Walking the Walls in Kanangra-Boyd NP

If you’re not afraid of an early start, getting out to Kanangra-Boyd National Park to watch the sunrise could be right up your alley!

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

Quick Overview

Kanangra Walls trail is a 1.6 km return, grade 3 hike located in the Kanangra-Boyd National Park in New South Wales. The hike takes around 30 mins to complete.

Highlights

• Sunrise peeking over the mountains
• Short hike down Plateau Walk for big rewards
• Having the whole Plateau Walk to Kalang Falls to oneself; not a soul around

Quick Facts Kanangra Walls Trail

Distance: 
Duration: 40min to 2h return walking – plus additional photography time
Activities:

• Hiking
• Photography
• Canyoning
• Camping

Skill Level

Beginner

Essential Gear

• Camera gear
• Hiking shoes/boots
• Bottles of water/snacks
• Torch (depending on arrival time)

What It’s Like to Hike Kanangra Walls Trail

My mates and I had a very early morning in South Sydney to make sunrise at Kanangra Walls; 3.00am wake-up to be precise. A quick shot of coffee and some good music got us gearing to go though. After a 3 hour drive, we hit the dirt road that would lead us to the carpark in front of Kanangra’s Plateau Walk.

Make sure you allow for a 45min drive along the winding dirt road (4WD is ideal) to avoid potholes and rock wallabies.

The walk from the carpark to the top of the Walls with the famous lookout is maybe 20 minutes and very easy to navigate. Give yourself time to set up the tripod and find the best spot to watch the sunrise. We watched the light over the mountains behind us bathe the valley in a crimson red before the sun peaked over the edge. It’s an unreal view seeing all the levels of the ridges and valleys in the distance, and all the lights and shadows.

After sitting on the cliff-face for a few minutes, dangling our legs and listening to the birds sing, we kept walking along the Plateau Walk to get some different views of the valley, before turning back to the car and on to Kalang Falls, which is another 20min walk in the opposite direction from the car. These were an unreal series of falls over the mountains and once you’re there you might as well crack on and make a proper day of it!

It was a long drive back home and with considerably more traffic than 5.00am, but we couldn’t stop smiling.

Cameras at the ready, these spots are real beauties!

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Header image by Darren Schiller