We’d had the Bald Rock summit hike on our list for a long time and it didn’t disappoint; in fact it’s one of our new favourite walks in NSW! It’s a really varied track, with a short but steep climb up a granite rock face, followed by some fabulous views, cool balancing boulders and incredible rock caverns. The hike was a lot of fun and especially gorgeous during the soft light of sunset.
The biggest surprise was just how quiet this park is, we didn’t see anyone on either hike we did and had the whole whimsical landscape all to ourselves for hours.
Here’s everything you need to know about the Bald Rock hike.
The Bald Rock hike
The stats
Distance: 4.5km loop
Elevation gain: 200m
Difficulty: Moderate
Trailhead: Bald Rock Campground Day Use Area, Bald Rock NP
Summary: There are three different ways you can tackle the Bald Rock hike, you can either walk up and down the summit track, up and down the Bungoona Walk, or make a circuit using both tracks.
We opted for a circuit, hiking up the summit track and down the Bungoona track, which we’d recommend unless you really don’t fancy the summit track (which involves walking up the rock face). In terms of the rock face walk, it’s steepish, but not really steep in a vertigo inducing way.
Steepness & difficulty
The summit track never feels anywhere close to vertical, or something you might need to use your hands on. When dry, the granite is extremely grippy and white reflective markers map the route up. Do not attempt it in wet weather or just after rain when the rock would become slippery.
I wasn’t sure what to expect and it was much easier than I thought it would be. If you have vertigo, don’t look behind you and I think it would be fine - however, if you have acute vertigo then skip it.
If you’re also considering the nearby Pyramid Walk in Girraween National Park, it’s worth noting Bald Rock is much easier, so if you’re unsure you’re best to start with this one!
The Bungoona path is predominantly a bushwalk on a well maintained trail, there are plenty of steps, but they are generally shallow. You will still have a short amount of walking on a granite slope to reach the junction with the summit track, but only a very small amount is steep and it doesn’t feel exposed.
Both tracks then converge to reach the summit, which is on a mix of gravel paths and some rock slope - but nothing steep or scary.
I personally prefer a steep ascent and a shallow descent, so we went up the summit track. However, if you’re heading to the top for sunset and don’t mind a steep descent, then light-wise you are better walking in the opposite direction. This will give you maximum time enjoying the rock caverns on the Bungoona Walk, as well as being able to watch the full sunset at the summit knowing you only need to leave enough time for the short rock face descent (which can easily be done in the twilight).
Starting the Bald Rock Summit Track
Assuming you want to walk the track in the same direction we did, you will start on the summit track. From the Bald Rock car park you will head onto the wide gravel path, which is signposted.
The climb begins very gently and there’s good shade from the surrounding forest. You’ll quickly come to a metal bridge and cross it to find the junction with the Bungoona Walk, which is signposted.
You’ll head straight on, continuing gently uphill on a gravel path.
After 300m there’s a nice picnic area on the right and you can see Bald Rock ahead. It gets a little steeper after this and just 100m later you’ll reach the stairs leading onto the rockface.
Climbing the rockface
The next 450m are spent climbing up one of the shallower faces of Bald Rock. The easiest route up is marked by white reflectors. It is steep in parts, but you can walk up without having to use your hands, or feeling like it’s difficult to stay upright. The rock is as grippy as it gets when dry.
It’s definitely a walk up, rather than a scramble.
I could feel a bit of calf burn, but it never felt unsafe or scary. If you are nervous about heights, just keep looking forwards; if you’re not, the view behind you gets better and better.
The climb is not straight up, there is a little bit of traversing, which is not on a steep gradient. There are also parts where it doesn’t feel too steep, so you can stop for a break if needed.
After 450m you will see where the Bungoona Walk comes in from the left. From here you’ll walk a couple of steps further and then leave the rockface and join a gravel path heading gently uphill.
There are lots of cool boulders here and we were lucky enough to see a rock wallaby perched on top of one.
Reaching the summit
Once you leave the rockface, you’re just over 600m from the summit. This last part of the walk is on a mix of gravel track, flat rock slope and a small amount more uphill climbing on rock.
Reflectors continue to mark the way and after 350m you’ll come to a signpost.
The sign does mention ‘Dangerous area beyond this point’, but honestly, the path is easier than that first rockface climb, so I am not sure what makes it dangerous!
The giant balancing boulders are 50m away and you get great views in both directions.
From the balancing boulders you can either follow the reflectors to the left, traversing a bit of flat rockface and then climbing up a bit of rock and some steps to the summit, or you can cross the rockface and climb up the rocks you can see straight ahead of you.
We made a little circuit and both routes are good and don’t have any difficult terrain. The route straight ahead (to the right of the boulders) is the more obvious one, so likely the one you’ll use to get to the summit, which is 200m away (1.5km from the car park).
The Bald Rock summit
The top of Bald Rock is large and predominantly flat, so there’s plenty of room to spread out in the unlikely event it is busy at the top. The views are panoramic so it would be a great spot to watch the sunrise or sunset.
We opted for sunset, though sadly had to leave around 10 minutes before it actually set as we wanted to see the boulder caverns on the Bungoona Track with at least a little daylight left.
The summit is completely exposed, so it can get pretty windy up there. You’ll probably want a layer if you’re up there for sunset even in summer just incase.
There’s quite a large area to explore and you can spot all the famous features of bordering Girraween National Park.
If you’re not familiar with the area there’s also one of those plaques that names all the surrounding peaks.
The views are great, especially during golden hour, though we do think the view at Little Bald Rock just pips it for us - though there’s no comparison when it comes to the trail itself, Bald Rock is a much better walk.
The Bungoona Walk: completing the circuit
The Bungoona Track is almost double the length of the summit track, but it’s well worth the extra walk if you have time. It’s also an easy descent if you don’t like the idea of walking back down the rockface.
The first 550m follow the same track back, but instead of walking down the rockface you’ll head right, following a new set of reflectors.
The first 200m of the Bungoona Walk are on the rock slab, with most of it being a gradual descent. The last couple of metres before you hit the bush track are a little steeper, but nothing dramatic and the rock is very grippy.
Once you reach the bush you’ll be walking on a well maintained gravel path the whole way back to the car park. Sometimes there are stairs and sometimes it’s a gentle downhill on a sloped path.
The first boulder cave (it’s more of a jumble of huge rocks than a cave, but very cool) is 100m in.
This one was great, but 150m later you reach an even better one. It really reminded us of Legoland near Canberra and walking down the stones steps through the giant boulders was really atmospheric.
Shortly after you’ll walk through a formation known as ‘The Arches’, but we thought it should have been called the Toad house (Mario fans will understand the reference)!
After this it’s a normal bush track with nothing much to note, but still a nice stroll through the forest and very easy to do even in low light.
Just over 2.7km from the summit you’ll reach the metal bridge you walked over at the beginning of the trail and you’re then just 100m from the car park.
Bald Rock National Park entry fee
If you don’t have an NSW annual parks pass then you’ll need to pay an $8 park entry fee. There are no entry booths but you can use the self-registration fee collection system.
Getting to Bald Rock National Park and facilities
The walk begins from the Bald Rock camping and picnic area. The Bald Rock Access Road is sealed the whole way to the large car park. It’s around a 30 minute drive from Tenterfield and a 40 minute drive from Stanthorpe (QLD). Watch out for wallabies on the drive in and out of the park, especially if you’re coming for sunset, it’s the most wallabies we’ve ever seen and they liked jumping out in front of the car!
There is a long drop toilet and campsite at the parking area.
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