Summiting Mount Exmouth – Warrumbungle National Park’s Highest Peak

We Are Explorers acknowledges that this adventure is located on the traditional Country of the Kamilaroi, Wiradjuri, and the Weilwan 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

The walk up Mount Exmouth, the highest peak in Warrumbungle National Park, is a very interesting one with fantastic 360-degree views of the park from the top. The scenery along the way is varied with gorgeous grass trees, basalt rock formations, and lovely views.

Read more: Warrumbungle National Park: Best Hikes, Walks and Campsites

Mount Exmouth Facts

There are two main routes to the summit of Mount Exmouth. The harder route is via West Spirey Creek.

The most direct way is by following the Burbie Canyon Trail via the Burbie Canyon car park, which is the route I walked.

Here’s me at the top

Mount Exmouth (Via West Spirey Creek)

Difficulty: Advanced
Distance: 17.8 km return
Duration: 5-7 hours
Starting point: Pincham car park

A long demanding, but extremely rewarding trek to the highest peak in the park. Pass some delightful stands of grass trees and enjoy views in every direction. Don’t miss the short detour to Cathedral and Arch. Ensure you’re well prepared including appropriate clothing and plenty to eat and drink.

Mount Exmouth (Via Burbie Fire Trail)

Difficulty: Intermediate – Advanced
Distance: 17.3km return
Duration: 5-7 hours
Elevation gain: 788m
Starting point: Split Rock car park

This is the less rigorous of the two routes, if you don’t mind following a firetrail for part of the way, and was the route I took. It was very hot in January walking up and down the fire trail, but the track became very interesting past Danu Camp with lots of large rock walls and grass trees.

About Warrumbungle National Park

Warrumbungle National Park is home to Australia’s first Dark Sky Park with crystal-clear night skies perfect for stargazing and astronomy, so a visit to the Observatory and the Information Centre is also very worthwhile.

A lot of people who visit the park walk the iconic Breadknife and Grand High Tops track, and other well-known walks to Bluff Mountain, Burbie Canyon, Belougery Split Rock, Goulds Circuit, Febar Tor, and Macha Tor. To enjoy all the walks in the park, it is good to have at least 3-4 days.

Read more: Grand High Tops Walk and Bluff Mountain in Warrumbungle National Park

The park is also home to endangered Brush-tailed rock wallabies as well as kangaroos and wallaroos. We saw a beautiful Eastern Grey Kangaroo with a large joey in its pouch on our walk.

Also spied this praying mantis

There are also koalas in the park, which we missed seeing, but we did spy some beautifully coloured parrots.

The whole Warrumbungle National Park is still recovering from a major fire, which occurred in January 2013. That fire destroyed 56,000 hectares and 90% of the national park was affected.

Read more: Explore the Warrumbungles, Narrabri, and the Pilliga Forest on This 4 Day Road Trip

Warrumbungle History

The Warrumbungles is a spectacular mountain range shaped by millions of years of volcanic activity and erosion.

The name Warrumbungle is an Aboriginal word from the Kamilaroi people, meaning ‘crooked mountains’. The land the national park now occupies is thought to previously have been home to three different Aboriginal tribes: the Kamilaroi, the Wiradjuri, and the Weilwan. The mountains have been a meeting place for Aboriginal people for thousands of years.

You’ll be walking through ancient lands

The Siding Spring Observatory was officially opened in 1965. It was constructed on the boundary of the park as the area provides a light-free environment. The scientific facility consists of several internationally important telescopes. On the 4th of July 2016, the park was the first within Australia to be certified as a Dark Sky Park by the International Dark Sky Association.

How to Get to Mount Exmouth

Warrumbungle National Park is located approximately 550km northwest of Sydney and 686km from Brisbane. The drive from Brisbane takes around 7.5 hours and six hours from Sydney.

To reach the trailhead for Mount Exmouth from Coonabarabran, travel along Timor Road that becomes John Renshaw Parkway once you enter the national park. Continue along John Renshaw Parkway and travel 3km past the Visitor Centre and turn right into Pincham car park.

Mount Exmouth Skill Level

Intermediate – Advanced 

The climb is a bit of a slog up the mountain, especially in the heat of summer, but once you get off the forestry tracks, it becomes more interesting and easier.

Read more: How to Stay Safe in the Bush: The Ultimate Hiking Safety Guide

Where to Stay in the Warrumbungle National Park

There are eleven campgrounds in Warrumbungle National Park that need to be booked through NSW Parks and Wildlife Service.

Danu Camp and Ogma Camp are two of many in the area

If you prefer to stay closer to creature comforts, Coonabarabran is the nearest town, 35km east of the national park. It’s possible to stay in the town and drive to the park each day and there are lots of places to stay including hotels, caravan parks, and Airbnbs. Our group stayed at the John Oxley Caravan Park in cabins.

Essential Gear for Mount Exmouth

The trek up the mountain is a long day walk, so walkers need to be prepared.

• Day pack
• 3L of water
• Morning tea and lunch
• Rain jacket
• Map and compass
• Hat and sunscreen
• First aid kit
• Insect repellent
• PLB
• Good, comfortable shoes or boots
• Walking poles can be useful on the steep sections
• Binoculars for bird watching

Read more: Remember to leave no trace!

What It’s Like Hiking Mount Exmouth

Walking through Burbie Canyon was lovely. There was some water in the creek. We then walked up a fire trail for 4km to Camp Danu. It wasn’t too bad going up early in the morning, but was very hot coming back down. After having a snack at Camp Danu we headed up the track to Mount Exmouth.

Snackin’ before we get crackin’

We left some of our gear hidden behind rocks to lighten our packs.

The climb to the mountaintop was easier than I expected, although it was a long hot climb in early January in temperatures over 30 degrees.

The park can get very cold during winter so walkers need to be prepared and check the weather before going. I’ve even seen photos of snow on Mount Exmouth. In spring, the wildflowers are lovely, including Pink hyacinth orchids and Nodding greenhoods.

It was very beautiful going through the different habitats with lots of grass trees, basalt rock formations, interesting vegetation, and fantastic 360-degree views from the mountaintop. The ancient volcanic landscape was amazing. On the way up we met a local woman who says she runs up and down the mountain for her regular exercise.

There was a tricky bit near the top where the track looks like it goes left, but actually turns right to a pile of rocks showing the summit. You can walk further on to the edge of the cliffs to get more views.

My friend Renee at the top

There were some praying mantis insects mating in the grass on top of the mountain, and we saw a small brown snake on the side of the track. If you’re very lucky, you may see an endangered Brush-tailed rock wallaby.

They were thought to be extinct in the park in 1991, but were rediscovered there in 1993. There’s a recovery plan for the marsupial, as it’s estimated there are only 12-14 animals left in a remote area of the park.

Tips for Hiking Mount Exmouth

• Phone reception is sketchy in the park, so be prepared with a PLB
• National park entry fees apply – $8 per vehicle per day
• Fill in a trip intention form and hire a PLB for free from the Visitors Centre in the park
• Remember to take your binoculars if you want to go bird watching. We saw Wedge-tailed eagles soaring above the mountain and gorgeous coloured parrots

And take some time to enjoy the views at the top

FAQs for Hiking Mount Exmouth in Warrumbungle National Park

How tall is Mount Exmouth?

Views from the top are about 1,206m above sea level!

Is drinking water available on the Mount Exmouth track?

There isn’t on the actual trail itself, but there is a tap that provides untreated spring water available at Burbie Camp and tank water at Camp Wambelong – which are on the Mount Exmouth route. Please make sure that you purify your water before drinking these water sources.

What other hikes are in Warrumbungle National Park?

Once you’re done with Mount Exmouth, you could hike Belougery Split, Grand High Tops and Bluff Mountain, or one of the many other hikes the Warrumbungles has to offer!