The Green Gully Track
North Coast, Country NSW
Overview
Book your adventure to experience rugged gorge country, fern-lined gullies, and high elevation forests on The Green Gully Track. Your group will stay in a different heritage hut exclusively each night on this challenging walk in Oxley Wild Rivers National Park.
4 days, 5 nights
65km Grade 5 - Experienced bushwalkers only
Bookings include accommodation in cottages and heritage-listed stockmans huts.
Bookings include 2 to 4 hikers for 5 nights at $900. Additional hikers at $300 per person. Minimum 2 hikers and maximum 6 hikers per booking.
Available all year
Cedar Creek Cottage to Birds Nest Hut
17.4km
After spending the night at Cedar Creek Cottage your first day of walking follows Kunderang Trail to Birds Nest Hut on the banks of Brumby Creek.
Birds Nest Hut to Green Gully Hut
15km
Day 2 demands an uphill hike to begin, following markers along a ridge until you reach Birds Nest Trig, 1200m above sea level. From this point you're descending 900m into the gorge below with the eyes of many brush-tailed rock wallabies upon you. Green Gully Hut is your haven for the evening.
Green Gully Hut to Colwells Hut
13.5km
Day 3 is a wet one with the unusual challenge of more than 20 creek crossings, some of them requiring you to wade through thigh–high water. Colwells Hut offers you a chance to dry your shoes by the fire before you tackle your final hike tomorrow.
Colwells Hut to Cedar Creek Lodge
17.5km
The final day is the most challenging, being long, uphill and fairly steep. The reward for your efforts is incredible views over ancient forests and a pristine creek that's home to endangered species. Soak up the last of the solitude before a well deserved rest in the comfort of Cedar Creek Lodge.
Is this walk right for you?
This is a Grade 5 walk. A high level of fitness is required and you should have previous experience hiking in remote bushland. It’s not possible to walk the track alone and all walkers must be over 12 year of age.
Over 4 days you'll walk 65km, averaging 7 to 8 hours a day carrying a backpack with food, water and safety supplies. The terrain is steep and difficult in places and requires you to wade through creeks carrying gear above your head. There’s a 900m descent on day 2, and a 600m climb out on day 4.
For the safety of your group you need to stick to the booking itinerary and walk the track in the correct direction each day to ensure your hut is available to your group as booked each evening.
Detailed itinerary
Arrival: Cedar Creek Cottage overnight
Arrive after 2pm to spend the night at Cedar Creek Cottage and get acquainted with the sights and sounds of this remote setting. Each of the next 4 days will bring you a wildly different adventure, and if you’re lucky, many brush-tailed rock wallaby sightings.
Day 1: Cedar Creek Cottage to Birds Nest Hut
Distance: 17.4km
Time suggested: 6-7 hours
On day 1 you’ll need to rise early to begin your walk along the undulating Kunderang trail. It’s mostly a fire trail that follows a long ridge separating Green Gully Creek Gorge from Kunderang Brook Valley. There are spectacular views to the east over the valley, and a lot of tall woodland.
Day 2: Birds Nest Hut to Green Gully Hut
Distance: 15km
Time suggested: 8 hours
Today you’ll need to follow trail markers that guide you along the ridges. A sharp ridge from Birds Nest Hut brings you to Birds Nest Trig, 1200m above sea level.
Further on, a spectacular rock formation known simply as The Rocks is a great spot for lunch with views looking down Green Gully Creek and across to Paradise and Tooth Rocks in the distance.
After your break it’s time to continue down the ridge to the junction of Twofall and Brumby Creeks. On the remaining 1.5km walk to Green Gully Hut keep a look out for brush-tailed rock wallabies as you squeeze through Brumby Pass where 2 imposing cliff faces almost meet. Enjoy a well-deserved rest at Green Gully Hut.
Day 3: Green Gully Hut to Colwells Hut
Distance: 13.5km
Time suggested: 8 hours
Be prepared for a watery adventure today with more than 20 creek crossings, ranging from ankle to thigh deep. You’ll be navigating and crossing the pristine waters of Green Gully Creek all day.
When you reach Green Gully Canyon there’s a beautiful swimming hole, making it the perfect place for a lunch stop and a swim. This is also where the water level can be thigh to chest deep and you’ll need to carry your pack above you. There’s a marked detour if you don’t want to walk through the canyon but it’s steep and difficult.
This canyon marks the old boundary between the former Green Gully property and the pastoral block owned by the Youdale family.
A trail sign marks the spot where you leave the river to walk on to Colwells Hut. The hut offers a welcome camp to finally dry your shoes and socks for the night in preparation for day 4 which is the most challenging.
Day 4: Colwells Hut to Cedar Creek Lodge
Distance: 17.5km
Time suggested: 8 hours
Today is the most challenging, being mostly uphill including a 600m climb over less than 3km. It’s best to start walking in the cool of the morning and take lots of drinking water. The climb over Colwells Trail has great views over pockets of dry rainforest. Ancient forests like these have World Heritage status in other parts of Oxley Wild Rivers National Park.
Creek water might be available when you reach Birds Nest Creek but needs to be boiled before drinking. Be mindful of chemical pollutants like sunscreen and insect repellent which are fatally sensitive to the endangered frogs that live here.
You’ll know you’re on the home stretch when Cowells Trail meets Kunderang Trail and you turn right to retrace part of the walk from day 1 back to the comforts of Cedar Creek Lodge.
Departure
After a well-earned rest at Cedar Creek Lodge and a final breakfast in the solitude of this special place it's time to farewell your friends, pack up your gear, and check out by 10am
Price and inclusions
Bookings include 2 to 4 hikers for 5 nights at $900. Additional hikers at $300 per person. Maximum 6 hikers per booking. You can’t walk the track alone.
Cedar Creek Cottage has 6 mattresses on old stretcher beds, a hot shower, flushing toilet, slow combustion wood fire, outside fire pit and paved area, basic kitchen with two gas burners, cutlery and crockery, large billy, large frying pan, large saucepan/rice cooker and coffee percolator, 6 camp chairs with side tables, a small 12 volt fridge/freezer, an outdoor gas barbecue, outdoor picnic table and undercover parking.
Birds Nest, Green Gully and Colwells Huts each have an outdoor picnic table and paved area, indoor and outdoor open fireplaces, 6 camping chairs, 6 stretcher beds with mattresses, a 2-burner gas ring and gas bottles, basic crockery and cutlery, large billy, large frying pan, large saucepan/rice cooker and coffee percolator, internal sink, and a pit toilet. Colwells Hut sleeps 4 inside and another 2 outside on stretcher beds.
Cedar Creek Lodge has 10 mattresses on bunk beds in 3 bedrooms, a hot shower, flushing toilet, a slow combustion wood fire, outside fire pit and paved area, a fully equipped kitchen, including fridge (no freezer), gas oven, grill and stove, coffee percolator, cutlery and crockery, dining table and chairs, lounge chairs, an outdoor gas barbecue, outdoor picnic table, and a large verandah.
Each hut has an internal fireplace and a fire pit outside. Fires are not permitted outside of these areas. Firewood is only provided between 1 April and 30 September, outside the bushfire period. Please use as little firewood as possible, it's an expensive item to replace in these remote locations.
Drinking water. Each hut has a rainwater tank. We recommend that you boil all water or bring means of purifying the water before drinking.
Power. Cedar Creek Lodge has renewable 240 volt power, but cannot run devices drawing large currents like toasters, hairdryers or EV vehicles. The other huts have 12 volt solar power for lighting only.
Rubbish. Please note there are no bins along the track, so you’ll need to carry all rubbish to deposit in the bins provided in the final hut.
Where you stay
Night 1
Cedar Creek Cottage
Night 2
Birds Nest Hut
Night 3
Green Gully Hut
Night 4
Colwells Hut
Night 5
Cedar Creek Lodge
Getting there and parking
The Green Gully Track starts and ends at Cedar Creek Cottage in Oxley Wild Rivers National Park. Your car will be left behind a locked gate during your walk. Detailed information on how to reach Cedar Creek Cottage is provided after you make a booking.
Maps
You'll find a detailed pocket map to help you navigate the track when you arrive at Cedar Creek Cottage. It includes the route line, contours, grid references, emergency information, mobile coverage spots and locations of huts and trails. You won't need a topographical map.
You can also download the NSW National Parks app before you leave home. Make sure you download Oxley Wild Rivers National Park and Werrikimbe National Park in the app. This will show you where you are on a map of the walk, even when you have no mobile reception. It's a good idea to switch your phone off to save battery, and consider taking a portable charger for your phone too.
Safety
Always check alerts for park closures before you leave home.
You'll need to be fit and prepared for long, sometimes arduous walking over 4 days in a remote location. The track includes very steep sections and multiple creek crossings. Never take shortcuts or leave the route.
The weather is unpredictable and prone to storms, flooding and high fire danger in summer. Be equipped for changing conditions. In a severe storm, seek refuge under a hard roof, or low-lying, open areas. Avoid exposed locations, ridges, gorges, large trees, high points, and water edges. Take extra care and watch out for falling tree branches, especially after wind or rain.
Ticks and leeches are common in this subtropical landscape, especially in summer. Wear long, loose clothing to prevent insect bites and know how to treat a snake bite or tick bite.
Phone and mobile safety
There’s no landline phone at Cedar Creek. The only mobile phone reception is at Cedar Creek Lodge. There's limited service for texting up at the main entry gate depending on your network provider.
Mobile phone service is available on some networks at scattered high points along the track. These are marked on the map provided after booking.
Keep your mobile phone switched off to save battery, except in the case of an emergency. The phone will be searching hard for a signal which will flatten the battery quicker than normal. Consider bringing a portable power bank to charge your phone as well. Download the Emergency Plus app and consider taking a personal locator beacon for emergencies.
First aid and emergencies
In an emergency call police, ambulance, or fire on Triple Zero (000). Give the name Oxley Wild Rivers National Park, the Green Gully Track, and the name of the last hut you stayed in.
There are no first aid supplies in the huts. Bring your own personal first aid kit. A blister kit and sports strapping tape are highly recommended, as the steep climbs in and out of the gorge put pressure on your toes and heels.
If an emergency occurs, arrange for most of the people in your group to stay together, then send at least 2 people for help. Make sure you know where you are on the track – your pocket map has coordinates that you can use with your GPS if you have one.
Trip intention form
It's a good idea to let someone know where you're going. Fill in a trip intention form to send important details about your trip to your emergency contact.
What to bring
You’ll receive a detail list of things to pack after you make a booking.
This is a 4 day walk so you'll need to carry a waterproof backpack with a capacity of 50 litres (up to 15kg) and a dry bag.
Pack enough food for 5 days and 5 nights. Water is available from rainwater tanks at each hut but you need to boil it before drinking. We recommend bringing a trangia stove.
You’ll need to bring a sleeping bag, torch, first aid supplies, and it’s a good idea to carry a PLB. Check our bushwalking safety tips to make sure you pack all the essentials and are wearing the right gear.
Weather and seasons
Spring: Wattle trees and native orchids add some colour along the track, and the grass is still short. Spring walking conditions are ideal.
Summer: The creeks are a welcome sight for a cooling paddle after a long day of walking.
Autumn: A great time to tackle The Green Gully track when the days are not too hot and the nights not too cold.
Winter: Crisp, cool and clear days are good for tackling the challenging terrain, but bring a good sleeping bag!
Wheelchair access
This experience is not wheelchair accessible or suitable for people with reduced mobility.
Bookings
- National Parks Contact Centre
- 7am to 7pm daily
- 1300 072 757 (13000 PARKS) for the cost of a local call within Australia excluding mobiles
- parks.info@environment.nsw.gov.au
More information
- Walcha office
- Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 4.30pm
- 02 6777 4700
- npws.nea@environment.nsw.gov.au
Fill in a trip intention form
