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National park · Australia

Gundabooka National ParkGundabooka National Park (NSW)

Go only if you are already driving the Kidman Way between Bourke and Cobar: park entry is free, the art site walk takes 1–1.5 h, and the Little Mountain track is 4.8 km return from Dry Tank. Skip it as a stand-alone trip.

Not field-verifiedSome areas permit-onlyChecked Sep 2026
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From where I am

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Area

639 km²

approximate

Established

1996

Best months

Apr–Sep

UNESCO

None

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
639 km²
Park area as gazetted; the adjoining Gundabooka State Conservation Area is managed separately (check).
Established
1996
Best months
Apr–Sep
Permits
For some areas

Gundabooka is 639 km² of mulga, red dirt and low ranges about 52 km south of Bourke, in the far west of New South Wales. It matters for two things: the Yapa (Mulgowan) rock art site, the one engraving and painting panel open to visitors, and the quiet walking at Little Mountain. There is no entry fee, no shuttle and no tour operator; you drive in on gravel from the Kidman Way and you are self-sufficient. Treat it as a half-day stop on a Bourke–Cobar drive, not a destination in itself.

Decide

Why go, which months, and what lives here when

At a glance

Status

  • No UNESCO listing; national park since 1996.

Size and age

639 km² · national park since 1996

Park area as gazetted; the adjoining Gundabooka State Conservation Area is managed separately (check).

Why go

  • Yapa (Mulgowan) is one of the best-preserved Aboriginal rock art sites in the region, with animal motifs, dancers, hand stencils and hunting tools, viewed from a platform.
  • Little Mountain walking track is a 4.8 km return walk from Dry Tank campground to a lookout over the ranges, with kangaroos, emus and wallabies along the way.
  • It is real outback country on a sealed highway route: no fee, no queue, and you can be back on the Kidman Way the same afternoon.

When to go

12-month verdict
  1. JanAvoid
  2. FebAvoid
  3. MarCaution
  4. AprBest
  5. MayBest
  6. JunBest
  7. JulBest
  8. AugBest
  9. SepBest
  10. OctGo
  11. NovCaution
  12. DecAvoid
  • Jan40 °C+ days; walking unsafe by mid-morning
  • FebPeak heat; storms can close dirt roads
  • MarStill hot; check road conditions after rain
  • AprMild days, dry tracks
  • MayCool nights, clear walking weather
  • JunCold nights; best walking temperatures
  • JulColdest month; frost at dawn, sunny days
  • AugDry, mild, wildflowers starting
  • SepWarm days, wildflowers, dry roads
  • OctHeating up; walk early
  • NovHot; carry extra water
  • DecExtreme heat; no shade on tracks

Wildlife and nature calendar

Seasons shift by weeks each year
Wildlife and nature calendar for Gundabooka National Park
WhatJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Kangaroos, wallabies and emusAll year · Most active at dawn and dusk; keep distance and do not feed.yesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyes
Wildflowers after winter rainAug–Oct · Dependent on rainfall; good years are showy, dry years are bare.nononononononoyesyesyesnono
Birds around the ranges and campgroundApr–Sepnononoyesyesyesyesyesyesnonono
SnakesOct–Mar · Warm months; wear boots and watch where you step.yesyesyesnonononononoyesyesyes

Arrive & move

Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are

How to get there

From Bourke

Drive south on the Kidman Way (B87) about 52 km, then follow brown park signs west on gravel to the trailheads.

45–60 min

From Cobar

Drive north on the Kidman Way about 114 km, then west on the signed gravel road.

1.5–2 h

From Sydney

Long drive via Dubbo and Bourke, or fly to Bourke and hire a vehicle there.

10–12 h driving

Zones and sectors

Zones of Gundabooka National Park
ZoneWhat is thereAccess
Little Mountain and Dry TankThe northern block: campground, 4.8 km walking track and the lookout over the ranges.Open; gravel access road, 2WD in dry weather.
Yapa (Mulgowan) art siteThe southern art site and its walking track, reached from Ben Lomond Road.Open on foot; viewing platform only.
Valley of the EaglesA longer walk through the range country south of the main block.Open; rough in places.
Belah Shearers' QuartersHistoric shearers' accommodation on Ben Lomond Road, outside the main walking area.Booked guests only.

Sketch map

Approximate — not for navigation
Sketch map of 6 approximate points in Gundabooka National Park, north up123456
Approximate positions for orientation only; the park spans several blocks either side of Ben Lomond Road.
  1. 1Bourke · Town≈-30.090, 145.937Nearest town with fuel, food and motels.Map ↗
  2. 2Dry Tank campground · Sleep≈-30.518, 145.715Map ↗
  3. 3Little Mountain lookout · Viewpoint≈-30.540, 145.712Map ↗
  4. 4Yapa (Mulgowan) art site · Cave≈-30.640, 145.768Map ↗
  5. 5Belah Shearers' Quarters · Sleep≈-30.558, 145.594Map ↗
  6. 6Cobar · Town≈-31.499, 145.839Next town south on the Kidman Way.Map ↗

See & do

Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking

Top experiences

CultureEasy1–1.5 hYapa (Mulgowan) Aboriginal art site walking trackShort walk to a rock overhang with animal motifs, dancers, hand stencils and hunting tools; you view it from a platform to protect the art.
TrailsModerate1.5–2 hLittle Mountain walking track4.8 km return between Dry Tank campground and Little Mountain lookout; rocky in sections, no shade.
ViewpointsEasy20 minLittle Mountain lookoutSmall lookout over the range; best light late in the day, and the drive back is on gravel.
TrailsModerate2–3 hValley of the Eagles walkLonger walk through the range country; carry water and a map, and turn back if the track is unclear.
WildlifeEasyDawn and duskWildlife spotting from the campgroundKangaroos, emus, wallabies and birds move through the campground area in the cool hours.

Practical

Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong

Entry fees and permits

AUD ranges · check
Fees for Gundabooka National Park
ItemRangePerNote
Park entryFreevehicleNo entry fee for this park; NSW parks charge only where listed (check).
Dry Tank campgroundFreenightFree camping, six unmarked sites, no facilities beyond a basic setup (check).
Belah Shearers' QuartersFreenightBooked per night through the parks service; rate varies by season and group size (check).
Fuel at Bourke or CobarFreetankNo fuel between the two towns; fill up before the turnoff.

Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.

Park entry no permit

No ticket or permit; drive in and park at the trailheads.

Camping at Dry Tank permit or guide

Book online through the NSW National Parks service before you arrive; no phone signal at the campground (check).

Belah Shearers' Quarters permit or guide

Book online in advance; key collection details are sent with the booking (check).

Rock art site no permit

Open access on foot; stay on the track and behind the viewing platform rail.

Park rules

Drones, guides, camping and more
Rock art
Do not touch, chalk, wet or climb on the art; stay behind the platform rail at Yapa (Mulgowan).
Campfires
Fires are restricted and banned on total fire ban days; use a gas stove and check current rules before you travel (check).check
Dogs and pets
Not permitted in the park; leave them in Bourke or Cobar.
Water
There is no drinking water in the park; carry all you need for the day and the drive.
Drones
Not allowed without permission from the parks service (check).check

Where to stay

In the park

Dry Tank campground

Six unmarked sites in the middle of nowhere; no drinking water, book ahead.

In the park

Belah Shearers' Quarters

Six-bedroom self-contained historic building on Ben Lomond Road with kitchen, bathroom and hot water; sleeps up to 12, book ahead.

Near the park

Bourke

Motels, pubs and caravan parks about 52 km north; the practical base for this park.

Near the park

Cobar

Motels and caravan parks about 114 km south on the Kidman Way.

Safety

Heat and no shade high

Walk before 9:00 in the warmer months, carry 3–4 L of water per person, and turn back if you are overheating.

Remote gravel roads medium

Check road conditions after rain, carry a spare tyre and water, and tell someone your plan; there is no phone signal in much of the park.

No fuel or supplies between towns medium

Fill the tank and buy food and water in Bourke or Cobar before the turnoff.

Snakes and uneven rock low

Wear boots and long trousers, watch your footing on the art site track, and never handle a snake.

Accessibility

  • The Yapa (Mulgowan) art site track is short but unsealed and uneven; the art is viewed from a platform, so the final section is not step-free.
  • Little Mountain walking track and Valley of the Eagles are rough dirt tracks, not suitable for wheelchairs or limited mobility.
  • Gravel access roads are usually fine for a 2WD in dry weather but become impassable after heavy rain.

Visiting lightly

  • Stay on marked tracks at the art site; the platform exists because the art is fragile.
  • Carry out all rubbish, including food scraps, and use the campground's basic facilities as signed.
  • Take only photographs: removing artefacts or stones from a site important to the Ngemba people is both illegal and damaging.
  • Drive slowly on gravel to limit dust and wildlife strikes, especially at dawn and dusk.

Questions people ask

How much does it cost to enter Gundabooka National Park?

Nothing. There is no entry fee for this park, and camping at Dry Tank is free, though you still need to book a site online. The real costs are fuel and supplies in Bourke or Cobar, because there is nothing between the two towns.

What are the best hikes in Gundabooka National Park?

The Yapa (Mulgowan) Aboriginal art site walking track is the one to do, a short 1–1.5 h return walk to a rock art panel viewed from a platform. Little Mountain walking track is 4.8 km return from Dry Tank campground to a lookout, and Valley of the Eagles is a longer, rougher walk through the range country.

When is the best time to visit Gundabooka National Park?

April to September. Days are mild, tracks are usually dry and the winter months are the only ones where walking in the middle of the day is comfortable. December to February is too hot for the exposed tracks, and summer storms can make the gravel roads impassable.

Do I need a 4WD to get to Gundabooka?

Not in dry weather. The turnoff is only a few kilometres from the Kidman Way and the access roads are gravel, which a 2WD handles when dry. After heavy rain the roads can be closed or boggy, so check conditions before you leave Bourke or Cobar.

Can I see the rock art up close?

No. You view the Yapa (Mulgowan) art from a viewing platform to protect it. Do not touch the art, wet it, chalk it or climb on the rock, and stay on the track.

Is there anywhere to stay inside the park?

Yes, two options: Dry Tank campground with six unmarked sites, and Belah Shearers' Quarters, a six-bedroom self-contained historic building that sleeps up to 12. Both need to be booked in advance, and neither has drinking water.

Are there tours to Gundabooka National Park?

In practice, no. There is no regular tour operator serving the park, so you need your own vehicle. Plan it as a self-drive stop on the Bourke–Cobar route.

Related

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Deep dive

Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go

Sources