Budawangs Info

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The Budawangs is my special place.

Situated about three hours drive South of Sydney is a region of great diversity of vegetation and landform.

I am not sure exactly where to start. Perhaps, with a little history that can be found in a great reference book.

This is called Pigeon House and Beyond, published by the Budawangs Committee. Recommended reading and available in most bushwalking stores in Sydney/Nowra/Canberra.

It appears the area has for thousands of years has been a crossroads for walkers. Initially it was important for aboriginal migration, where the coastal tribes met the highland tribes. There exists today many aboriginal sites within the Budawangs.

White man did not settle the region greatly; although near Sassafrass was once promoted as the site for our nations capital.

What is interesting is the efforts of the modern day bushwalker of the last 50 years.

The Castle for example took Bushwalkers about two decades to find a way up to the top. Now a bunch of schoolgirls climb it in half a day get frightened of the exposed descent near the top and phone for a rescue helicopter to get them off (true story).

The variety of bushwalks varies from one day walks to four day walks through the National Park. Weekend walks are by far the most popular. The grade of walk ranges from easy to medium/hard (ie off track, thick scrub or steep climbs and can take 10 hours to reach the campsite).

The popular access points are Yadboro (south), Wog Wog (south west), Nerriga (north west) and Sassafrass (north). A number of walks are listed in Pigeon House and Beyond.

The sketch map, The Northern Budawang Range and the Upper Clyde River Valley, published by The Budawang Committee and available in Sydney/Nowra/Canberra bushwalking stores, is recommended. My bushwalking club's emblem is featured - the Coast and Mountain Walkers of NSW. Another great reference source is Ron Doughton's Bushwalking in the Budawangs.

A great deal of exploration of the Budawangs was done by members of the CMW and a number of features are named by or after them. These days the club tends not to walk much in the Budawangs, preferring mainly the Kowmung and Wollemi regions.

In the future, I plan to publish more images on the Mt Foster, Styles Creek area, also the Monolith Valley region, Shrouded Gods Mtn, etc.

I have included a trip report on Styles Creek for you to read. You can find it at my Trip Reports page. Also there are more photos for you to see.

The National Parks and Wildlife Service at Ulladulla, Tel: +61 2 44553826, is worth phoning to check on the conditions.

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