Short dayhike in Mt Royal National Park, NSW, Australia

[Bob W]

It's rare, but it happens from time to time, a day off while on business in Australia. The trip was in April, 2013 and we were staying in Singleton, NSW. The bosses had to attend to a meeting, and the only other person on the trip had no interest in hiking or the outdoors. So what to do solo for the day? Not much around Singleton, or so I thought. Checked the internet, picked up some tourist maps, and headed off to find Mt. Royal National Park in the hired van.

National Parks in Australia aren't the over-developed, over-crowded, tourist-fests that American National Parks tend to be. In fact there's only one road in this park, one small hiking track, and I was the only visitor that day.

On the drive from Singleton.

How you know you've arrived.

 

[Bob W]

The only* trail ("track" in Australian) in the park is the Pieries Peak walking track, a very short and easy hill climb and walk out on a rock outcrop. A spectacular experience to be stand on the end of the outcrop, in the fog and rain, overlooking the rain forest below on three sides, with the kookaburra and other exotic birds calling all around.

* There are some other tracks, apparently short walks along a creek, but they were closed due to some sort of plant disease outbreak.

 

[Bob W]

Returning to the van, perhaps a bit disappointed in the shortness adventure-ness of the Pieries Peak Walking Track, I drive a bit farther into the park. Soon I come to a pull-over spot with a large looming hill. "Now that's a peak that might be worth climbing," and off I go. Obviously people do climb the hill regularly, as there's an informal trail that's visible. Basic steep hill walking up a slippery grass, mud, and moss-covered slope. This path continues, following the ridge line up, until entering a grass meadow where the view opens up. From this point, there is no visible track.

Continuing up, the ridge becomes more rocky and jagged, until I'm faced with a rock climb of unknown height overhead (turns out it was only about eight feet). Being alone, in a foreign country, little gear, and with no one else knowing my whereabouts, I take a conservative safe approach and decide to circle around the base of the rock outcrop hoping for an easier route up. Around the side of the hill, the forest ahead looks dark. Entering was a different world. Dense low forest canopy, neon green moss covering everything, and thick drooping vines. I've never seen anything like this in my life!

A bit of hands-and-knees climbing through this moss forest, up a rock boulder field, and I'm on top of Mount Royal. Not much a view. The hilltop is flat-ish, surrounded by tall trees, and covered in knee-high ferns.

A quick hike back down the rock outcrop, through the meadow, and back down the hill to the van. A couple pictures from the meadow as the clouds lifted and the view opened up.

So there's nothing to do around Singleton? I know better now.

 

[Bob W]

Just a note on gear. I had a rain jacket on the first short hike, but left it in the truck for Mount Royal. I might have had a SAK, if I didn't forget it in the motel room. Plastic zip-lock with peanuts. Water bottle.

Wouldn't you know, this was the first trip to Australia that I didn't drag along my hiking boots. So instead I hiked in Cabela's Chukka shoes. They were my nice dress shoes, trashed during the hike, but I couldn't have been happier with their performance.

 

[lambertiana]

Looks like a beautiful place! And certainly different from what I usually see. Thanks for posting!

 

[Bob W]

It's nothing like Raton, New Mexico either.

 

[Craig Maher]

Excellent post and pictures Bob - I live within a couple of hours of the park and regularly take my kids for hikes up there.
Really great spot - you captured it brilliantly!

 

[koldgold]

Let me know if you come back, make a note to spend more time here. Ken

 

[Bob W]

We've (the company) been to Australia twice this year and are heading back at the end of July or sometime in August. Headed to Mudgee probably, and into the Queensland interior.

For work I'm in Singleton frequently, all around the Bulli/Illawarra area, Mudgee, and sometimes Queensland.
Driving along the coast for sightseeing and work travel, I've driven as far south as Bateman's Bay and as far north as Brisbane. I've also flown into coastal towns farther north, namely Mackay and Rockhampton.

Our 'base' is Campbelltown because it's close to some work sites, not far from the Sydney airport, and far enough out of the city to be affordable.

 

[TheGame]

Thanks for sharing the pics. Looks to be... a lot more color there than I am used to here in the states. :thumbup:

 

[HikingMano]

Thanks for sharing. It's always nice to visit somewhere completely new :thumbup:

 

[tknife]

Great pics! I really like that tree branch sign

 

[JV3]

nice! i've never seen australia with so many mountains and thick woods before. others' pics in the past made it seem like the whole continent is flat and desert.

 

[Bob W]

nice! i've never seen australia with so many mountains and thick woods before. others' pics in the past made it seem like the whole continent is flat and desert.

Imagine an area like Kansas, only instead of five hours it takes five days to drive across.

Here's a pic from a different trip, inland Queensland: