Although the bushwalk to Corang Arch in Morton National Park is quite easily done as a day walk, the fairly long drive from Sydney makes it a great choice for an overnight bushwalk. Arriving mid-afternoon, Andy and I head down the Wog Wog Walking Track from the Wog Wog Campground with our overnight packs.
Day 1 – Wog Wog Campsite to Goodsell Creek (5.4km)
The plan is to walk about an hour in and set up camp (remote camping is allowed anywhere at least 500m away from roads). We’ll then do the loop to Corang Arch via Corang Peak the following day with small day-packs.
The well-defined Wog Wog Walking Track descends for the first 600m down to Wog Wog Creek, which is flowing nicely. (It’s the last place to fill up water bottles until you reach Goodsell Creek.)
The creek is easily crossed a couple of metres upstream without shoes getting wet, and from here it’s mostly uphill for the next few kilometres.
Uphill, but never overly steep and pleasant walking. The trail passes a few dense patches of picturesque purple coral pea (or Hardenbergia violacea, for my friends who know my deep knowledge of botanical names!)
A small pagoda-like rock formation just next to the track provides a nice view out to the south-west.
Visible in the distance are some of the peaks of the Great Dividing Range, including Mount Gillamatong, Mount Tumanang and Mount Lowden.
Just after this vantage point is a track off the main Corang Arch trail that goes up to another lookout from the top of a small hill. The track passes a number of tall rock outcrops, which unlike the rock formations of the Sydney-Hawkesbury basin are not sandstone but conglomerate. Although largely consisting of dissected sandstone plateaux, Morton National Park has many of these conglomerate outcrops which were formed from a mix of fluvial and deltaic deposits laid down in the Permian period, and then uplifted and eroded.
After passing an interesting column of rock, the lookout trail reaches a rock platform near the top of the hill.
The views aren’t spectacular, but the elavated vantage point offers a nice vista towards the north.
The Wog Wog Walking Track now descends towards the headwater of a tributary Goodsell Creek, as the sun starts to dip below the horizon.
We find a secluded campsite away from the track, not far from the junction of the Wog Wog Walking Track and the Wog Wog to Corang Lagoon Track. (There’s no water here but we’re self-sufficient; if you want to camp near water continue another 500m or so along the Wog Wog to Corang Lagoon Track to a small campsite near to Goodsell Creek.)
Day 2 – Corang Arch Loop [18.6km]
We’re up and on the trail early on the second day, as we continue along the Wog Wog Walking Track (also called the Scenic Rim Walking Track on some maps) towards Corang Arch.
The Wog Wog Walking Track is mostly uphill all the way to Corang Peak, but it ascends fairly gently. It passes a few more conglomerate rock formations, including crossing a gap between two large outcrops.
There are some nice views as the track gradually ascends elevation; soon Corang Peak is visible on our left – the Wog Wog Walking Track follows the ridge-line as it skirts around two gorges at the headwaters of Goodsell Creek and Broula Brook to the north and Korra Hill to the south.
In contrast to the more rugged, steep and forested landscape of the northern end of Morton National Park, the southern end of the Wog Wog Walking Track goes through dry heathland (which is one of the most common vegetation types of the park). Corang Peak is now almost directly ahead.
Some increasingly dramatic scenery can be seen from the track: to the south is Admiration Point and to the south-west is Wog Wog Mountain.
A few of the potential boggier sections of the track have planks in place; although I’ve seen the Wog Wog Walking Track described as being “for highly experienced hikers” so far it’s a very good track. As you get closer to Corang Peak, you can see below the mountain the rugged gorge at the head of Broula Brook.
Just before the start of the Corang Peak ascent the distinctive nipple-shaped peak of Pigeon Mountain (Didthul) comes into view (the mountain’s traditional Aboriginal name of Didthul translates to “woman’s breast,” a direct reference to its shape).
The Wog Wog Walking Track starts to climb up to the top of Corang Peak; there is an alternative track that skirts around the eastern side of Corang Peak, if you want to avoid the fairly short ascent.
The top of Corang Peak offers outstanding, 360 degrees over Morton National Park and all the way out to the Pacific Ocean. The view has been described as “one of the best in the Budawangs”.
Looking east over the vast Morton National Park is is Talaterang Mountain, Mount Owen, The Castle and Pigeon Mountain (Didthul).
To the south-east is Durras Mountain on the coast, a small speck from here.
There are great views over Canowie and Burrumbeet Brooks as the Wog Wog Walking Track descends the north-eastern side of Corang Peak.
It’s just over a kilometre before Corang Arch is reached, which is on the left (west) side of the track. You can’t see the arch from the Wog Wog Walking Track, which requires a short off-track excursion.
It’s best to approach Corang Arch from the south, which provides a relatively safe and easy route on top of the massive sandstone bridge.
From this direction you can also get to a position directly opposite the arch, where the pile of enormous boulders shows the forces of nature at work; the arch would originally have been connected to the ridge.
This is one of the best vantage points to photograph Corang Arch.
You can see the Wog Wog Walking Track continuing down into the valley to the east; it continues to the Canowie Brook camp site and Burrembeet Brook camp site (both popular camping spot for overnight trips to Corang Arch) and all the way to Long Gully via The Castle. While you could return the same way from here – which is the easiest option – it would mean missing some of the best parts of the area.
Instead continue along the Wog Wog Walking Track, which provides a different perspective of the rock formations around Corang Arch.
The route descends fairly steeply down the conglomerate outcrop, with the pebbly surface providing fairly good grip.
The well-formed trail continues to descend, with the distinctive Profile Rock Hill directly ahead (we don’t have time today, but an off-track ascent to the top from the northern side of this outcrop rewards with great views).
As the Wog Wog Walking Track reaches the bottom of the valley, we turn left onto the Canowie Brook to Corang Lagoon Track. Although the start of the track isn’t obvious, it’s a very good track which crosses the grassy valley.
There are some nice views Profile Rock Hill which is now just above us on the right (east). The Canowie Brook to Corang Lagoon Track soon converges with Canowie Brook, near a large, picturesque pool.
The track follows the creek quite closely (with a couple of slightly boggy sections, but nothing too serious) before it ascends a bit higher up the side of the valley.
Just below the confluence of Canowie Brook and the Corang River, a steep but short side-track descends to the river.
It’s an incredibly scenic spot and somewhat unexpected after the fairly dry landscape we’ve been walking through all morning: a waterfall dropping into a large and deep pool under towering columns of rock. More smaller pools and cascades are downstream. Informally called the Rock Ribs Waterfall, it’s an inviting place for a swim or just to enjoy the sound of the river cascading over the rocks.
The walking track continues above the Corang River – we lose the trail a few times as it traverses the rocky side of the valley – and at times there seems to be a few different trails to choose from. Another picturesque pool and smaller set of waterfalls soon comes into view.
This is my favourite section of the Corang Arch loop, as the Canowie Brook to Corang Lagoon Track closely follows the Corang River, past multiple cascades, sandy beaches and swimming holes.
Where the Broula Brook flows into the Corang River is a small campsite just above the river; from here the Canowie Brook to Corang Lagoon Track leaves the river as it ascends gently.
The trail ends at a fence-line and the New Corang Lagoon Trail. A number of signs attached to the trails explain that the Corang Lagoon, previously gazetted as a Crown Reserve, has been sold by the NSW Government and is “at risk”. That’s mostly incorrect… the land to the south and west of Corang Lagoon has been held privately as leasehold land from around 1942, and converted to freehold land in 2011. While there was a bushwalking track across this private land since the 1960s, the new owners in 2018 decided to close these tracks and enforce their rights as property owners to prevent bushwalking access. As a result the New Corang Lagoon Trail provides legal access to the lagoon via a new route.
The new route followes the river quite closely, and is very boggy and a bit overgrown in a places. As we push our way through the scrub, we startle a snake which promptly slithers into the water.
It’s just over a kilometre to Corang Lagoon, and a bit slow-going at times. (If you’re happy to get wet feet it would be easier and more pleasant walking up the river… just look out for snakes!)
Returning the same way, we continue along the Wog Wog to Corang Lagoon Track, which closely follows the boundary of the national park. It’s also a relatively new track, replacing the previous aligment which crossed private property.
It’s the least interesting part of the Corang Arch Loop; not unpleasant, but there’s not much variety in the scenery as the trail crosses a number of gullies. Most of the creeks are running; the final and biggest gully is Goodsell Creek, which has a good flow.
From Goodsell Creek it’s a consistent climb back up towards our campsite, and the junction with the Wog Wog Walking Track.
Goodsell Creek to Wog Wog Campsite (4.5km)
After packing up our tents and clearing our campsite, we shoulder our overmight packs for the (mostly) downhill return route along the Wog Wog Walking Track to the campground. Unlike the previous afternoon when we saw no-one else on the track, today we encounter dozens of bushwalkers heading out for the long weekend.
It’s been a fantastic overnight trip, combining a remote campsite with a diverse loop bushwalk carrying only a light day-pack. (If you’re planning on exploring the area over several days and doing more side-trips, then Canowie Brook or Burrumbeet Brook campsites are a better option. But if you’re looking to do Corang Arch as day-walk, camping near the start of the loop is much nicer than staying in the Wog Wog Campground.)
Getting to Corang Arch
The Wog Wog Walking Track (or Scenic Rim Walking Track) starts from the Wog Wog Campground on Charleys Forest Road, which is on the western side of Morton National Park. The campground has a pit toilet and BBQ facilities – but no water is available (booking required – see link below).
Whichever route you take to reach Wog Wog campground, only the last 5km along Charleys Forest Road is unsealed – but is suitable for all vehicles.
- From Sydney the quickest route is via the Hume Highway; it’s 96km (1:15min drive) from the Marulan exit and 2.5-3 hours from Sydney
- From the south coast there is access via Braidwood Road; it’s about 170km (2 hour drive) from Wollongong
- From Canberra it’s about 125km (1:30min drive) via the Kings Highway and Nerriga Road.
More information
- NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) – Wog Wog campground
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