Mt Warning - Staircase to the sky

In 1993 NSW NPWS published a glossy 20 page guide to Mount Warning National Park. It's one of the best park guides I've come across and a great credit to the authors Berkeley Wiles and Lyn Skillings.

The guide is no longer available. I found a copy in the NSW State Library (catalogue number 919.44304, ISBN 0731008243). The book contains a wonderful description of the summit walk under the heading "Staircase to the sky" that reads as follows:

Staircase to the sky

Mount Warning is different things to different people — a challenge, a rainforest experience, a staircase to spectacular views, a feast of sights sounds and smells that awaken the senses... or just an escape.

Whatever the attraction, Mount Warning is visited by about 60 000 people each year. `Have you climbed Mount Warning?' has become a catchcry amongst locals and visitors alike. Those who have climbed it gain an instant affinity with each other, a common achievement to discuss together.

Age does not appear to be a barrier for those who attempt the climb. Children as young as five have reached the summit unaided. Likewise people in their 80s are also successful. A reasonable degree of fitness and a determined attitude would seem to be the necessary criteria.

This World Heritage Rainforest Park located in the Tweed Valley, occupies an area of about 2 380 hectares. It is reached by leaving the Pacific Highway at Murwillumbah and following the Kyogle road west for 12 km, then the Mount Warning road a further 5 km to the Korrumbyn Creek picnic area at the park entrance. By continuing a further 1.5 km you reach the Breakfast Creek parking area at the base of the mountain where the summit walking track begins.

The summit track climbs and winds through 4.4 km of changing vegetation communities, with a final steep rock scramble emerging to 360° views reaching every distant horizon. The entire walk takes about five hours and although strenuous, can be accomplished by pacing oneself according to age and fitness.

Camping and fires are not permitted in Mount Warning National Park. However, Korrumbyn Creek picnic area provides picnic tables, barbecues, wood, water and toilets. For people wishing to camp overnight or longer, a privately operated facility — Wollumbin Caravan Park — is on the Mount Warning road, 3.5 km from the park proper.

It's to the great shame of NPWS that the guide is no longer available.

Sadly Berkeley Wiles passed away in 2012.

A few other pages are presented below:

cover

Staircase to the sky, p2

Things you should know, p3

Aboriginal History P6-7

European History P8-9

Geology P12-13

Comments

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Right to Climb

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