Passage To Pilliga

Adventure Awaits Within NSW’s Rugged Pilliga National Park.

- Kev Smith

IT’S HARD to find unique areas these days without travelling plenty of clicks from civilisation, but we recently found a rare pocket within mid-western NSW. The Pilliga is a flat 3000km² area of dense bushland that has significant meaning to the local Kamilaroi people, who have called this place home for nearly 30,000 years.

Located midway between Narrabri and Coonabarabran the Pilliga is a maze of signposted tracks that crisscross each other, and it’s said it would take a week of driving to complete all the roads within. The best bet to avoid this but still explore the area’s secrets is to head to the local discovery centre in Baradine and grab a map and some local information on where to start.

Our trip began by heading to the Sculptures in the Scrub picnic area and campground, about 35km away. The roads mostly have a sandy and gravel base and are generally in good nick, but the dry creek crossings can be a little rough in spots. The sculptures, designed and made by local elders, are a welcome sight for anyone meandering along the hourlong Dandry Creek gorge walk.