Tara Cave
Tara Cave
A short trail with a long history and wide views of the iconic rock formations of Warrumbungle National Park. It’s a hike that balances simplicity and significance — gentle enough for a relaxed afternoon but rich in the kind of details that make it unforgettable. This is Tara Cave.
Quick Details
Length: 3.4km
Elevation: 100m
Grade: Easy
Best season: Year round
Suitable for kids: Yes
Starting the Trail
Our group had been driving all day to reach Warrumbungle National Park for a weekend adventure of camping and hiking. After setting up our campsite we were all in need of stretching our legs, so we piled back into the cars and headed off to Tara Cave just up the road — an easy track that promised big views and hopefully a good place to watch the sunset.
The trail starts on a wide fire trail and crosses a dry creek bed — where a herd of feral goats came charging through like they owned the place. Honestly, the goats were a surprise… I wasn’t expecting there to be so many throughout the park. As we walked up and out of the creek, the track became a well-maintained and wide trail leading gently up the hill.
As we walked, the light was beginning to change to that late afternoon glow, casting long shadows over the track. Everyone in the group was excited about what the weekend might bring. We had been planning the trip for weeks and each of us had long lists of things we wanted to see and do.
The track is easy to follow. There’s no scrambling over rocks or navigating around fallen trees. Even the dry creek bed can be crossed by a bridge. The infrastructure throughout the park is incredible. It’s great to see how well the area has recovered and how much has been rebuilt after the devastating 2013 bushfires.
Sections of the trail are even paved, and along the way we found signboards with information about the Warrumbungles and Tara Cave. They were worth stopping to read, to understand that this isn’t just an easy trail to a lookout, but an important place both culturally and environmentally.
Tara Cave
Tara Cave is a site of cultural significance for Aboriginal people — used by the Gamilaraay, Wiradjuri and Wailwan language groups for shelter and tool-making for thousands of years. The cave itself sits behind a mesh barrier, protecting the ancient artefacts and grinding grooves. The landscape is not just a background to the hike, but a living place of cultural meaning, where people continue the traditions of knowledge, care and connection to Country.
Back to the Trail
As we reached the top of the hill, the trail became a raised boardwalk and we caught our first glimpses of the central valley from a distance. The view is incredible — mountains and enormous rock formations scattered as far as the eye can see. We settled in near the cave to wait for sunset, hoping to see the sky filled with colour over such a dramatic landscape.
We worked out the peaks Annie would run as part of the Seven Summits Challenge, while Logan was scouting the best sunrise spots. Rob and Edna debated which hikes to tackle, and Michael was set on driving every road in the park. All of our plans were different, but looking out at the park we all felt the same thing — that sense of possibility and adventure.
Why do the Warrumbungles Look Like This?
Millions of years ago, this area was part of a massive volcanic system. Magma rose through the earth from vents, spilling out across the surface to form what’s known as a shield volcano. Over time, those eruptions built layers of lava and rock across a wide area. Eventually, once things settled down, the magma cooled and hardened inside the ground — just waiting for time and erosion to expose the shapes it had formed.
What we see today are the remains of that inner structure — the hardened magma left behind inside the old volcano, exposed by millions of years of erosion. The vents and fissures that once carried molten rock now stand as mountains, spires, and narrow walls of stone. In a way, they’re the fossilised remains of an ancient giant volcano.
Sunset
While it may not have been the dramatic sunset we were hoping for, the view was still enough to leave us all speechless. As we sat together in silence, watching the light and colour fade from the mountains and spires that make this place so iconic, we all shared the same thought — this is going to be one hell of a weekend…
Getting There
Warrumbungle National Park is around 150km north of Dubbo, or 35km west of Coonabarabran.
The trailhead to Tara Cave can be found just off John Renshaw Parkway, at the Old Woolshed Picnic Area — a short drive from Camp Blackman and the NPWS Warrumbungles Visitor Centre.
Tips and Tricks
Tara Cave is a site of Aboriginal significance. Please treat it with respect, stay on the path, and don’t enter the cave.
Sunrise from here would be a better option than sunset — although it can easily be enjoyed at any time of the day.
Parking fees can be paid at the NPWS visitor centre or online. NPWS also runs cultural tours of Tara Cave at select times of the year.
If you'd like to see more photos from our trip, you can check out the Instagram accounts of Rob, Edna, Michael, Logan, and Annie.