Ngiyampaa walking track
Mount Grenfell Historic Site
Overview
Ngiyampaa is a moderately challenging walk to Choy trig station at the summit of Mount Grenfell. Enjoy the scenic view from the rocky lookout point at the top.
- Where
- Mount Grenfell Historic Site in Outback NSW
- Distance
- 4km loop
- Time suggested
- 1hr 30min - 2hrs 30min
- Grade
- Grade 4
- What to
bring - Hat, sunscreen, drinking water
It’s worth the extra effort to hike along the range to the summit of Mount Grenfell, where you’ll find Choy trig station on Ngiyampaa walking track. There are expansive scenic views from the top across this otherwise flat landscape, and along the way are opportunities to see unusual rock formations and mallee trees. Enjoy a picnic lunch at a rocky lookout point at the top. The vast, arid country you can see out there is the traditional land of Ngiyampaa Wangaaypuwan people, who have a long and enduring relationship with this place.
While you're walking, keep an eye out for red and grey kangaroos. Emus still pace the land like prehistoric sentinels and you'll see them recorded in the rock art on the way to this track. When the weather’s warmer, geckos, snakes, shinglebacks and bearded dragons will emerge to soak up the sun. Keep your binoculars handy for birdwatching.
Map
Map legend
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/ngiyampaa-walking-track/local-alerts
General enquiries
- National Parks Contact Centre
- 7am to 7pm daily
- 1300 072 757 (13000 PARKS) for the cost of a local call within Australia excluding mobiles
- parks.info@environment.nsw.gov.au
Park info
- in Mount Grenfell Historic Site in the Outback NSW region
Mount Grenfell Historic Site is always open but may have to close at times due to poor weather, fire danger or cultural activities.
Visitor info
All the practical information you need to know about Ngiyampaa walking track.
Track grading
Features of this track
Distance
4km loop
Time
1hr 30min - 2hrs 30min
Quality of markings
Limited signage
Experience required
Some bushwalking experience recommended
Gradient
Short steep hills
Steps
Occasional steps
Quality of path
Rough track, many obstacles
Getting there and parking
On entering Mount Grenfell Historic Site:
- From the picnic area, walk past the locked gate and continue up the road towards the hill.
- Look for a green sign showing the way to the walking track
- Follow the stone path to the art sites
- At art site 3, there is a sign directing you along Ngiyampaa walking track.
Road quality
Check the weather before you set out as the road to Ngiyampaa walking track can become boggy when it rains.
Parking
Parking is available at Ngiyambaa walking track, including several designated disabled spots. Bus parking is also available.
Best times to visit
There are lots of great things waiting for you in Mount Grenfell Historic Site. Here are some of the highlights.
Spring
White mallee flowers are blooming and birdwatching is at its best during this season.
Winter
This is ideal weather for hiking Ngiyambaa walking track.
Weather, temperature and rainfall
Summer temperature
Average
20°C and 33°C
Highest recorded
47°C
Winter temperature
Average
5.5°C and 16.5°C
Lowest recorded
-2.5°C
Rainfall
Wettest month
January
Driest month
June
The area’s highest recorded rainfall in one day
109mm
Facilities
Drinking water is not available in this area, so it’s a good idea to bring your own.
Maps and downloads
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
Ngiyampaa walking track is in Mount Grenfell Historic Site. Here are just some of the reasons why this park is special:
Living off the land
Emus and kangaroos inhabit Mount Grenfell and, on warmer days, you’re likely to see bearded dragons, shinglebacks and geckos. Keep a careful eye out too for endangered kultarr (also known as jerboa pouched-mouse, wuhl-wuhl or pitchi-pitchi), which can best be described as a mouse that hops. While you’re looking down for a pitchi-pitchi, you may also see a red-capped robin rifling through the leaf litter. This bird is often part of a mixed species feeding flock with other similarly sized birds such as thornbills, which also inhabit the park.
Making a scene
At Mount Grenfell, art featuring all facets of Aboriginal life covers rocky overhangs surrounding the park’s waterhole. Many are linear paintings done by applying wet pigment with a fingertip or natural brush. Others are hand stencils. In some places, ochre and white pipeclay have been applied thickly and left to dry. More recent paintings have been superimposed over older ones. There are stick figures, human figures, images of birds and animals, medicine, food, the landscape and dreaming stories. This art remains deeply significant to Ngiyampaa people.
Ngiyampaa: Past, present and future
The Ngiyampaa (pronounced nee-yam-par) are dryland people associated with the arid plains and rocky hill country of Central West NSW bordered roughly by Lachlan, Darling-Barwon and Bogan Rivers. The semi-permanent waterhole at Mount Grenfell was an important meeting place for generation after generation of this Aboriginal group. Following European settlement, however, Ngiyampaa people were moved to stations northwest of Wiradjuri country and in the 1930s, many were relocated again to Murrin Bridge near Lake Cargelligo. On 17 July 2004, Mount Grenfell was handed back to traditional owners and is now jointly managed with NSW NPWS. Ngiyampaa people maintain strong connections with this area and continue to pass on cultural knowledge.