GUNUNG · Australia

Mount Canobolas

Gaanha-bula (Wiradjuri) / Old Man Canobolas

Information

Elevation: 1.390 m
Country: Australia (AU)
Location / Range: Mount Canobolas State Conservation Area, Central Tablelands / Great Dividing Range, New South Wales — ±13 km barat daya Kota Orange
Mountain type: Kompleks gunung berapi yang sudah punah (trakit–basalt), meletus dalam beberapa fase sekitar 13–11 juta tahun lalu
Volcanic?: Yes — volcano
Coordinates: -33.3442, 148.9820
Difficulty: Mudah–sedang: jalan beraspal mencapai dekat puncak, sehingga cocok untuk kunjungan singkat; jalur kaki seperti Summits Walking Track pendek namun bergelombang antara dua puncak. Bisa diperpanjang dengan menyambung jalur Spring Glade, Snowgum, atau Nature
Best Season: Musim semi hingga musim gugur (September–Mei) saat cuaca paling stabil; musim dingin dingin dan sesekali bersalju di puncak
Permits & Rules: Tidak ada izin khusus untuk berkunjung/mendaki; kawasan Mount Canobolas State Conservation Area dikelola NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service (NPWS) untuk penggunaan siang hari
Hazards: Cuaca berubah cepat dan angin kencang di puncak yang terbuka; dingin, kabut, embun beku, dan salju di musim dingin; sebagian jalur dapat ditutup sementara setelah badai atau kebakaran hutan — periksa status terbaru di situs NPWS

Description

Mount Canobolas (Wiradjuri: Gaanha-bula, 'two shoulders') is an extinct volcanic complex about 1,390 metres high in the Central Tablelands of New South Wales, roughly 13 km southwest of the city of Orange and around 250 km west of Sydney. Its summit is the highest point in central-western NSW and towers over the surrounding apple orchards and vineyards. The mountain was built by eruptions between roughly 13 and 11 million years ago; the 'two shoulders' name refers to its two prominent peaks — Mount Canobolas (Old Man Canobolas) and the subsidiary Young Man Canobolas. Today the area forms the ±15 km² Mount Canobolas State Conservation Area managed by NSW NPWS, rich in high-country flora and fauna including snow gum woodland. Because a road reaches close to the summit (crowned by communication towers and a lookout), the mountain is easy to access, yet it still offers several short walking tracks such as the Summits Walking Track linking the two peaks, and sweeping views over Orange and the surrounding countryside from the Summit Lookout.

Gallery

Foto bersumber dari Wikimedia Commons — klik untuk memperbesar & lihat sumbernya.

Routes

Federal Falls Walking Track

Sedang: turun ke lembah air terjun lalu naik kembali

±1–2 jam pulang-pergi

A descending track from the summit area down to Federal Falls, a small waterfall on the flank of Mount Canobolas SCA. It passes through damp montane forest; the return leg climbs back up, so it feels harder than its length suggests. Check track status on the NPWS site, as it has been affected by post-storm closures.

Source

Summits Walking Track (Old Man ↔ Young Man Canobolas)

Mudah–sedang: jalur setapak bergelombang, sedikit menurun lalu menanjak antara dua puncak

2.10 km ±1 jam (satu arah, atau pulang-pergi singkat)

The area's signature walk: it links the main Old Man Canobolas summit (near the Summit Lookout) with the subsidiary Young Man Canobolas across a snow-gum-clad saddle. From the lookout, the track first descends through woodland and then climbs to Young Man Canobolas. It suits a short visit thanks to road access near the summit, and can be extended by joining the Spring Glade, Snowgum, or Nature walking tracks.

Source

Climbing Experiences

Visitor reports about Mount Canobolas emphasise how easy the summit area is to reach — a sealed road brings cars close to the Summit Lookout — together with the surprise of a 360° panorama over Orange, apple orchards, and the Central Tablelands countryside. The favourite walk is the Summits Walking Track (±2.1 km) linking Old Man Canobolas and Young Man Canobolas across a snow-gum-clad saddle, usually done in about an hour. Many combine it with other short tracks (Spring Glade, Snowgum, Nature Walk) or a detour to Federal Falls. Other recurring themes: cool high-country air, possible snow and frost in winter, strong winds on the exposed summit, and the importance of checking track status since some sections have closed after storms or fire.

References

The summary above is compiled from the following sources. Click to explore them yourself.