Yengo National Park - Big Yango Loop

The road

Yengo National Park covers a large section of the sandstone country between the Hunter Valley and the Hawkesbury River, north-west of Sydney. The Big Yango Loop is a 52-kilometre circuit through the heart of the park, crossing sandstone ridgelines, dropping into creek valleys and climbing back out through dense woodland. The track surface alternates between compacted sandstone, loose rocky sections and sandy creek crossings. Low-range is essential on several descents where the gradient steepens and the surface becomes loose rock steps. The park has one of the densest concentrations of Aboriginal rock art and engraving sites in eastern Australia. The Yengo country was central to the Darkinjung and Wonnarua peoples and the evidence of continuous occupation is visible throughout - grinding grooves in the creek bed sandstone, hand stencils in overhangs and engraved figures on the exposed ridge platforms. The Old Great North Road, which forms part of the loop's access, is a World Heritage listed convict-built road. Constructed between 1826 and 1836 by convict gangs using hand tools, the surviving sections through Yengo are remarkably intact - the hand-cut stone retaining walls and drainage channels are engineering achievements that have outlasted most modern road infrastructure in the area. The Big Yango Loop is a full day commitment. The track is slow going, the scenery demands stops and the creek crossings require careful assessment. The forest through here is a mix of ironbark, scribbly gum and angophora on the ridges with casuarina and river she-oak in the creek valleys. Wildlife is common, particularly rock wallabies on the sandstone ledges and goannas on the warm rock platforms.

The region

Yengo National Park is part of the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area. It sits between the Hunter Valley to the north and the Hawkesbury to the south, covering over 150,000 hectares of sandstone plateau and valley country. The nearest towns are Broke and Cessnock to the north and Wisemans Ferry to the south. The park is large enough that the interior feels genuinely remote despite being within 90 minutes of Sydney.

Before you go

Fuel at Cessnock, Broke or Wisemans Ferry before entering the park. The loop is a full day - allow 4 hours minimum with stops. No phone coverage inside the park. The sandstone creek crossings can hold water after rain and the rock surfaces become very slippery when wet. Check conditions with NSW National Parks before departure. Camping is available at designated sites within the park. The Old Great North Road sections are heritage listed - stay on the formed track and do not drive on the convict stonework.

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