Ganguddy-Dunns Swamp Guide – Make Your Friends Jealous by Visiting This Swamp

Spend your weekend at a swamp? Don’t be scared off by the name – with epic views and a kick-ass kayak adventure, Ganguddy-Dunns Swamp is quietly one of NSW’s best campgrounds.

We Are Explorers acknowledges that this adventure is located on the traditional Country of the Dabee people who have occupied and cared for the lands, waters, and their inhabitants for thousands of years. We pay our respects to them as the Traditional Custodians and recognise that sovereignty was never ceded.

Quick Overview

Ganguddy-Dunns Swamp, located 28km from Rylstone in NSW, is an outdoor recreation area and family-friendly campground on the Cudgegong River in Wollemi National Park.

About Ganguddy-Dunns Swamp

Known for its peaceful setting on the winding Cudgegong River, Ganguddy-Dunns Swamp features an easily accessible campground where families and Explorers of all ages can enjoy a weekend of relaxation and outdoor activities.

The area hosts a variety of easy bushwalks, taking hikers through sandstone boulders, along the river shoreline, under the roof of the Long Cave, and up to epic views from the Pagoda Lookout.

No trip to Ganguddy-Dunns Swamp is complete without hitting the water in a kayak or SUP – both are available to rent seasonally on-location from Southern Cross Kayaking. Push off from the water’s edge and you’ll soon find yourself in the shadow of towering sandstone cliffs and ancient pagoda rocks.

Read more: 7 Spots To Kayak Near Sydney

Ganguddy-Dunns Swamp History

Known as Ganguddy to the Dabee People of the Wiradjuri Nation, Ganguddy-Dunns Swamp is one of more than 120 Aboriginal sites identified in the World Heritage-listed Wollemi National Park and includes hand stencils in red ochre, thought to be more than 7,000 years old.

The colonial name ‘Dunns Swamp’ is fashioned after the Dunns Brothers, who, in 1877, built a cottage and shearing shed at the swamp to make use of the freshwater. The landscape, in its current form, was created when the area was flooded during the building of the Kandos Weir in the 1920s.

How to Get to Ganguddy-Dunns Swamp

The best way to get to Ganguddy-Dunns Swamp is by car, and with plenty of great views along the way you’ll enjoy the road trip almost as much as the campground itself.

From Sydney, it’s a four-hour drive to Ganguddy-Dunns Swamp Campground.

Make your way through the Blue Mountains, past Lithgow, and onwards to the town of Kandos. From here you’ll head east and soon come across clear signage for Wollemi National Park and Ganguddy-Dunns Swamp.

The final few kilometres of road to reach the campground are unsealed but well-maintained; you don’t need an off-road vehicle to get there.

See this Google Maps location to plan your trip accordingly, Kandos or Rylstone are your last chances to stock up on food or fuel.

Where to Stay in Ganguddy-Dunns Swamp

If you’re planning to visit Ganguddy-Dunns Swamp, I recommend spending at least one night under the stars – there’s really only one option to stay in the area, but it’s a goodie: Ganguddy-Dunns Swamp campground.

It’s located directly on the banks of the Cudgegong River with easy access to amenities such as picnic tables, barbecues, toilets, and kayak/SUP rentals.

Entry to the national park is free, but you’ll need to book a campsite if staying overnight, with sites available for tent, campervan, and caravan camping.

The campground can be popular during school and public holidays so don’t wait until the last second to book.

Where to Eat in Ganguddy-Dunns Swamp

The closest town to Ganguddy-Dunns Swamp is Kandos or Rylstone, both are about 30 minutes by car. If you’re looking for a place for a bite to eat or coffee, I recommend:

​​Mountain View Bakery & Coffee

Your classic country bakery, reasonably priced and conveniently located on the main road as you pass through Kandos. After a few hours of driving, I suggest stopping in to grab a coffee and vanilla slice.

29 Nine 99 Yum Cha & Tea House

An unexpectedly good Yum Cha restaurant in Rylstone, serving fresh handmade dumplings, steamed pork buns, and an extensive tea list.

Things to Do in Ganguddy-Dunns Swamp

Hiking, kayaking, or enjoying a lazy lunch at one of the riverside picnic tables – the best things to do in Ganguddy-Dunns Swamp are entirely up to you.

Hiking in Ganguddy-Dunns Swamp

1. The Weir Walk

Distance: 4.5km loop
Duration: 1-2 hours
Start/End: Ganguddy-Dunns Swamp Campground
Difficulty: Beginner-Intermediate

The most popular hike at Ganguddy-Dunns Swamp, the Weir Walk is beginner-friendly, clearly marked, and has a total elevation of around 100m. The track is signposted and starts near the campground boat ramp.

The track initially follows the swamp shoreline, winding up to a stunning river lookout before continuing to the Weir Wall and Long Cave. This trail is a circuit and will take you back to the campground. You’ll want to wear enclosed shoes and take 1L of water.

2. Pagoda Lookout

Distance: 2.5km
Duration: 1 hour
Start/End: Ganguddy-Dunns Swamp Campground
Difficulty: Intermediate

Boasting the best views of Ganguddy-Dunns Swamp and the surrounding area, the Pagoda Lookout track involves a bit of rock scrambling, which beginner hikers might find tricky.

Read more: We’ve got a full article on the Pagoda Lookout Track.

3. Campsite Rocks Circuit

Distance: 500m loop
Duration: 20 minutes
Start/End: Ganguddy-Dunns Swamp Campground
Difficulty: Beginner

No hiking shoes? No problem. Located in the centre of the campground, this short track winds a path through towering pagoda rocks and massive sandstone boulders, with signposted information detailing the area’s natural and commercial history.

Kayaking in Ganguddy-Dunns Swamp

For me, this one is non-negotiable. You haven’t done Dunns if you haven’t explored it with a paddle.

For those of us who (sadly) don’t have room to stow a pair of kayaks in our apartment, you can find John and Cindy of Southern Cross Kayaking parked up right beside the boat ramp at Ganguddy-Dunns Swamp Campground between September and April.

Guided tours and hourly rates for kayaks and stand-up paddleboards are available on-site, with the standard kayak circuit taking around two hours to complete.

What makes kayaking at Ganguddy-Dunns Swamp so great? If you’ve done the Pagoda Lookout Track, you’ll have seen the looming sandstone walls and castle-like pagoda rocks lining the swamp’s edge – and they’re even more impressive up close.

Essential Gear for Ganguddy-Dunns Swamp

• Hiking shoes
• Water bottle
• Swimmers
• Camp chair
• Hat
• Sunglasses
• Sunscreen
• Camp gear if you’re staying for the weekend

Read more: Remember to leave no trace!

What It’s Like to Visit Ganguddy-Dunns Swamp

One of the best parts about a trip to Ganguddy-Dunns Swamp is planning the road trip to get there. The scenic four-hour drive from Sydney takes you through the Blue Mountains, along the incredible Capertee Valley, and across farmlands where alpacas shade under lofty sandstone escarpments.

For most Explorers, the hiking and kayaking activities can be accomplished within a few hours, so I take the opportunity to build out the road trip with a few stops along the way. If you’re like me and hit the road early, grab a coffee and enjoy the morning view of Wentworth Falls – a great chance to stretch your legs.

The entrance to the swamp itself feels almost like a gateway as bushes and trees are replaced by imposing pagoda rock towers, forcing the road to wind and weave between weathered walls of stone.

If it’s your first time at Ganguddy-Dunns Swamp, I suggest taking a quick tour of the campground via the Campsite Rocks Circuit, which also provides signposted information about the area’s ecology and history.

If you’re arriving later in the day (and will be spending the night), plan to kayak the following morning and tackle the Weir Walk once you’ve settled at camp. The Pagoda Lookout track can easily be linked with the Weir Walk, and with a fantastic panorama view of the landscape, it’s hands-down the best place to enjoy sunset.

You’ll want to put at least two hours aside to explore the swamp by kayak. From the boat ramp towards the weir (left), there are multi-coloured sandstone cliffs and dense clusters of pagoda rocks; heading the other way (right), the swamp opens up, and the pagoda rocks stand alone like stranded castles among the reeds.

The flora and fauna of Ganguddy-Dunns Swamp are as diverse as the landscape itself. The chatter of birds begins at sunrise and continues through the day, with Purple swamphens patrolling the shoreline and Long-necked turtles hurriedly diving below the surface at the first sign of danger. If you’re really lucky (moreso than me), you may even spot a platypus or Greater gliders in the treetops after sunset.

Ganguddy-Dunns Swamp is an ideal spot if you’re looking to get out of town for a few days and reconnect with nature, with great options for adventurous Explorers and those who want to plop down in their favourite camp chair and watch the world float by.

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FAQs Ganguddy-Dunns Swamp