Dandahra Crags and Anvil Rock Walks, Gibraltar Range National Park, NSW.

World Heritage Walks in Gibraltar Range National Park.

While camping at Mulligans Campground in Gibraltar Range National Park, we did the Dandahra Crags and Anvil Rock Walks. The trail-heads for both walks are about halfway along Mulligans Drive, about four kilometers from the campground. There is a small parking area at both trail-heads with parking for about three vehicles in each car park.

Dandahra Crags: Medium Grade.
Walking to the Crags and back is just over six kilometers however, we did the full circuit via Surveyors Creek Swamp which is seven kilometers.

As we walked along, we saw glimpses of a small mountain and thought that must be Dandahra Crags but we realised further along the walk that so many people get confused by this mountain that it is appropriately named The Mistake.

The Mistake

The first 2.8 kilometers of the trail is pleasant and seems easier than its designated medium grade.

Termite mound.

Scarlet Robin, male.

Scarlet Robin, female.

We reached a side trail where a sign stated it was 300 meters to the Dandahra Crags. The trail climbs from this point and becomes more difficult.

The trail climbs towards Dandahra Crags. 

Towards the end of the trail, it is necessary to climb up granite boulders to get to the magnificent views over Gibraltar Range National Park.

The trail goes up there.

Looking back towards the boulders we walked trough. View over Surveyors Creek Swamp.

View from the top.

Views from amongst the boulders strewn on the top.

After descending we continued on the circuit rather than returning the way that we had come. I recommend doing this because along the next section you finally get to see views of Dandahra Crags and walk past The Mistake.

Dandahra Crags

The Mistake

Dandahra Crags and Surveyors Swamp.

We came to a sign that said Surveyors Swamp Track was closed. At first we were disappointed because that meant we would have to retrace our steps to get back to the car. However, when we read the faded fine print on the sign it said "Experienced and Prepared bushwalkers (who don't mind wet feet) are welcome to make their own way along Surveyors Creek".  Naturally we decided to continue on, how bad could it be? As it turns out, it was great to forge through the overgrown track and due to the prolonged drought we didn't get wet or muddy boots. Our reward was seeing some Chrismas Bells flowering in the heath.

Christmas Bells.

Anvil Rock Walk: 4 km return, 1.5 hours, Medium Grade.

This is a great short walk. We encountered several Superb Lyrebirds along the track but they took off too quickly for us to photograph them. There was one tree down over the track that we had to negotiate. Trees on tracks is a trend we are noticing more and more on our walks and we put it down to the staff cuts that have occurred over recent years in national parks.

Balancing rocks along the path.

Tree over the walking track.

The track goes through excellent superb lyrebird habitat.

The flora along the track was attractive and we saw lots of Gibraltar Waratah plants. It was March when we were there and the waratahs usually flower late spring and early summer.

Native Fuchsia, Epacris longiflora

We saw glimpses of Anvil Rock and then the track started to climb. There is a bit of a scramble up granite rocks but you can't get all the way to the summit of the anvil.

Anvil Rock

The track goes up there.

There are goods views of Old Mans Hat and limited views through the granite rocks over the countryside.

Old Mans Hat

Views between the rocks.

We returned to the car park the same way we had come. We have definitely put this walk down as a walk to redo when the waratahs are in flower.

Mulligans Campgound, Gibraltar Range National Park, NSW.

Mulligans Hut.

We have camped at Mulligans Campground before, but as we were leaving last time, we met a ranger who told us that his favourite walk in Gibraltar Range National Park was the Dandahra Crags Circuit so naturally we had to come back and check it out. Mulligans Drive, the road into the campground, is unsealed but wide except for one narrow bridge. The road was being graded when we were there in March 2019.

Mulligans Drive

There are two picnic areas near the turn in from the Gwydir Highway: Dandahra Picnic Area and Platypus Picnic Area. We briefly stopped at Dandahra Picnic Area and were lucky to see Glossy Black Cockatoos.

Dandahra Picnic Area.

Mulligans Campground, often referred to as Mulligans Hut Campground, is a very pleasant campground with nice facilities and access to a great variety of walking tracks. I will put the blogs up separately for the walks we did on this trip.

A typical drive on campsite with table, fire place and water tap.

Walk-in campsites.

Last time we camped here there was a very aggressive satin bowerbird  patrolling our campsite. This time it was nowhere to be seen. We did have furtive visits by a Bassian Thrush and confident forays by White-browed Scrub Wrens.

Bassian Thrush

White-browed Scrub Wren in our campsite.

The facilities are excellent and offer great country value.

The amenities block has laundry tubs outside. BYO plugs.

The amenities block has cold showers and flush toilets.

There are two day use areas at Mulligans Campground: Mulligans Picnic Area adjoins the campground and Mulligans Hut Picnic Area is just below it, on Little Dandahra Creek.

Mulligans Picnic Area has information shelters, non-flush toilets, sheltered picnic areas, gas and wood barbecues.

Mulligans Picnic Area.

Mulligans Hut Picnic Area has picnic tables and wood barbecues prettily situated alongside Little Dandahra Creek.

Mulligans Hut Picnic Area

Lace Monitor in Mulligans Hut Picnic Area.

Mulligans Hut is a feature of Mulligans Hut Picnic Area. The hut is open for use and contains tables and a wood fire place.

Inside Mulligans Hut.

Litle Dandahra Creek was the site of William Mulligans Hydroelectric Scheme and the remnants of this project can still be explored today.

Little Dandahra Creek

Eastern Water Skink, Little Dandahra Creek.

Barra Nulla Cascades are a short walk downstream from Mulligans Hut Picnic Area and have formed some popular swimming holes.

Barra Nulla Cascades.

We still haven't seen the Gibraltar Waratah in flower so we are more than happy to come back to this delightful campground one day in spring. If you are interested in finding out more, here are the blogs on our previous camping trip, wildlife and walks.


Details for Mulligans Campground:

Where: Gibraltar Range National Park (Southern Section). The turn off to the campground is 68 km east of Glenn Innes or 92 km west of Grafton along the Gwydir Highway.

Access:  Muligans Drive is a 9 km unsealed, 2WD, all weather road. There is a narrow bridge near the entry.

Campsites: 15 defined sites.
Types of Camping:  tents, medium motorhomes, small caravans, camper trailers and camping beside vehicles. There is a separate group area with a shelter shed, tables and gas/electric barbecues.
Camping Fees: $6 per night per adult (16 years+). $3.50 per night per child (5-15 years). Infants (0-4 years) free. 
Vehicle Fee: $8 per day, or buy a vehicle pass.
Bookings: No bookings. Self-register and place the correct money into provided envelopes.
Facilities: Amenities block with cold showers, flushing toilets and laundry tubs. Disability shower and toilet. Table, fire place and water tap in every campsite. Firewood. Two picnic areas with free gas barbecues.
Prohibited: Pets, smoking, gathering firewood.
Contact: Glen Innes 02 6739 0700 Contact Hours: 8.30am - 4.30pm Monday to Friday.
Website: www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au

Of Interest: Mulligans Hut. Christmas Bells in summer, Gibraltar Waratah in spring. Great variety of walks.

Wildlife we saw in Gibraltar Range National Park in March 2019:

Red-necked Wallaby, Red-bellied Black Snake, Lace Monitor, Eastern Water Skink. Butterflies: Orchard Swallowtail, Lesser Wanderer. Birds: Glossy Black Cockatoo, Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo, Satin Bowerbird, Pied Currawong, Brown Gerygone, White-eared Honeyeater, Laughing Kookaburra, Superb Lyrebird, Bell Miner, Australian King Parrot, Buff-banded Rail, Scarlet Robin, Eastern Yellow Robin, White-browed Scrubwren, Grey Shrike-thrush, Welcome Swallow, Striated Thornbill, Bassian Thrush, White-throated Treecreeper, Brown Quail.

Wildlife at Mulligans Campground, Gibraltar Range National Park, NSW: Part 4.

Along the Gwydir Highway we moved camp three times even though the campsites were very close together and it would have been possible to base ourselves at one campground and day visit all the others. Where possible we like to camp in a National Park rather than day visit because we really enjoy sitting in the campground and observing the local wildlife. Early mornings and late afternoons, as well as after dark, are usually the best times to observe wildlife and it is easier to be there at these times while camping.

At Mulligans Campground our every move was observed by a Satin Bowerbird and at one point it tried to steal our morning tea by darting at us while making loud noises. We've never thought of Bowerbirds as being aggressive but this one was very pushy. We were also watched by a couple of Pied Currawongs but they appeared to be intimidated by the aggressive Bowerbird and stayed sitting in the trees.

In the late afternoons, Red-necked Wallabies would wander around our campsite.

White-throated Scrubwrens, Eastern Yellow Robins, Brown Thornbills, and Bassian Thrush were also common around our campsite.

Fern Tree Forest Walk, Mulligans Campground, Gibraltar Range National Park, Part 3.

Fern Tree Forest Walk covers a section of the 45 km Gibraltar-Washpool World Heritage Walk.
Fern Tree Forest Walk is a medium grade, 8 km circuit.

We made our way from Mulligans Campground to Mulligans Hut and the start of the walk. It wasn't long before we came to the turnoff to The Needles but we decided to do that leg of the walk another time and continued on. The track was bordered by a lush green understory of ferns before leading through a fairytale avenue of Fern Trees.

 

However, there is a lot more to the Fern Tree Forest Walk. We continued on through a dryer forest of eucalypts and Grass Trees before climbing across granite with magnificent views.

Plants along the track.

The last leg of the walk follows alongside Little Dandahra Creek where we saw a number of butterflies such as Orchard Swallowtails, Meadow Argus and Evening Browns.

We thoroughly enjoyed this walk and its constantly changing scenery.