Hiking to Gentlemans Halt Campground on the Canoelands Ridge Trail

The Canoelands Ridge Walking Track is a challenging 22km return overnight hike that lands you at the remote and stunning Gentlemans Halt Campground right between Dangar Island and Wisemans Ferry on the Hawkesbury River. 

We acknowledge that this adventure is located on Darug Nation, the traditional land of the Darug people who have occupied and cared for this land for thousands of years. We pay our respects to them as the Traditional Custodians and recognise that sovereignty was never ceded.

Quick Overview

The Canoelands Ridge Walking Track is a 22km return, Grade 4 hike located in Marramarra National Park in New South Wales. The hike should take around 8-10 hours to complete. It’s often done as an overnight hike, sleeping at Gentlemans Halt Campground (make sure you book your spot).

Quick Facts Canoelands Ridge Walking Track

Distance: 22km return
Duration: 4-5 hours (one way)
Elevation: 779m
Closest town: Glenorie

About Canoelands Ridge Walking Track

If you’re looking for a hike with it all then the Canoelands Ridge Trail to Gentleman’s Halt Campground won’t disappoint! Enjoy panoramic views of the Hawkesbury River, a few heart-pumping canyoning sections, and a tranquil riverside campsite. Keep an eye out for the black cockatoos flying overhead. It’s the perfect spot to unwind and soak in the Aussie bush, particularly because there’s some effort required to get there so it’s never hugely busy.

History of Gentlemans Halt Campground

Gentlemans Halt Campground is a remote camping area, nestled onto an outcrop in Marramarra National Park – accessible by either a long hike along the Canoelands Ridge Walking Track or by boat. 

Marramarra is part of the traditional lands of the Darug people, with the name believed to mean ‘many fish.’ Gentlemans Halt, on the other hand, takes its name from being a campground that Governor Phillip stayed at during his second exploration of the Hawkesbury River.

In 1789, Phillip writes that he and his party camped ‘on the most commodious spot we could find, which was a low and marshy point,’ between Dangar Island and Wisemans Ferry.

How To Get To Gentlemans Halt Campground

Start at the Canoelands Ridge car park, between Forest Glen and Maroota.

If you pass the Canoelands Orchard, you’re heading in the right direction. Limited parking favours the early risers.

Follow the trail for Canoelands Ridge Walking Track for 8km before taking the left turn for Gentlemans Halt. Make sure you’ve booked your spot if you intend to camp!

This is a remote hike, so make sure you know: How To Poo in The Bush

Skill Level

Intermediate

Essential Gear

• Two days’ worth of water
• Head torch
• Mosquito repellent
• First aid kit
• Shoes with good grip (in wet weather!)
• Tent
• Sleep system
• Food for dinner, breakfast, and snacks

What It’s Like to Hike to Gentlemans Halt Campground

Day 1 – A Hot Hike Down to The Hawkesbury

From the outset of this overnight hike, a work event the night before had left me feeling just short of amazing after one too many espresso martinis.

The weather man had threatened over 60mm of rainfall over the two days, with humidity levels soaring above 80%. But in my recent experience, meteorologists have always been far from hitting the mark. The need for respite in nature had provided all the motivation I needed to roll out of bed and prepare my pack.

After setting out on the 11km hike just past midday, (most of which is categorised as ‘moderate’ by National Parks NSW and the final 2km categorised as ‘hard’), the heat and humidity truly were in top gear.

Read more: How To Hike in Hot Weather

The beginning portion of the hike takes you along a wide-set fire trail, winding through hilly sections of steep climbs and descents. It’s not long before you’re traversing atop the ridge with panoramic views along the Hawkesbury River and surrounds. 

Being mid-February, there were quite a few wildflowers in abundance including Flannel flowers, banksia and at lower points, the Lambertia formosa or ‘mountain devil’ made an appearance too. Ant hills peppered the trail and don’t be surprised to catch a few cobwebs to the face throughout the journey too. 

A sprinkling of rain made the environment all the more humid, as we reached the 8km point. At the turn off towards Gentlemans Halt Campground, the path narrowed into a single-file track through thicket before reaching the mountain edge. This section is said to be only 2km long as the crow flies but definitely felt more like 5km on the ground. 

Canyoning Before Camp

Once you pass a second sign for the campground indicating the remaining 1.7km, the hiking turns more into canyoning. There’s a lot of shimmying down rocks and stepping across crevasses which proves difficult with a 10kg+ pack on your back. In the winter months or wet weather, it would definitely be advised to have good grip trail shoes for this section.

At last, we reached the campsite – ready for dipping our feet in the river and wetting the whistle with a bottle of Armagnac after the hot journey. The serenity of this spot really subdues you into a state of relaxation, contemplation, and observation.

A few hours passed just sitting on the rocks by the waterfront, looking for eagles and watching the water ripple as boats passed. The overnight temperature dipped only slightly, making for a comfortable night of rest.

Hot tip: All of the campsites in Marramarra National Park need a booking, you can book Gentlemans Halt campground on the NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service website.

Day 2 – Waking Up by The River

When we woke in the morning, a layer of mist had settled in over the treetops and the white sky was reflected back to us from the river. The silence of the morning was only interrupted by the oscillating noises of cicadas or the first early-riser taking their boat out. 

The landscape lends itself to thoughts of the Borneo jungle-meets-Okavango Delta-meets-the bush. The majesty of such a giant waterway, surrounded by sweeping valleys of bushland is truly a spectacular sight that I didn’t expect to see just 1.5 hours outside of Sydney.

Read more: Remember to leave no trace!

We took off on our return journey a little earlier on the second day, not wanting to repeat the mistakes of yesterday battling the afternoon heat… A nice breeze rolled through that made the humidity a lot more bearable in the early hours.

We deliberated how many uphills versus downhills there’d been on the journey in – turns out, it was about a 70% uphill, 30% downhill split. The return journey took us almost four hours but was interspersed with over eight black cockatoo sightings.

Most physical challenges are always best met with a cold beverage at the end, so we made our way to the Glenorie RSL to rehydrate and refill the tanks. This pub has a great outdoor area with live music on a Sunday afternoon that really lends itself to a recovery meal.

Marramarra and its surrounds are definitely an area I’ll be revisiting again soon to experience more of the tranquillity and scenery it has to offer.

FAQs Gentlemans Halt Campground

How long is the Canoelands Ridge Trail to Gentleman’s Halt Campground?

The Canoelands Ridge Trail is a 22km return hike in Marramarra National Park, NSW. It takes around 8-10 hours to complete, making it a popular choice for an overnight adventure.

What is the difficulty level of the Canoelands Ridge Walking Track?

The Canoelands Ridge Trail is rated as a Grade 4 hike with rough terrain and plenty of elevation changes. This means it’s challenging and better suited to experienced hikers.

Where is the closest town to the Canoelands Ridge Walking Track?

The closest town to the Canoelands Ridge Trail is Glenorie. It’s a good spot for post-hike reward meals or pre-hike supplies.

Can I stay overnight at Gentlemans Halt Campground?

Yep, staying overnight at the Gentlemans Halt Campground is the highlight of the Canoelands Ridge Walking Track hike. The campground is remote and scenic, perfect for setting up camp and enjoying the views of Marramarra National Park. Just make sure you book your spot! NSW NPWS use booking to manage numbers at the campground.

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