You don’t have to travel far out of Sydney to reach incredible national parkland – with the Blue Mountains National Park to the west of the city, Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park on the city’s northern border and the Royal National Park (the second-oldest in the world) on the city’s southern edge. But if you’re up for a little adventure, travelling further from the Big Smoke will take you to some truly otherworldly pockets of protected wilderness. One example is Warrumbungle National Park: a 233 square-kilometre park home to iconic volcanic landforms, some of the richest birdlife diversity in the state and Australia's first Dark Sky Park. If you’re an eager stargazer, you’ll want to add this to your 2025 travel hit list.
Where is the Warrumbungle National Park?
You’ll find Warrumbungle National Park in central-western NSW – 550 kilometres northwest of Sydney. The vast mountainous stretch of protected parkland is approximately 35 kilometres west of Coonabarabran – a charming town known as the astronomy capital of Australia, and the gateway to the park.
What can you see at Warrumbungle National Park?
Stars, and lots of them. As Australia’s only Dark Sky Park, Warrumbungle National Park (also known as the Warrumbungles) is home to the best star gazing in the state, but there’s much more to be seen here during daylight hours.
Formed by volcanic activity that erupted millions of years ago and has eroded over time, the region is typified by unique mountainous topography and volcanic rock formations. If you’re keen to experience some of these up close, Breadknife, Belougery Spire and Crater Bluff are the most famous, but you’ll see volcanic rock formations throughout the park if you set out on one of the hiking tracks that winds through the hills.
Thanks to its diverse ecosystems (the Warrumbungles are home to woodlands, open grasslands and rocky outcrops), the region is also home to a huge variety of birdlife, with more than 120 species (including rare turquoise parrots and adorable fairy wrens) calling the park home.
What can you do at Warrumbungle National Park?
As with most national parks in NSW, the main activity here is hiking, with NSW National Parks listing 18 amazing walking routes in the park – everything from easy 30-minute loops to mega, multi-day trails. If you’re keen to learn more about the history of the area, take the Tara Cave walking track – a gentle 3.4-kilometre return bushwalk through the edge of the park, or head to the Warrumbungle Environmental Education Centre and deep dive into the geography, geology and heritage of the region.
Why is Warrumbungle National Park the first Dark Sky Park in Australia?
With minimal light pollution, high altitude and low humidity making for ideal star gazing conditions. The location of the park means star gazers are afforded excellent views of the galactical wonders of the Southern Hemisphere: with views of the Milky Way Galaxy, the Magellanic Clouds and constellations like the Southern Cross that are only visible in the southern sky. If you’re keen to get even closer to the stars, head to Siding Spring Observatory: a mega observatory on the edge of the park, home to the largest optical telescope in Australia. Check the website for open days and events to make the most of your visit to Australia’s astronomy capital, or book in for a stargazing session with a local expert (lots of campsites in the area offer stargazing tours and telescope access).
Best places to stay in Warrumbungle National Park
If you’re keen to camp for the full stargazing experience, there are several magical campsites among the mountains – Camp Blackman and Burbie Camp are among the best when it comes to secluded spots and stunning vistas.
How to get to Warrumbungle National Park
The park is located around 550 kilometres from Sydney, which takes between six to seven hours by car. To break the journey up, it might be worth stopping for a night in Mudgee – a magical town that’s around three and a half hours from the city.
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