Mount Penang loop walk

Guula Ngurra National Park

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Overview

Mount Penang loop walk in Guula Ngurra National Park is a 3km unmarked hiking trail that is best-suited to experienced bushwalkers.

Distance
3km loop
Time suggested
2hrs 30min - 3hrs 30min
Grade
Grade 5
Trip Intention Form

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What to
bring
Drinking water, hat, sunscreen, compass, topographic map, gps
Please note
  • This park is in a remote location and weather can be unpredictable, so please ensure you’re well-prepared for your visit.
  • If you’re bushwalking in this park, it’s a good idea to bring a topographic map and compass, or a GPS.

Mount Penang loop walk is only 3km, but you’ll need to be a relatively experienced bushwalker nonetheless, due to the short but steep hills and unmarked trail. The effort will be worth it though, as at the peak you’ll be able to enjoy soaking in some truly amazing 360-degree views from the summit of Mount Penang.

Beginning at Tugalong Road, this challenging but rewarding loop winds steadily uphill and continues on to the scenic summit of Mount Penang. Take in the awe-inspiring views from the top, savour the serenity of your surroundings, and look out for local birdlife soaring overhead before making your way back.   

This walk is best enjoyed during the more temperate seasons of spring and autumn.

For directions, safety and practical information, see visitor info

Also see

  • View of Guula Ngurra National Park, from Baldy Billy Peak walking track in Little Forest West area. Photo credit: Andrew Boleyn © DPIE

    Baldy Billy Peak walking track

    Climb to the top of Billy Baldy Peak on this steep and challenging 5km return walk in Guula Ngurra National Park, near Moss Vale and Canyonleigh.

Map


Map legend

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Current alerts in this area

There are no current alerts in this area.

Local alerts

For the latest updates on fires, closures and other alerts in this area, see https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/things-to-do/walking-tracks/mount-penang-loop-walk/local-alerts

General enquiries

Park info

  • in Guula Ngurra National Park in the Country NSW region
  • The Mount Penang and Little Forest West areas of Guula Ngurra National Park are always open but may have to close at times due to poor weather or fire danger.

    The Tugalong area of Guula Ngurra National Park is open to the public from 8.30am to 5pm on the 1st and 3rd Saturday of each month between 1 March and 31 October. Visitors must arrive onsite before 2pm. The area is closed to the public at other times to protect sensitive natural and cultural heritage values.

See more visitor info

Visitor info

All the practical information you need to know about Mount Penang loop walk.

Track grading

Features of this track

Distance

3km loop

Time

2hrs 30min - 3hrs 30min

Quality of markings

No directional signage

Experience required

Experienced bushwalkers

Gradient

Short steep hills

Steps

No steps

Quality of path

Formed track, some obstacles

Getting there and parking

Get driving directions

Get directions

    Mount Penang walk is in Guula Ngurra National Park. To get there:

    From Sydney or Goulburn:

    • Exit the freeway at Sutton Forest (exit signposted as 'Illawarra Highway - Moss Vale, Wollongong'). Follow the signs to Canyonleigh for 10km along Canyonleigh Road, then turn right into Tugalong Road. Travel 22km along Tugalong Road until you come to Attunga Camp on your left and the park on your right. Park at the entrance to the park fire trail and walk into the park.

    Parking

    Parking is available at the fire trail entrance on Tugalong Road.

    Bus parking is available.

    Best times to visit

    There are lots of great things waiting for you in Bangadilly National Park. Here are some of the highlights.

    Autumn

    The cooler weather is a great time to hike up to Mount Penang and enjoy spectacular views out along the Wingecarribee River valley.

    Spring

    Spring is a great time to enjoy wildlife photography in the park and soak in all of the colourful plant life in full bloom.

    Summer

    Hang out along the cool riverbanks when the weather is hot, looking out for platypus in the stream and enjoying the shade of the tall forest gums.

    Weather, temperature and rainfall

    Summer temperature

    Average

    12°C and 26°C

    Highest recorded

    38.3°C

    Winter temperature

    Average

    2°C and 13°C

    Lowest recorded

    -6.4°C

    Rainfall

    Wettest month

    June

    Driest month

    September

    The area’s highest recorded rainfall in one day

    333mm

    Facilities

    Carpark

    Maps and downloads

    Safety messages

    Bushwalking safety

    If you're keen to head out on a longer walk or a backpack camp, always be prepared. Read these bushwalking safety tips before you set off on a walking adventure in national parks.

    Mobile safety

    Dial Triple Zero (000) in an emergency. Download the Emergency Plus app before you visit, it helps emergency services locate you using your smartphone's GPS. Please note there is limited mobile phone reception in this park and you’ll need mobile reception to call Triple Zero (000).

    Prohibited

    Pets

    Pets and domestic animals (other than certified assistance animals) are not permitted. Find out which regional parks allow dog walking and see the pets in parks policy for more information.

    Smoking

    NSW national parks are no smoking areas.

    Learn more

    Mount Penang loop walk is in Guula Ngurra National Park. Here are just some of the reasons why this park is special:

    Koala Country

    Wollondilly River in Little Forest West Area, Guula Ngurra National Park. Photo: Andrew Boleyn © DPE

    The name Guula Ngurra was provided to the park by the Gundungurra People and translates as Koala Country. The park is part of the Gundungurra Indigenous Land Use Agreement (ILUA). The Wingecarribee and Wollondilly rivers that flow through the park, as permanent water sources and providers of diverse plant and animal resources, would have and continue to play an important role to the Aboriginal people. And the meeting point of the rivers, on the northern boundary of the park, is part of the Creation Story in which Mirragan fought Gurangatch, and is of great significance in Aboriginal culture.

    • Wollondilly River walking track Wollondilly River walking track is a challenging 8km return walk in Guula Ngurra National Park, near Moss Vale. It's best suited to very experienced bushwalkers.

    The boundary of 2 bioregions

    Birds in the Tugalong area, Guula Ngurra National Park. Photo: Jennie Wiles © Jennie Wiles

    Guula Ngurra National Park sits at the boundary of 2 bioregions. To the west is the South Eastern Highlands and to the east are the sandstone landscapes of Sydney Basin. Located on the boundary between these 2 bioregions, the park is high in biodiversity and supports species at their geographical limit.

    The park also contains high quality koala habitat and sits within the Great Western Wildlife Corridor in the Southern Highlands, which supports an estimated population of 1000 koalas. The koala however is just 1 of 139 species of fauna the park supports and provides habitat for, 22 of which are listed as threatened.

    Transformative rivers

    View of Guula Ngurra National Park, from Baldy Billy Peak walking track in Little Forest West area. Photo: Andrew Boleyn © DPE

    Guula Ngurra National Park is home to 22km of the Wollondilly and Wingecarribee Rivers, including the point where they meet. These waterways have had a profound impact in shaping the park, carving out steep escarpments and rocky gullies that drop dramatically into the rivers’ valleys. Looking out over the valleys, Mount Penang and Baldy Billy Peak offer spectacular views and a glimpse into the rivers’ transformative history with the park.

    • Baldy Billy Peak walking track Climb to the top of Billy Baldy Peak on this steep and challenging 5km return walk in Guula Ngurra National Park, near Moss Vale and Canyonleigh.
    • Wollondilly River walking track Wollondilly River walking track is a challenging 8km return walk in Guula Ngurra National Park, near Moss Vale. It's best suited to very experienced bushwalkers.

    Plants and animals protected in this park

    Animals

    • Australian brush turkey, Dorrigo National Park. Photo: Rob Cleary

      Australian brush turkey (Alectura lathami)

      The Australian brush turkey, also known as bush or scrub turkey, can be found in rainforests along eastern NSW. With a striking red head, blue-black plumage and booming call, these distinctive Australian birds are easy to spot while bird watching in several NSW national parks.

    • Brush tail possum. Photo: Ken Stepnell

      Common brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula)

      One of the most widespread of Australian tree-dwelling marsupials, the common brushtail possum is found across most of NSW in woodlands, rainforests and urban areas. With strong claws, a prehensile tail and opposable digits, these native Australian animals are well-adapted for life amongst the trees.

    • Eastern common ringtail possum. Photo: Ken Stepnell

      Common ringtail possum (Pseudocheirus peregrinus)

      Commonly found in forests, woodlands and leafy gardens across eastern NSW, the Australian ringtail possum is a tree-dwelling marsupial. With a powerful tail perfectly adapted to grasp objects, it forages in trees for eucalypt leaves, flowers and fruit.

    • Bare-nosed wombat. Photo: Keith Gillett

      Bare-nosed wombat (Vombatus ursinus)

      A large, squat marsupial, the Australian bare-nosed wombat is a burrowing mammal found in coastal forests and mountain ranges across NSW and Victoria. The only other remaining species of wombat in NSW, the endangered southern hairy-nosed wombat, was considered extinct until relatively recently.

    • Emu, Paroo Darling National Park. Photo: John Spencer

      Emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae)

      The largest of Australian birds, the emu stands up to 2m high and is the second largest bird in the world, after the ostrich. Emus live in pairs or family groups. The male emu incubates and rears the young, which will stay with the adult emus for up to 2 years.

    • Koala. Photo: Lucy Morrell

      Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus)

      One of the most renowned Australian animals, the tree-dwelling marsupial koala can be found in gum tree forests and woodlands across eastern NSW, Victoria and Queensland, as well as in isolated regions in South Australia. With a vice-like grip, this perhaps most iconic but endangered Australian animal lives in tall eucalypts within a home range of several hectares.

    • Closeup of a laughing kookaburra's head and body. Photo: Rosie Nicolai/OEH

      Kookaburra (Dacelo novaeguineae)

      Of the 2 species of kookaburra found in Australia, the laughing kookaburra is the best-known and the largest of the native kingfishers. With its distinctive riotous call, the laughing kookaburra is commonly heard in open woodlands and forests throughout NSW national parks, making these ideal spots for bird watching.

    • A juvenile platypus saved by National Parks and Wildlife staff. Photo: M Bannerman/OEH

      Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus)

      One of the most fascinating and unusual Australian animals, the duck-billed platypus, along with the echidna, are the only known monotremes, or egg-laying mammals, in existence. The platypus is generally found in permanent river systems and lakes in southern and eastern NSW and east and west of the Great Dividing Range.

    • Red kangaroo, Sturt National Park. Photo: John Spencer

      Red kangaroo (Macropus rufus)

      The red kangaroo is one of the most iconic Australian animals and the largest marsupial in the world. Large males have reddish fur and can reach a height of 2m, while females are considerably smaller and have blue-grey fur. Red kangaroos are herbivores and mainly eat grass.

    • Echidna. Photo: Ken Stepnell

      Short-beaked echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus)

      One of only 2 egg-laying mammals in the world, the short-beaked echidna is one of the most widespread of Australian native animals. Covered in spines, or quills, they’re equipped with a keen sense of smell and a tube-like snout which they use to break apart termite mounds in search of ants.

    • Wedge-tailed eagle. Photo: Kelly Nowak

      Wedge-tailed eagle (Aquila audax)

      With a wingspan of up to 2.5m, the wedge-tailed eagle is Australia’s largest bird of prey. These Australian animals are found in woodlands across NSW, and have the ability to soar to heights of over 2km. If you’re bird watching, look out for the distinctive diamond-shaped tail of the eagle.

    • Yellow-tailed black cockatoo. Photo: Peter Sherratt

      Yellow-tailed black cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus funereus)

      The yellow-tailed black cockatoo is one of the largest species of parrot. With dusty-black plumage, they have a yellow tail and cheek patch. They’re easily spotted while bird watching, as they feed on seeds in native forests and pine plantations.

    Plants

    • Grass trees, Sugarloaf State Conservation Area. Photo: Michael Van Ewijk

      Grass tree (Xanthorrea spp.)

      An iconic part of the Australian landscape, the grass tree is widespread across eastern NSW. These Australian native plants have a thick fire-blackened trunk and long spiked leaves. They are found in heath and open forests across eastern NSW. The grass tree grows 1-5m in height and produces striking white-flowered spikes which grow up to 1m long.

    • River red gum, Murrumbidgee Valley National Park. Photo: Paul Childs

      River red gum (Eucalpytus camaldulensis)

      Australian native plants, majestic river red gum trees are widespread across Australian inland river systems. The river red gum is a dominant tree species of the Murray-Darling basin which spans NSW, Queensland and Victoria. This iconic native eucalypt grows to a height of 30m and is thought to have a lifespan up to 500-1000 years.

    Environments in this park