Description
Whilst this trek’s central theme is
Yengo National Park, there is much more the visitor can experience as you make your way from Wiseman’s Ferry, crossing the Hawkesbury River by ferry, before arriving at St Alban’s. St Alban’s is an historic settlement where the
Settlers Arms Inn is the focal point for most visitors. As you leave St Alban’s take the time to have a stroll through the cemetery which is well kept and not far from the Inn.
After St Alban’s the road meanders through the St Alban’s common before climbing towards
Mogo camping area near where you can view sections of the old convict road.
The trek takes you on a short trip down the bitumen to Yango Creek Road, just before the village of Laguna, and this will eventually lead you into the Park proper with the trek doing a circuitous route taking in the
Burragurra Aboriginal Site and Finchley Aboriginal Site before taking you past some horse studs and vineyards before arriving at
Wollombi.
For those not wanting to commence the trek at Wiseman’s Ferry it is possible to travel up the F2 Freeway from
Sydney, taking the Peat’s Ridge turn-off and starting the trek at the Yango Creek Road turn-off. If you are returning to
Sydney this is the quickest route especially if you have done the trek in one day.
Interactive Route Map

Wiseman's Inn Hotel
Solomon Wiseman was a man who served with the British intelligence services against Napoleon’s forces during the very early years of the 1800s. After an episode of misconduct, he was transported as a convict to Australia where he eventually received a full pardon in 1812.
Features:

Position: 150.9855ºE 33.3855ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Webbs Creek Car Ferry
Distance: 0.46km
Average Speed: 22.17km/h
Webbs Creek Car Ferry
The ferry crosses the Hawkesbury River just south of the junction of the Macdonald River. The trip takes approximately 5 minutes. The service operates 24 hours, 7 days a week (closed for maintenance on the first Tuesday of each month from 9.30am to 12 noon).
Features:

Position: 150.9823ºE 33.3878ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Settlers Arms Inn
Distance: 20.43km
Average Speed: 33.56km/h
Settlers Arms Inn
Surrounded by glorious mountains, the Settlers Arm Inn which was established in 1836 was built from sandstone in Georgian-style architecture. The hotel nestles alongside the Macdonald River within the tiny village of St. Albans. It used to be a frequent stopover for Cobb & Co.
Features:

Position: 150.9703ºE 33.2913ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: St Albans
Distance: 0.54km
Average Speed: 40.55km/h
Features: Place Name
Position: 150.9712ºE 33.2863ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: St Alban's Cemetery
Distance: 3.65km
Average Speed: 22.71km/h
Features:

Position: 150.9743ºE 33.2585ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Mogo Creek
Distance: 20.19km
Average Speed: 45.52km/h
Features: Place Name
Position: 151.0654ºE 33.1654ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Mogo Camping Area
Distance: 4.81km
Average Speed: 39.97km/h
Mogo Camping Area
Toilet, Fire Place, Sheltered Kitchen Area, Bollards.
Overnight camping attracts a fee within the park and is based on an honour system.
Mogo Camping Grounds offer campers a wonderful camping experience for both the seasoned traveller and the family weekend getaway.
Features:

Position: 151.0913ºE 33.1447ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Great North Road - Remnants of the Old Road
Distance: 6.39km
Average Speed: 41.16km/h
Position: 151.1357ºE 33.1100ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Yallambie
Distance: 11.23km
Average Speed: 57.93km/h
Features: Place Name
Position: 151.1324ºE 33.0236ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Yango
Distance: 5.2km
Average Speed: 47.42km/h
Features: Place Name
Position: 151.1061ºE 33.0003ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Burragurra Aboriginal Site
Distance: 18.57km
Average Speed: 27.16km/h
Features:

Position: 151.0367ºE 33.1150ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Boree Rd & Boree Track
Distance: 7.77km
Average Speed: 21.41km/h
Features:

Position: 151.0476ºE 33.0592ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Boree Rd & Yango Track
Distance: 2.6km
Average Speed: 38.57km/h
Features:

Position: 151.0582ºE 33.0413ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Finchley Camping Area
Distance: 10.18km
Average Speed: 30.6km/h
Finchley Camping Area
Toilet and Fire places.
Overnight camping attracts a fee within the park and is based on an honour system.
Pit toilet and three fire places.
Overnight camping attracts a $5.00 per head camping fee. Contact NPWS Gosford (02) 4320 4200.
Features:

Position: 151.0133ºE 32.9800ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Finchley Aboriginal Area
Distance: 0.32km
Average Speed: 13.06km/h
Features:

Position: 151.0133ºE 32.9783ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Finchley Trig Lookout
Distance: 1.15km
Average Speed: 22.46km/h
Features:

Position: 151.0217ºE 32.9783ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Upper Yango Creek Rd & Boree Rd
Distance: 11.19km
Average Speed: 31.46km/h
Features:

Position: 151.1036ºE 33.0017ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Yango
Distance: 0.27km
Average Speed: 11.69km/h
Features: Place Name
Position: 151.1061ºE 33.0003ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Wollombi Tavern
Distance: 9.72km
Average Speed: 42.05km/h
Wollombi Tavern
The Wollombi Tavern is renowned for good old fashioned hospitality, the gateway to Australia’s famous Hunter Valley Wine Country and more importantly – the home of the infamous Dr. Jurd’s Jungle Juice.
Features:

Position: 151.1400ºE 32.9383ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Wollombi
Distance: 0.07km
Average Speed: 10.69km/h
Features: Place Name
Position: 151.1414ºE 32.9383ºS (GDA 94)
Permits
No
permits are required to visit the region, but overnight
camping attracts a fee within the park and is based on an honour system. Please respect the private access roads within the region.
Things to See & Do
This is an area that ranges from rugged sand-stone cliffs to picturesque farms alongside the water courses making it a photographers paradise.
There are a number of stand-out attractions within this region, one of which is the aboriginal rock carvings that can be viewed within
Yengo National Park. The area also has a link to
Australia’s early settlement with some settlers in the region having links to our convict past. Visitors can also view sections of the Great North Road that was built with convict labour.
Watching the sun set over
Yengo National Park from the
Burragurra Aboriginal site is a peaceful experience, especially if you are lucky to be there by yourself.
Preparation
Whilst this is not a difficult four-wheel drive trek, the standard
recovery gear should be carried, along with a supply of water. Whilst water is sometimes available at
Mogo camping area, there is none available at the
Finchley camping area and campers will need to be self-sufficient.
Fuel Supplies & Usage
Usage is averaged from
TrekFuel (* specific to trek) submissions and calculated based on trek distance.
Wiseman’s Ferry. No fuel is available at
Wollombi. There is fuel available if you head back to
Sydney along the George Downes Drive.
Best Time To Visit
This trek can be undertaken all year round, however it would be best to avoid the area if wet.
Closest Climatic Station
Mangrove Mountain Aws
Distance from Trek Mid Point 21.06km SE
| | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun |
Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| Mean Max. °C |
26.6 | 26.5 | 24.3 | 21.8 |
18.2 | 16.0 | 15.2 | 17.2 |
20.1 | 22.3 | 23.8 | 26.1 |
| Mean Min. °C |
16.6 | 17.0 | 15.2 | 12.2 |
9.6 | 7.4 | 6.2 | 6.8 |
9.5 | 11.5 | 13.4 | 15.4 |
| Mean Rain mm |
94.5 | 127.3 | 129.5 | 62.2 |
107.9 | 98.5 | 43.7 | 55.2 |
66.1 | 73.1 | 81.4 | 67.6 |
Best time to travel Ok time to travel Travel NOT recommended
Wiseman’s Ferry has a range of shops at which most supplies can be purchased.
Camp Sites & Accomodation
There is
camping available at
Mogo camping area, which is a picturesque area that has wood fire
places, a camp shelter and a pit toilet. Mogo camp area also has bollards in place making it difficult for those with camper trailers. Finchley
camping are is more basic, but also has a pit toilet and wood fire
places, but is camper trailer friendly.
Accommodation is plentiful at Wiseman’s Ferry, ranging from a Caravan Park to Resort style
accommodation. The
Settlers Arms Inn at St Alban’s also has overnight
accommodation available and there are numerous B & B alternatives available at Wiseman’s, St Alban’s and
Wollombi.
Environment
Yengo is a wilderness of steep gorges and rocky ridges. There are several rock types scattered throughout the park, the oldest being Narrabeen
sandstone. Geologists think it formed when sand particles began washing down from mountains in northern NSW about 230 million years ago. Hawkesbury
sandstone then formed on top. The youngest and rarest rock type in the park is Wianamatta shale. Because shale areas are very fertile they have mostly been used for farming. Areas in their natural state like those in the park are now quite scarce.
History
According to local Aboriginal lore, Mt Yengo is the place where Biamie departed to the skies after finishing his creative tasks during the Dreamtime. The mountain top was flattened when he stepped on it. Aboriginal people have probably live in the area for about 13,000 years. Yengo is criss-crossed with Aboriginal routes used by highland and coastal tribes, where reciprocal visits were often arranged to exploit seasonally abundant food. The path of the historic Old Great North Rd was probably an Aboriginal travelling route shown to surveyors by local people.
The land and waterways, and the plants and animals that live in them, feature in all facets of Aboriginal culture – including recreational, ceremonial, and spiritual and as a main source of food and medicine. They are associated with dreaming stories and cultural learning that is still passed on today. We work with local Aboriginal communities to protect this rich heritage.
To find out more about Aboriginal heritage in the park, you can get in touch with the local Aboriginal community. Contact the park office for more details.
The Old Great North Road, which runs along the park's south-east border, was one of the most important civil engineering feats of the early years of the colony of
New South Wales. It was built using convict labour over the period 1826–1836 to provide a route from
Sydney to the Hunter Valley. Today you can see spectacular and beautifully preserved examples of convict-built stonework including buttresses, culverts, bridges and 12 m high retaining walls. Unlike most major roads of the period, the Old Great North Road has survived in its original form because it fell into disuse almost before it was completed. Steamers between
Sydney and Newcastle became the preferred mode of transport in the 1830s and an alternative road to the Hunter also became more popular.
Distance is GPS recorded driving distance (not straight line), Direction is straight line from start to end, Time is calculated from actual GPS driving data.