any time of year, if you're well-prepared. Here are some of the highlights.

Autumn

Breathe in the fresh air as you discover uncrowded tracks and trails. Then settle around the campfire and cook up a warming stew with local Oberon pine mushrooms. If conditions are dry, discover the many trails winding through this area by 4WD. Try the Caves to Caves trail which connects Jenolan and Wombeyan Caves.

Spring

Set up camp at Dunphys campground and head out on a day walk along Coxs River. Find a secluded spot to cast a line for trout -- the October long weekend marks the start of fishing season. This is a captivating time for bushwalking or mountain biking, as wattles, orchids and pea flowers bloom throughout the area.

Summer

Enjoy a digital detox and escape the summer heat. At 1200m, Mount Werong campground offers milder temperatures than the coast. Nearby, history buffs can get a glimpse into early pioneering life along the shady 2.5km Ruby Creek walking track, or visit Yerranderie ghost town. Colong Caves can be accessed via a track from Batsh campground, off the stock route. You’ll need caving equipment and experience, and a permit from the Wombeyan Caves office.

Winter

Dust off your sense of adventure and head deep into the Greater Blue Mountains Area World Heritage Property, along the Oberon-Colong stock route. If you’re up for winter camping in the wild you might find yourself surrounded by snow at Mount Werong. Come well prepared as it’s isolated and weather can be extreme. You might prefer to stay in historic accommodation at Yerranderie for easy access to the short walks, historic mines, and township tours.

Toilets

• Dunphys campground
• Galong cabins
• Mount Werong campground

Picnic tables

• Dunphys campground
• Galong cabins
• Mount Werong campground

Barbecue facilities

• Dunphys campground
• Galong cabins
• Mount Werong campground

Drinking water

• Mount Werong campground

Showers

• Galong cabins

Electric power

• Galong cabins

• Southern Blue Mountains area factsheet
• Southern Blue Mountains area map (4MB pdf)

Animals

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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.

• 

  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 (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.

• 

  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 (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 (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 (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 (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.

• 

  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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  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 (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.

• 

  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.