Now surrounded by scrub, the Kariong trig station would have offered sweeping views from the top of Mount Kariong when the flat-topped peak was cleared of vegetation. The trig mark was established in 1881 as one of the “Base Line” stations in the first Trigonometric Survey of the country, with “line of sight” to seven other trig stations. (The Wondabyne trig station to the south was not established until 1941.)
The current cairn, pole and mast were placed in 1971, and are now in fairly poor condition.
The mast has been destroyed, but most of the rusted vane is still in situ.
The Kariong Trig station was originally documented as being 807 feet (246m) in elevation; in 1953 it was revised to 823 feet (250.8m). The height of Mount Kariong is currently recorded as 250m on the LPI topographic map and the trig station as 250.88m.
Getting to the Kariong trig station
There’s no easy way to reach the Kariong trig; the most direct route would be via the Rifle Range Fire Trail which is strictly off-limits to the public as it goes through the Gosford rifle range. The alternative approaches all use the Great North Walk with the trailheads being the Kariong Scout Camp (prior permission required), Wondabyne station and Woy Woy Road via Thommos Loop. From the Great North Walk it’s about 2.5km off-track to the top of Mount Kariong.
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