Bald Rock National Park

Bald Rock National Park is a geological marvel and cultural landmark tucked into the New England Tablelands of northern New South Wales. Just north of Tenterfield, Bald Rock National Park brushes with the Queensland border and Girraween National Park. It’s home to Australia’s largest granite monolith, a place where ancient geology meets panoramic views and deep Indigenous history.

We had originally planned to camp at Bald Rock National Park for two nights and go on a couple of walks. Instead, we camped for four nights at Boonoo Boonoo National Park and drove to here to walk up to the Bald Rock summit. We had also added in a day at Basket Swamp National Park , so having a single camp location saved us packing up camp and setting up again.

With getting to the summit of Bald Rock being our objective, we were trying to find out information on the best way for us to go. There are two main ways to get to the top. One is shorter, 2.7 kilometres return but rated as grade 5, the other is a 5.7 kilometre walk with an easier grade 3 rating.

The map was confusing because it shows the grade 5 track to be the final section to the summit. Someone else must have been confused with it also because it had permanent marker showing the section that was the steep grade 5 part.

After discussions with a couple of others who had already been to the summit, we decided to walk up the face of Bald Rock on the Summit Walk and return via the more scenic Bungoona Walk. This gave us the best of both walks, and with knees that don’t like ponding down steep hills, it seemed it would be the least taxing on our (my) legs.

The first part is the Bald Rock Base Walk, which is an easy grade 1 walk with the trail sealed the entire way. There are a couple of interpretive signs along the way, describing the volcanic history of the creation of the granite rock formations. It takes you to the base of Bald Rock, where the grade 5 section begins. No easing into it!

Looking at the steep climb ahead of us, it doesn’t look daunting in any way. We set off, with our younger and fitter boys powering ahead of us. The climb is continuous, and while it varies slightly as you climb, the grade of steepness is fairly consistent. The technique we used was simple – we simply put our heads down and walked forwards. It isn’t a straight line walk from the bottom to the top, although you could possibly do so. Most of it is straight up with the odd zig and zag on the way, with white markers on the rock showing the best path to take.

The climb needed constant breaks. I couldn’t say how many times we stopped to catch our breath, only that Fiona and I had to stop more often than our younger, fitter, and actively sporty children. Stopping had its advantage. While climbing up the face of Bald Rock, with every step the view behind us constantly improved. Every stop to catch our breath was rewarded with another and better panoramic scene.

Even our younger, fitter, and actively sporty children were doing the same. The continually revealing view would not present itself in the same way on the walk down, so if you don’t have any other reason to choose the direction for the rock face, this is a high value reason to choose ‘up’.

Eventually, around 400 metres from the base, the face of Bald Rock started to level out and reached the point where the easier track joined for the rest of the walk to the summit. We were 100 metres higher up.

One of our family said they have never had to use Pythagoras Theorem, so they didn’t see why they had to learn it. Using Pythagoras, I calculated that by progressing 400 metres on Strava, and having climbed 100 metres elevation, our true hiking distance was 412 metres. They said ‘yep’ and continued towards the summit, so I think I changed their views.

The climbing hadn’t finished yet, but it becomes more varied with interesting formations and wildflowers along the way. In complete contrast, the trail followed a simple gravel path through some vegetation, then climbing up granite rock structures and rudimentary steps.

We then came out to the best view presented to us thus far. This part and the next were possibly my favourite views, better than the summit of Bald Rock itself. It is why I chose it for the feature photo for the Bald Rock National Park brown sign destination. The formation of the granite rock shows a ridge across a gully, displaying stripes of colours. The stunning view of the rock and the backdrop of the panoramic view into the distance was a sight to see.

The next part of the summit walk can be seen, but signage stops you from walking directly to it, instead following a path between rocks. The smell of the wild flowers was amazing, pungent enough so as to not requiring leaning in to smell the flowers.

Now close to the summit, a feature on Bald Rock shown on one of the interpretive signs before the ascent is found. A cluster of granite tors sit on the otherwise flat granite top. The large boulders are known as The Brothers, although I wasn’t able to find out how they were given their name.

Once you pass The Brothers, the summit of Bald Rock is close with only a few steps up to the final rise to the top. There is a trig point at the top and a directional dial showing the various landmarks with the direction and distance to them.

The summit is but half the journey, with the walk back to the picnic area yet to be completed. Leaving the summit, we walked back passed The Brothers and through the boulders to the location of coloured granite gully, then down to where the main climb finished. From here, deviated onto the Bungoona Walk for a more gradual decent off of Bald Rock.

The first part was a similar open flat granite rock face, but nowhere near as steep. It quickly became a more formed track and took us through granite formations, between boulders, gaps, and arches. The collection of boulders through this section are known as the Granit Titans.

We met a lovely couple at the summit and spoke with them for a lot of the Bungoona Walk. They had spent a lot of time in the area and had been to the Bald Rock summit a number of times. We had been talking about how great the wild flowers were in the national parks and they told us to keep an eye out for the rock orchids. There is one perched on top of the left boulder in the photo above. The ones we spotted (which wasn’t many) were all towards the tops of rocks that you wouldn’t expect plants to grow.

The Arches is an interesting group of granite boulders with one sitting over the top of the others, forming a rudimentary arch. The trail heads through the arch, and like passing through a portal, the landscape changes with vegetation more plentiful than the large rocks.

The rest of the walk is a pleasant and gradual walk along a gravel trail. We only spent the one day at Bald Rock National Park and started later than we first planned. Bald Rock is the main attraction and namesake of the national park, so we at least experienced the best part. We would like to have at least 2 days, if not more next time, but we’d include a climb to the summit again.

Because we needed a vehicle permit for all of the parks for each day we were in the area, we opted to get the annual multiple country parks pass for around the same cost. With the annual pass, we have the option to attend more parks for the next year, which has served us well during other years visiting New South Wales national parks.

Walking Trails

Bald Rock Base Walk

An easy grade 1 walk from the picnic area, this is the only wheelchair accessible walk. The walk is mostly flat with only gentle rises, passing through the open forest, with a bridge crossing over Bald Rock Gully along the way. Interpretive signs along the way give information about the rock. Near the end is a sheltered picnic table and seating.

Bald Rock Summit Walk

With a rating of grade 5, the walk up the face of Bald Rock is the hardest rated walk at Bald Rock National Park. The main reason it is rated this high seems to be because it is a steep climb. Unlike The Pyramid in Girraween National Park where there are sections of the climb with a drop-off on either side of you, the climb is along a broad and otherwise flat surface with the only drop-off behind you as you progress forward.

The walk upwards is relentless, and we regularly found ourselves stopping to catch our breath. Bald Rock is the largest granite dome monolith in the southern hemisphere. From the base, the climb is only around 400 metres, however, the elevation increases by around 100 metres. It took us under 9 minutes to climb including stops, but stopping is part of the adventure because while you climb you are looking forward. Stop for a rest and turn around and you suddenly see the spectacular panoramic view forming immediately behind you.

Bungoona Walk

For a more leisurely climb, the Bungoona Walk climbs to the same elevation as Bald Rock Summit Walk, except it does it in around 2 kilometres, 5 times the distance. It takes longer to walk but there is more to see as well.

The walk takes you between granite boulders and a feature called The Arches. The granite boulders after The Arches are known as the Granite Titans.

Little Bald Rock Walk

This walk starts along the Border Link Trail, to the border of Bald Rock National Park (New South Wales) and Girraween National Park (Queensland). It then heads south towards a large granite rock, where the walking track leaves the Border Trail and climbs up the spine of Little Bald Rock.

The walk up the rock is easy and provides views of Girraween National Park and of the western side of Bald Rock. Continue to rejoin the Border Trail and loop back through granite boulders to return, or continue on to South Bald Rock.

South Bald Rock Walk

South Bald Rock is in Queensland, part of the Girraween National Park. The walk starts off the same as Little Bald Rock, except instead of leaving the border trail, continue on the pockets of dry rainforest and damp woodland gullies. The grade of the walk is rated as 3, however, if you include the walk up the spine of Little Bald Rock on the way (or on the way back), it is a grade 4.

Carrolls Creek Walk

This is an all-day hike taking in a lot of great features of the Bald Rock National Park. It loops around Bald Rock and Little Bald Rock, viewing them from all angles.

Grade 3, 19km loop, 8 hours

Border Walk

Follows along the historic border fence of New South Wales and Queensland, displaying country changes of dry woodlands to upland swamps. The 2km return walk to Bookookoorara Lookout rewards with great views of Bald Rock.

Grade 3, 13.7km loop, 6-7 hours

Fairy Valley Walk

This is a walk to be done in spring to see the display of wildflowers. The loop is made up of several trails. From the Bald Rock Campground, follow the Bookookoorara Trail, then the Fairy Valley Trail back to the access road. The walk then continues along the access road to return to the picnic area and campground.