National park · Australia
Dharug National Park
Go for the convict-built Old Great North Road, not for a summit: park entry is free, Devines Hill is the 2–3 h taste, and the full 43 km (27 mi) ride or walk needs a car shuttle at Wisemans Ferry.Go for the convict-built Old Great North Road, not for a summit: park entry is free, Devines Hill is the 2–3 h taste, and the full 27 mi (43 km) ride or walk needs a car shuttle at Wisemans Ferry.
- Source checked
- A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
- Field checked
- Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify
Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
152 km² (59 sq mi)59 sq mi (152 km²)
approximate
Established
1967
Best months
Apr–May, Sep–Oct
UNESCO
World Heritage
Rules in force · 7
- Oceania ↗Oceania's island states guard their farms and reefs at the border: tick 'yes' on the arrival card for any food, plant, animal product, soil or used outdoor gear, and let the officer decide.
- Oceania ↗Across the tropical South Pacific, cyclones are possible from November to April: choose insurance that covers weather delays and keep one spare night before a long-haul departure.
- Australia and New Zealand ↗Both countries drive on the left, with long distances between fuel stops in the outback and on New Zealand's back roads; fatigue causes more visitor crashes than speed.
- Australia ↗Almost every visitor needs a visa or an electronic authorisation (ETA or eVisitor, depending on passport) before boarding: apply only through the official Department of Home Affairs site or the official AustralianETA app, and check the rules for your passport.
- Australia ↗Declare all food, plant material, seeds, wood and animal products on your arrival declaration; undeclared items can bring on-the-spot fines or visa cancellation. When unsure, declare it.
- Australia ↗Drive on the left. An overseas licence in English (or with an official translation or International Driving Permit) is accepted for visitors; check the state rules and your rental contract.
- Australia ↗Swim between the red and yellow flags on patrolled beaches; rip currents cause most beach drownings.
At a glance
- Country
- Australia
- Area
- 152 km² (59 sq mi)59 sq mi (152 km²)
- Roughly 150 km² of sandstone plateau and river frontage; boundary figures vary by source (check).
- Established
- 1967
- Best months
- Apr–May, Sep–Oct
- Permits
- Not needed
- Base
- Sydney
Dharug National Park sits on the northern edge of the Hornsby Plateau above the Hawkesbury River, about an hour and a half north of Sydney. Its reason to exist for visitors is the Old Great North Road: a convict-built route of the 1820s and 1830s, with hand-cut stone walls, buttresses and two of Australia's oldest surviving stone bridges, inscribed with the Australian Convict Sites on the World Heritage list in 2010. There is no visitor centre, no cafe and no entrance gate. You drive in, walk or ride, and leave. Most people come for a half day from Wisemans Ferry or the Central Coast; the serious version is a two- to three-day through-walk or bike ride with camping at Ten Mile Hollow or Mill Creek.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- UNESCO World Heritage · 2010Old Great North Road, part of the Australian Convict Sites listing.
Size and age
152 km² (59 sq mi)59 sq mi (152 km²) · national park since 1967
Roughly 150 km² of sandstone plateau and river frontage; boundary figures vary by source (check).
This page covers the park itself. Nearest base: Sydney.
Why go
- The Old Great North Road is the best surviving convict road in Australia: stone buttresses, culverts and cuttings built by chain gangs between 1826 and 1836.
- Devines Hill packs the whole story into a 2–3 hour walk from the Wisemans Ferry side, with interpretive panels along the way.
- Two convict bridges, Clares Bridge and Circuit Flat Bridge, are among the oldest stone bridges in the country.
- Quiet sandstone country above the Hawkesbury River: birdwatching, wildflowers in spring and almost no crowds on weekdays.
When to go
- JanCaution
- FebCaution
- MarGo
- AprBest
- MayBest
- JunGo
- JulGo
- AugGo
- SepBest
- OctBest
- NovGo
- DecCaution
- JanHot and humid; start before 8:00Hot and humid; start before 8:00 AM
- FebHot; afternoon storms
- MarWarm, easing
- AprMild, dry, clear
- MayCool and dry; best walking
- JunCold mornings, fine days
- JulColdest month; frost in gullies
- AugDry; wattle starting
- SepWildflowers, mild days
- OctWarm, dry, long days
- NovWarm; watch fire weather
- DecHot; holiday crowds at Wisemans Ferry
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring wildflowers (wattles, boronias, heaths)Aug–Oct | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | no | no |
| Forest birds, including lyrebirds in damp gulliesApr–Sep | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no |
| Snakes becoming active on warm daysOct–Mar · Watch your feet on overgrown sections of the old road. | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes |
| Ticks in long grass and along the riverNov–Mar | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
Show 3 sectionsHideHow to get there, Zones and sectors, Sketch map
How to get there
From Sydney
M1 and Old Northern Road to Wisemans Ferry, then the free ferry across the Hawkesbury and follow signs to the Devines Hill entrance.
1.5–2 h
Open the page →
From Central Coast
Wisemans Ferry Road north-west, continue straight past the ferry turnoff and follow the park signs.
1–1.5 h
From Wisemans Ferry village
Cross on the free vehicle ferry, turn left, then a short drive to the Devines Hill gate.
10 min
From Mill Creek campground
Drive in from Gunderman on the north side; the campground is the practical base for the northern half.
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Devines Hill and Finch's Line | The intact 16 km (9.9 mi) convict road section with walls, buttresses and interpretive panels.The intact 9.9 mi (16 km) convict road section with walls, buttresses and interpretive panels. | Open on foot or bike; park at the Devines Hill entrance. |
| Clares Bridge and Ten Mile Hollow | Convict stone bridge and the walk-in campground on the old road. | Walk or ride in; no through road. |
| Mill Creek and Gunderman | Northern river-side camping and access to the lower road sections. | Drive-in campground; open. |
| Hawkesbury River frontage | Sandstone slopes and mangroves along the river; no formal river access points in the park. | Open, but no facilities. |
Sketch map
Take the points offline
6 points as a GPX waypoint file, plus a plain-text list of coordinates. Save it while you have signal: maps apps show the points without a connection.
Approximate positions along the Old Great North Road and the two campgrounds, for orientation only.
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Show Top experiencesHide
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Show 8 sectionsHideEntry fees and permits, Park rules, Where to stay, Safety, Accessibility, Visiting lightly, Questions people ask, Related
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park entry | Free | vehicle | No entrance fee for Dharug; NSW charges for some parks, not this one (check). |
| Wisemans Ferry crossing (Webbs Creek and Sackville ferries) | Free | vehicle | Vehicle ferries across the Hawkesbury are free and take about 3–5 minutes. |
| Ten Mile Hollow campground | Free | night | Free walk-in camping; no bookings (check). |
| Mill Creek campground | Free | night | Free drive-in camping off Mill Creek Road (check). |
| NSW national parks annual pass (all parks) | AUD 65–190 (≈ US$45–130) | year | 2026 estimate; only worth it if you also visit parks that charge vehicle fees. |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Park entry no permit
Camping at Ten Mile Hollow or Mill Creek no permit
Overnight walk or ride of the full Old Great North Road no permit
Park rules
- No drones
- Not allowed in NSW national parks without a permit (check).check
- Stay off closed sections
- Parts of the old road and some tracks are closed for repair or for cultural reasons; obey signs.
- Fires
- Total fire bans apply on declared days; use only supplied fireplaces where they exist and never leave a fire unattended.
- Dogs
- Not allowed in the national park, including on the old road.
- Heritage stonework
- Do not climb on, remove or chalk the convict walls, culverts and bridges.
Where to stay
In the park
Ten Mile Hollow campground
Free walk-in camping on the old road; tank water is not guaranteed, so carry your own.
In the park
Mill Creek campground
Free drive-in camping off Mill Creek Road near Gunderman; the easier base for a first visit.
Near the park
Wisemans Ferry
Pub rooms, motel and caravan park on the south bank, 10 minutes from the Devines Hill entrance.
Near the park
Spencer and Central Coast
Small village food and accommodation on the north side; the nearest shops to the park.
Safety
Heat on exposed sandstone medium
Bushfire high
Getting lost on the full road medium
River and cliff edges medium
How much daylight do you have?
Time out
Finding the local time zone…
Times are local to the spot (zone loading). The half-hour margin is our rule of thumb, not an official figure; light fades earlier in forest or under cloud. Carry a headlamp on any route that could run late.
Accessibility
- The Devines Hill entrance has a small car park and the first stretch of road is wide and firm, but it climbs immediately.
- The full old road, Ten Mile Hollow and Clares Bridge are rough, steep and not suitable for wheelchairs or strollers.
- No accessible toilets or picnic facilities inside the park; use Wisemans Ferry or Spencer.
Visiting lightly
- Carry out everything you bring in; there are no bins at the trailheads or campgrounds.
- Use the existing fireplaces and keep fires small; collect no wood from the park.
- Stay on the formed road: the convict stonework and the surrounding soils erode quickly.
- Camp at the designated campgrounds rather than clearing new sites.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Dharug National Park?
Nothing. Dharug has no entrance gate and no vehicle fee, and the Wisemans Ferry crossings over the Hawkesbury River are also free. You pay only for your own food, fuel and any commercial campground or motel outside the park.
What are the best hikes in Dharug National Park?
The Devines Hill loop is the best short walk: 2–3 hours on the convict-built road with interpretive panels. The Old Great North Road walk is the big one, about 43 km end to end over 2–3 days, passing Clares Bridge and Finch's Line. The same route is a hard mountain-bike ride.
When is the best time to visit Dharug National Park?
April to October. Days are mild and dry, the sandstone is not baking, and spring brings wildflowers. December to February is hot and humid, and total fire bans can close the park at short notice.
Do I need a 4WD or a park pass?
No. A normal car reaches the Devines Hill entrance and Mill Creek campground, and no NSW park pass is needed because Dharug does not charge entry. A park pass only helps if you also visit parks that do charge.
Can I camp in Dharug National Park?
Yes, at Ten Mile Hollow (walk-in, on the old road) and Mill Creek (drive-in, near Gunderman). Both are free and unbooked, with basic or no facilities, so bring water, a stove and everything else you need.
Is there anywhere to eat in the park?
No. There is no cafe, shop or kiosk anywhere in Dharug. The nearest food is in Wisemans Ferry or Spencer, so bring your own lunch and water.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go
Show the detailsHide
Sources
- officialNSW National Parks — Dharug National Park
- officialNSW National Parks — Old Great North Road World Heritage walk
- officialNSW National Parks — Devines Hill loop
- officialNSW National Parks — Old Great North Road bike ride
- officialNSW National Parks — Ten Mile Hollow campground
- officialNSW National Parks — Mill Creek campground
- officialUNESCO World Heritage Centre — Australian Convict Sites
- secondaryWikipedia — Dharug National Park
- secondaryWikivoyage: Dharug National Park, revision 5220580 (CC BY-SA 4.0)