National parks and karst conservation areas of the Greater Blue Mountains Area Blue Mountains • Gardens of Stone • Jenolan Caves • Kanangra-Boyd • Nattai • Thirlmere Lakes • Wollemi • Yengo

Kanangra Boyd National Park is a national park some 180 km west of Sydney and adjacent (south and east) to Jenolan Caves. Expansive mountain gorges, magnificent lookouts and a series of wild and scenic rivers give a special edge to Kanagra-Boyd's wilderness.

Understand

Created in 1969, Kanangra-Boyd National Park covers 66,681 ha.

History

The slope leading up to the Kanangra Plateau was made in 1942 by Australian Army Engineers. It was intended to be part of the Oberon stock route, where, in the advent of Australia being invaded by the Japanese cattle, sheep and possibly pigs would be driven, via Burragorang valley to Oberon - crossing the Kanangra Plateau. The battle of Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands where the Japanese suffered their first defeat (1942) stopped the Japanese thrust and the Oberon stock route was not needed.

You can still drive the stock route in a 2WD vehicle towards Yerranderie, and old ghost town is now privately owned and run for tourism. It isn't a through route though.

Landscape

Kanangra Boynd under snow

Visitor information

• Park website

Get in

The only road is an unpaved dirt road which is very bumpy at times, but nonetheless accessible by 2WD. For hints and tips, read Driving in Australia. Seeing the park and the lookout is an easy day trip from Oberon, slightly longer from the towns of the Blue Mountains such as Katoomba, and possible in a long day trip from Sydney. If you are visiting Jenolan Caves, the trip to the lookout will take around 30 minutes each way.

There is no public transport to the park. Driving is the usual way of getting there. It would be possible to cycle from Oberon if you were particularly enthusiastic.

Fees and permits

The fee to use the park is $7 per day per vehicle.

See

• 1 Kanangra Walls. Including a magnificent waterfall, prime abseiling territory.  
• 2 Thurat Spires. 
• 3 Mount Cloudmaker.  

Wildlife abounds at Boyd Crossing, where car-based camping is available (fees apply).

• 4 Black Banksia Falls. (updated Nov 2020)

Do

Bushwalking

• All visitors can take the 10 minute walk from the car park to Kanangara Walls, wheelchair accessible - the views are spectacular.
• Experienced bushwalkers aren't forgotten either with many extended walks and opportunities for 'Backpack camping'.

Eat

There are no places to eat. Bring your own food.

Sleep

• There are several sites where you can camp next to your car.

Camping

• 1 Boyd River campground, Kanangra Walls Road, Kanangra, ☏ +61 2 6336 1972. 30 campsites available. $6. (updated Jul 2024)

Cope

There are toilets available in the park, but they are pit toilets (and they don't smell good, especially in summer).