Paddling in Wollemi National Park

Wollemi National Park covers a vast sweep of sandstone wilderness northwest of Sydney, and the paddling inside it is shaped by that geology — slow water winding through pagoda rock formations, sandstone escarpments, and river valleys that have been cutting through the plateau for a very long time.

The park's waterways tend toward the calm and reflective rather than the technical, and the paddling that draws most visitors centres on one particular reach of the Cudgegong River. Ganguddy-Dunns Swamp is the anchor.

Despite the name, it's a still, protected impoundment on the Cudgegong, formed by a weir, and the water is calm enough for novice paddlers on their first outing.

The shoreline is broken by pagoda rock formations and sandstone walls that make even a short paddle feel like moving through a different scale of time.

Southern Cross Kayaking operates guided tours and kayak and SUP hire here on weekends and daily during NSW school holidays, running from September through April.

Their tours range from morning paddles to a monthly full moon night paddle, and all include equipment and instruction — no prior experience required.

The Cudgegong's significance to the Dabee People of the Wiradjuri Nation runs through the guided interpretation here, alongside the European and colonial history of the site.

The park also holds the Colo and Goulburn rivers within its boundaries, waters that drain the broader Wollemi wilderness. Wollemi is a national park, and that status shapes how you use it.

Check current conditions and any access requirements with NSW National Parks before you go — what applies to a day paddle at Ganguddy may differ from a multi-day river trip deeper in the park. The landscape rewards patience and attention.

Come for the stillness, and let the sandstone do the rest.