Tackle The Budawangs: Sandstone Caves and Temperate Rainforests
The Budawangs is a rugged mountain system in the South Coast region of New South Wales. This vast, designated wilderness area, located within Morton National Park, constitutes a major spur of the Great Dividing Range. Geographically, the range creates a distinct border between the New South Wales South Coast and the Southern Tablelands.
Sandstone Formation and Defining Peaks
The range’s foundation is built from ancient rocks known as Devonian sediments, which were pushed up over millions of years. This geological history connects the Budawangs to the wider Sydney Basin, an area that was the bed of an ancient sea about 270 million years ago. Much later, the entire region was lifted hundreds of metres higher when the Tasman Sea began to form, starting around 84 million years ago.
This deep geological past is what gives the park its modern landscape. It is mostly a sandstone environment, which creates soil that is poor in nutrients. However, the presence of volcanic rock on some slopes provides a sharp contrast to the barren, rocky outcrops. This rock slowly breaks down into fertile soil, which in turn supports patches of tall forests, creating a rich and varied environment across the park’s 800-metre altitude range.
Defining Peaks and Features
The Budawang Range stretches for 53 kilometres and is not a single ridge but a collection of several ranges, including the Currockbilly, Pigeon House, and Wirritin Ranges.
Pigeon House
Perhaps the most iconic landmark is Pigeon House Mountain (Indigenous name Didthul). It features a sheer-sided nub of brittle Nowra sandstone perched alone on a conical base. Remarkably, prehistoric marine fossils can be found even on its summit.
Corang Arch
Corang Arch is a massive sandstone arch. This impressive natural bridge, sculpted by wind and erosion, is a major highlight for hikers.
The Castle
The Castle is one of the most iconic peaks in the Budawangs, named for its towering, fortress-like cliffs and flat-topped summit. Reaching the top involves rock scrambles and rope-assisted sections.
Wildlife and Vegetation
Morton National Park serves as a vital sanctuary for animal and plant life. The varied terrain—spanning an 800-metre altitude range and including both nutrient-poor sandstone and fertile volcanic soils—supports a rich diversity of ecosystems.
Flora
The eastern slopes of the park support tall eucalypt forests and temperate rainforest, with Monolith Valley being one of the most well-known heavily forested regions. In sharp contrast, the surrounding high plateaus are often characterised by sandstone heath, which supports shrubby, biodiverse vegetation adapted to the poor soil.
This diverse habitat is a refuge for several threatened plant species. Most notably, the critically endangered Budawang wallaby grass finds its last refuge high on the summits of Mount Budawang and Currockbilly Mountain. This rare plant is endemic to the area and has been declared an “Asset of Intergenerational Significance,” granting it extra legal protection. Other threatened species, including Budawang ash and pinkwoods, are found on the range’s eastern slopes.
Fauna
The park is an essential sanctuary for a wide range of wildlife, including 41 species considered rare or threatened.
At least 31 native mammal species are found here, including threatened populations of brush-tailed rock-wallabies, koalas, tiger quolls, and potoroos. The park also hosts 176 species of birds. Among these is the Powerful Owl, Australia’s largest owl, which roosts in large, old-growth trees (often over 150 years old).
The park’s rich biodiversity continues with 19 species of frogs, 24 species of lizards and 14 types of snakes.
Historical Significance and Indigenous Connections
The Budawang region has a deep human history, beginning with the long-standing presence of First Nations Peoples.
Indigenous Heritage
The region was the home territory of at least three distinct Indigenous groups: the Budawang people, who lived between Duras and Conjola; the Wandandians, who occupied land north of Pigeon House Mountain (Balgan); and the Walbanjas, who lived to the south.
Archaeological records confirm an Indigenous presence in the Budawangs dating back at least 11,000 years. The evidence points to continuous cultural use, including occupational deposits in rock shelters, open campsites, and axe-grinding grooves, which are often found on rocks beside creeks. While art sites and rock arrangements are rare, the most significant known site is located on Quilty’s Mountain.
European Land Use and Military Activity
European activity in the region includes logging, which began in the early 1900s and continues today in state forests outside the national park boundaries. Alongside this, several grazing farmlands operate around the periphery of the park, both east and west of the range.
The area also has a significant military history. Between 1943 and 1974, the Australian Army used the Tianjara plateau as an artillery range for practice bombing, exercises, and off-road vehicles. Furthermore, the Royal Australian Navy currently designates the area as a low-fly training zone, where jet aircraft and helicopters are permitted to conduct high-speed flights as low as 15 metres above the ground.
Weather and Seasonality
The climate in the Budawangs is highly variable, heavily influenced by its rugged terrain and significant altitude range of over 800 metres. The park’s peaks, two of which exceed 1,100 metres, create localised weather patterns where conditions can change rapidly.
- Summer: Maximum daily temperatures in the high 20’s and the most rainfall.
- Autumn: The weather becomes milder, but rainfall is still relatively high for the first half of the season.
- Winter: This is the driest time of year, but it is also the coldest.
- Spring: Temperatures begin to warm, and the park’s vegetation comes into bloom.
Temperature Graph
Below is the average temperature for this region, where the shaded area highlights the range expected 80% of the time.
Best Time for Walking
Spring is a popular season for the Budawangs, as the sandstone heath comes alive with colourful wildflower blooms. The area is also frequently visited in winter, due to the low rainfall.
