Sandstone Caves Loop

Starting from the dirt car park on the Yaminba Trail (off Newell Highway), Dandry, this circuit walk visits a set of sandstone caves that have some ancient Aboriginal rock art on them. You can walk this loop either with or without a guide, but a guided tour can inform you much better about the history and culture of the area. Informational signposts along the way can be helpful as well. This place is extremely important for the Gamilaraay people, so please do not touch the art. Taking pictures is allowed without a flash. Let us begin by acknowledging the Gamilaraay people, Traditional Custodians of the land on which we travel today, and pay our respects to their Elders past and present.

Downloads GPX PDF

Safer Bushwalks Tips on staying safe on track
Before you start any bushwalk ensure you;
• Tell someone you trust where you are going and what to do if you are overdue
• Have adequate equipment, supplies, skills & knowledge for the whole journey
• Consider the impact of weather forecasts, park/track closures & fire dangers
• Can respond to emergencies & call for help at any point
• Are healthy and fit enough for this journey
If not, change plans and stay safe. It is okay to delay and ask people for help.

Getting There Transport options and directions
Start (-31.0115423,149.416072)
Mode Car
Directions From Newell Highway, A39
Turn on to then drive for 1 km
Turn right and drive for another 35 m

Track Notes Turn by turn instructions & maps

Getting started
From the dirt car park on the Yaminba Trail (off Newell Highway), head along the singular track as you move directly away from the Yaminba Trail. Pass between the sign and the seat and follow the track for around 430 metres. Keep left at the 3-way intersection there to continue along the Sandstone Caves Loop (clockwise).....

Turn map	Directions & comments
	Start. Find the car park at the start. Find the seat at the start. Then pass the sign (7 m on your left).
	After another 410 m continue straight.
	After another 125 m continue straight. After another 115 m pass a seat (25 m on your right). After another 35 m pass the "Cave 1" (20 m on your right). After another 205 m pass a seat (5 m on your right). After another 10 m come to the "Yaminba Lookout" (6 m on your right). After another 155 m pass a seat (5 m on your right). Then pass the "Cave 2A" (7 m on your right). Then pass the "Cave 2B" (on your right). After another 95 m pass the "Cave 3" (7 m on your right). After another 80 m pass the "Cave 4" (8 m on your left). After another 45 m pass the "Cave 5" (on your right). After another 95 m pass a seat (6 m on your left).
	Turn left.
	After another 430 m come to the end.

Terrain Know the Hills, grading & facilities

Sandstone Caves Loop

Grading

	Class 3/6 Moderate track
Length	1.8 km
Time	1 h to 1 h 30 min

Quality of track	Formed track, with some branches and other obstacles (3/6)
Gradient	Gentle hills with occasional steps (2/6)
Signage	Clearly signposted (2/6)
Infrastructure	Generally useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats) (2/6)
Experience Required	No experience required (2/6)
Weather	Weather generally has little impact on safety (2/6)

Some facilities on route

Seat: There are 5 on route, on average they are 300 m apart with the largest gap of 640 m.

Order of key facilities on route

Item	From Start	Name & link to notes
Seat	30 m	[seat]
Seat	680 m	[seat]
Seat	910 m	[seat]
Seat	1.1 km	[seat]
Seat	1.4 km	[seat]

Weather & Alerts Check forecasts & closures
Weather Forecast
- Coonabarabran Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue
  
  Wednesday 11 September
  
  25°C
  Mostly sunny.
  20% chance of rain
  
  Mostly sunny day. The chance of a thunderstorm on the northern plains late this afternoon and evening. Light winds becoming north to northwesterly 15 to 20 km/h in the morning then tending northwest to southwesterly in the middle of the day. Daytime maximum temperatures in the low to high 20s.
  
  UV Alert: Sun protection 9:20am to 2:50pm, UV Index predicted to reach 6 [High]
  
  Thursday 12 September
  
  8°C → 21°C
  Shower or two.
  60% chance of rain
  0 → 3mm
  
  Partly cloudy. Medium chance of showers on the slopes, slight chance elsewhere. The chance of a thunderstorm in the north in the morning and afternoon. Winds southwesterly 15 to 20 km/h turning southerly 25 to 35 km/h during the morning. Overnight temperatures falling to between 5 and 11 with daytime temperatures reaching between 18 and 21.
  
  Friday 13 September
  
  3°C → 20°C
  Sunny.
  5% chance of rain
  
  Sunny. Patches of morning frost on the southern plains. Winds south to southeasterly 15 to 20 km/h becoming light during the evening. Overnight temperatures falling to between 2 and 7 with daytime temperatures reaching between 19 and 22.
  
  Saturday 14 September
  
  3°C → 22°C
  Sunny.
  0% chance of rain
  
  Sunny. Areas of morning frost in the south. Light winds becoming south to southwesterly 15 to 20 km/h during the day then tending south to southeasterly during the evening. Overnight temperatures falling to between 1 and 6 with daytime temperatures reaching between 19 and 23.
  
  Sunday 15 September
  
  5°C → 19°C
  Partly cloudy.
  10% chance of rain
  
  Partly cloudy.
  
  Monday 16 September
  
  3°C → 17°C
  Partly cloudy.
  30% chance of rain
  0 → 1mm
  
  Partly cloudy.
  
  Tuesday 17 September
  
  5°C → 19°C
  Shower or two.
  50% chance of rain
  0 → 1mm
  
  Shower or two.
  
  Forecast data thanks to © Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
Alerts
- Pilliga Nature Reserve alerts
  Closed areas: Roads closed for causeway installation
  Concrete causeways are being installed on several creek crossings in Timmallallie National Park during September. The following road is closed whilst work is being undertaken:
  
  CLOSED No.1 Break Rd between Rocky Rd and Newell Highway from Monday 9th September - 30th September 2024.
  
  Penalties apply for non-compliance. Please contact the Pilliga Forest Discovery Centre on 02 6843 4011 for more details and to check alternate routes when roads are closed.
  
  Closed areas: Sandstone Caves walking track closed
  The Sandstone Caves walking track will be closed until further notice due to a rock fall hazard.
  Penalties apply for non-compliance. For more information, contact the Pilliga Forest Discovery Centre on 6843 4011.
  
  Alert kindly provided by © NSW Nataional Parks and Wildlife Service

Weather Forecast

Alerts