Convict Trail?? Yengo N/P

All of it is only walking trails, but the easiest way to see some of it without having to walk too far is at Wisemans Ferry at divines hill, approx 1/2 a K west of the ferry..

Not exactly in the Yengo N/P though !!

But from Wisemans its an easy trip past St Albans up to Yengo N/P which has a couple of nice places to go enroute to Wollombi...... devils rock and Finchley abo carvings

Are you talking about the convict trail from Howes Valley to Wollombi, or the Old Great North Road from Wisemans Ferry to Wollombi.

I think the trail from Howes Valley to Wollombi is controlled by NPWS and you have to pay to get a key for access.

Best check with NPWS

Deep in the Yengo National Park, a vast wilderness located north west of Sydney between the Hawkesbury River and the Hunter Valley, is a site which is as sacred to the local Aboriginal community as Uluru is to the people of central Australia.

Mt Yengo is a table top mountain, the remnant of an ancient volcano, which rises high above the rugged sandstone gorge country. It is where the creator being Biaime left the earth in the Dreamtime, having finished his work.

It's an imposing sight, particularly when seen from the ridges of the Yango (the aboriginal word for mountain) Track, which, together with the Howes Track, forms a wonderful 4WD route that links the Broke-Wollombi road on the eastern edge of the park with the Putty Road on its western side.

According to the National Parks and Wildlife Service, it is possible to follow Yango Creek Road from Wollombi to the Finchley lookout, camping area and aboriginal rock art site in a conventional 2WD car, but the track is quite rough and testing.

West of the lookout, the Yango/Howes track is 4WD only. It is not particularly difficult in a 4WD, and "soft roaders" such as the Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V, Subaru Forester and Nissan X -Trail can handle it, with care.

There are a few steep climbs and descents, plus some lumps here and there which will test your vehicle's approach, ramp over and departure angles. The track is dry weather only.

The Yango/Howes track is best approached from the Wollombi/Broke road in the east. Signposting at present is poor, so we've included track notes in this story to help guide you through the tricky bits.

Although the track is less the 50 km in length, allow at least three hours to do the trip, because there is plenty to see along the way and the going is slow.

Just north of the Wollombi pub, on the Broke Road, is a left turn at Slacks Park, signposted Yango Creek Road. Take this turn and zero your trip meter. Follow the tight little Yango Creek valley for 9.4 km, where there's a left turn signposted Yango Creek Road. Go straight on instead, signposted to Upper Yango Creek Road and Boree.

Two hundred metres on (a short strip of bitumen) again continue straight ahead, signposted Upper Yango Creek Road. The Boree Track is signposted to the left.

At 12.2 km, you cross a wooden bridge and bear right onto what is signposted as a private road. A steep climb follows. At 13.2 km, bear left towards Yango House.

At 13.9 km, you come to the first NPWS sign - the Finchley Track - at a fork in the road. Follow this sign and bear left.

The Finchley Track now runs along the contours of the sandstone ridges, through dry eucalypt forest.

At 20.8 km, you'll arrive at the Finchley Lookout. A platform provides a spectacular 360 degree view of the surrounding wilderness. You're only 150 km from the middle of Sydney, but there are no signs of civilisation to be seen in any direction.

You can't miss Mt Yengo. It's the large table top mountain to the west. Yengo National Park, together with the adjoining Parr State Recreation Area and Wollemi National Park to the west, forms the largest remaining wild area in NSW, around 200,000 hectares. It's a relatively dry area, but still contains more than 700 plant species, of which 32 are threatened. Its fauna is no less diverse, with 223 species. Endangered ones include the brush tailed rock wallaby and the broad headed snake. Rare birds include the peregrine falcon and powerful owl.

One kilometre on from the lookout is a fork in the track. Bear left, signposted Yango Track, and in about one kilometre you'll reach the Finchley aboriginal rock art site. This has representations of the creator being Biaime etched into the sandstone, and is also believed to be a mapping site, with directions to other significant areas. Two hundred metres further on is the Finchley campground, which has three campsites. Facilities are basic - a toilet and a couple of barbecues.

If don't have a 4WD, you can continue on this section of the Yango Track which takes you back to Wollombi via the 2WD Boree Track.

Return to the fork, just past the Finchley Lookout, zero the trip meter, and bear right this time on the Yango Track. The track now becomes 4WD only, though it's quite easy. At 13.3 km is a quarry on the right, and a track running down the hill to the left. This track descends for five kilometres to Big Yango, a grazing property acquired by the NPWS in 2001.

Big Yango consists of a central homestead and several cleared paddocks in the narrow valleys which surround it. The NPWS is currently renovating the homestead, and an adjacent cabin, for visitor accommodation.

You can also experience the pleasures of remote bush camping at Big Yango. Access is via a permit/key (there's a locked gate at the start of the Big Yango access track); areas have also been set aside for large groups.

Big Yango is very close to Mt Yengo itself. The NPWS is currently consulting with the local Aboriginal community regarding how access to this sacred site will be controlled.

Continuing from the Big Yango turnoff on what is now Howes Track, it becomes steeper and more rough. The next five-six kilometres provides fine views of Mt Yengo to the south.

At 19.7 km is a fork. Veer right. At 18.0 km is a very steep descent, best taken in low range. Bear left at the bottom and you head into a tight narrow valley with several climbs and descents. At 23.7 km you're back in farming country, arriving at the first of four gates. There's a small creek crossing at 25 km.

The last gate, at 26.2 km, brings you out onto the Putty Road, just south of Howes Valley. From here you can head south to Windsor and Sydney, or north to Milbrodale, Singleton and the Hunter Valley.

If you're heading south back to Sydney, the halfway roadhouse, where fuel and food are available, is about 10 km down the Putty Road.

Laguna is a beautiful stop on the way to Newcastle via Peats Ridge. Lovely scenic views which take you through Laguna, Wollombi and Cessnock. There is a beautiful wine/snack bar, rest stop where you can obtain all the usual refreshments. Fill up the tank, sit down, have a bite to eat before you continue down the convict made Old North Road to the next stop Wollombi. Take it easy along the winding roads into Laguna and watch out for wildlife walking across the roads.

If you want more after this trip and have a 4WD once you hit the Putty Road, turn right. Follow it for a few kms over the bridge and on the right is the Old Settlers Road. I recommend obtaining a map and route notes but this brings you back to the Broke Road near Wollombi. Be VERY careful of the creek crossing at the Wollombi end.