Tara Cave Walking Track and Belougery Flats Trail, Warrumbungle National Park, NSW

View from the elevated boardwalk on the way to Tara Cave.

Tara Cave, 3.4 km return, Grade moderate:

Old Woolshed Picnic Area

The walk starts and finishes in the Old Woolshed Picnic Area. An Aboriginal Discovery Program tour can be organised at the Warrumbungle Visitor Centre.

There is an elevated boardwalk on the trail towards the cave which offers panoramic views of the Warrumbungles.

Elevated boardwalk.

View of  Mount Exmouth in low cloud.

Tara Cave was used for the manufacture of stone artifacts and the grooved stones have been protected by a mesh enclosure. To our horror, when we arrived at the cave we found evidence of vandalism to this culturally important area. It appeared that someone had passed a small person through a narrow gap in the barrier for the purpose of creating a stack of balancing stones. Furthermore, it appeared that some stones had been broken for this purpose. I am strongly of the belief that there is no place for balancing stones in any Australian National Park; with the exception of some historically significant cairns. When we reported this disgusting vandalism to the Visitor Information Centre it had already been reported and they had organised for the local aboriginal custodians to attend the site. I can't even imagine how heart breaking they must have found this desecration.

Protected Aboriginal stonework.

Modern vandalism in an ancient place.

On our return walk we came across an echidna. We observed it for some time. It sniffed the air a few times in our direction but seemed unconcerned by our presence. It eventually wandered off.

Echidna beside the paved section of the Tara Caves Walk.

Belougery Flats Trail: 5.1 km loop

This is an easy walk that leaves from Camp Blackman. Definitely don't confuse this walk with the Belougery Split Rock Walk which requires a lot more fitness and has steep and rough sections. The walk offers great views and has lots of wildlife.

Distant views of the mountains around the Grand High Tops.

View of Split Rock.

There was an amazing amount of wildlife along the walking track. We encountered several emus and many kangaroos.

Eastern Rosellas

Emu

Eastern Grey Kangaroos.