Located in northern New South Wales, 570 km northwest of Sydney and 52 km east of Narrabri, Mount Kaputar National Park comprises much of the Nandewar Range, and includes Ningadhun, Yulludunida Cliffs, Yulludunida Crater, Kaputar Plateau, Sawn Rocks, Waa Gorge Mt Lindesay, Mt Dowe and much more.

Mt Kaputar is a place of contrasts with the high peaks subject to sub-zero temperatures, frost and snow in winter and patches of rainforest flourishing in the lower areas. There is a mix of fig trees, lilly pillies and tangled rainforest vines, alongside snow gums, snow grass and alpine daisies.

Perched on the edge of the Western Plains and surrounded by farm land, Mt Kaputar is an island sanctuary for a wide range of plants and animals. In recognition of this natural environment, the vast majority of this Park (80%) has been declared Wilderness Area.

There are many walks and trails, plus areas for picnickers and campers, including cabins that can be booked through the National Parks & Wildlife Service.

Here we have a picture of the open herbfield at Eckfords Lookout. It acts as a soak for the water running off the southern face of Mount Dowe, and saturating the thin soil.

The Governor (Corrunbral Borawah) is an easy 2 km walk, that takes you to the top of a spectacular remnant of a lava flow, with breath-taking views in all direction.

Aboriginal History
The Nandewar Range was once occupied by the Aboriginal people of the Kamilaroi nation. Today, little is known of the indigenous cultural significance of the mountain range and what importance it played in their lives. Some 25 sites have been recorded in the park, that include campsites, artefact scatters, marked trees, axe grinding grooves and some rock carvings.
 

View from The Governor
(Corrunbral Borawah)

Herbfield at Eckfords Lookout,
southern face of Mount Dowe

European History
During the first half of the 1800s, the Nandewar Range featured prominently in a number of journals of exploration, although the range did remain inaccessible and unsettled for much of the nineteenth century, being mainly a boundary for pastoral runs.

Settlement intensified in the 1860s, but the rugged landscape of the range deterred settlers from taking up land beyond the foothills. The 1900s saw cattle herds grazing the mountains and grazing leases existed over parts of the ranges until the 1950s.

There are twenty-four historic places, known to be in Mount Kaputar National Park. Of special interest are the remnants of early pastoral use such as Scutt’s Hut, the "Chinese" Fence, the Foggy Dell Woolshed and various wooden stock troughs.

Although Oxley and Mitchell named some of the peaks in the park, they did not actually visit them. The mountains also privided refuge for bushrangers.

Check out our listing of Mount Kaputar accommodation. In addition to our listed online travel guide information, contact the local tourism visitor centre for your destination for more attractions, tours, local maps and other information.