Location
Mangrove Mountain, Dharug NP
Duration/Distance
~28km / 2 days (circuit)
Track Grade
Medium/Hard walk
- Creek crossings and sections of rock scrambling
- Erratic and unpredictable weather; severe storms possible year-round
- Remote circuit on managed tracks with limited phone coverage
- Sustained ascents and descents on historic road formations
Fitness Level
Suitable if you can:
- Walk 12–15 km per day carrying a full overnight pack (10–15 kg)
- Manage ~300 m total ascent/descent
- Manage creek crossings/rock scrambling on uneven terrain
Pricing
From AU$750 per person
The Dubbo Gully and Ten Mile Hollow Circuit is one of the great multi-day walks of New South Wales — and one of the most historically layered. Over two days and one night, this loop through Dharug National Park traces some of the earliest colonial infrastructure ever built on the continent: convict-constructed roads, stone bridges and pastoral tracks that have been largely untouched since the mid-twentieth century.
This is not a walk about scenery alone. It is an encounter with the lived experience of the convict road gangs — up to 720 men who quarried, shaped and laid the sandstone that became the Great North Road between 1826 and 1836 — and with the pastoral families, the failed township dreams, and the quiet persistence of the Dharug people on whose Country all of this unfolded.
The loop follows parts of the World Heritage-listed Great North Road, Simpsons Track (1838–1840) and Donnys Track (1940s), passing through a landscape that still holds its evidence: Clares Bridge (arguably the oldest surviving stone bridge on the Australian mainland), the ruins of St Thomas’s Anglican Church at Dubbo Creek, Fairview Homestead — the last original slab-timber homestead in the area — and Upper Mangrove Mountain Cemetery, where at least 21 early settlers rest in bush that has changed little in over a century.
- Walk sections of the World Heritage-listed Great North Road (1826–1836), engineered and built by convict road gangs, some working in leg irons
- Cross Clares Bridge — arguably the oldest surviving stone bridge on the Australian mainland, constructed January–September 1830 and named after convict overseer Arnold Clare
- Explore Fairview Homestead (1922), the last remaining original slab-timber homestead in the area, resumed by Gosford City Council in 1973
- Visit Upper Mangrove Mountain Cemetery (1847–1949), resting place of at least 21 early settlers
- The ruins of St Thomas’s Anglican Church, Dubbo Creek — a weatherboard church built prior to 1910, now standing in dignified silence
- Trace Simpsons Track (1838) and Donnys Track (1940s) — historic roads now given back to the landscape
- One night under canvas at Ten Mile Hollow Campground, a site with its own deep history
- Creek crossings, rock scrambling and sweeping sandstone country throughout Dharug National Park
- Specialist-guided experience with qualified archaeologist/historian guides in a small-group format
(2 Days / 1 Night | ~28 km circuit)
- Day 1 – Dubbo Gully Carpark → Upper Mangrove Mountain Cemetery → Fairview Homestead → Ten Mile Hollow (Camp) Meet mid-morning at Dubbo Gully Road Carpark. The first day moves through the pastoral and ecclesiastical heart of the circuit — interpretive stops at Upper Mangrove Mountain Cemetery (1847–1949) and Fairview Homestead (1922) trace the lives of the farming families who carved out an existence in this remote valley. Afternoon arrival at Ten Mile Hollow Campground. Camp dinner and evening interpretation around the fire.
- Day 2 – Ten Mile Hollow → Clares Bridge → Great North Road → Dubbo Gully Carpark Break camp after breakfast and follow the return leg of the loop along the convict-built road formations — Clares Bridge, the evidence of extraordinary stonework cut directly into the cliff face, and the engineering of the Great North Road itself are the story of the day. The circuit rejoins near the cemetery before returning to the carpark. Creek crossings and optional swim stops where conditions allow.
Walking time across both days is approximately 7–8 hours total, including rests and interpretation. Times are approximate and may vary with group pace and weather conditions.
- Professional guiding by qualified archaeologists/historians, trained in bush craft, navigation, remote area first aid and emergency response procedures
- Catering: 1 × dinner, 1 × breakfast, 2 × trail lunches + hot drinks & snacks
- Cooking stoves and filtered/treated water
- Environmentally friendly plates, cutlery and cups for all meals
- Safety and navigation equipment
- National Parks access fees
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To make a booking, pick a date that suits and the number of people joining you on the adventure and let’s go!
BEFORE booking, please note:
- Pricing
- Standard ticket – Suitable for all participants aged 17+ years.
- Youth ticket – Suitable for participants aged 12-16 years. Youth (12–16) receive 20% off Standard ticket price.
- Minimum age – 12 years old.
- Under-18s – All participants under 18 must attend with a parent/guardian (1:1).
- 65+ years old – Participants aged 65+ must provide a GP medical clearance letter during booking.
- You’ll be asked for date(s) of birth during booking.
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