The Drip
The Drip
Not all hikes have to be epic to be memorable — and this one proves it. This is one of those short walks that offers a big reward. It’s easy to get to, photogenic, and refreshingly uncrowded — perfect if you’re exploring the Mudgee region and need a break from cellar doors and cafés. Whether you’re walking with kids, friends, or just taking a moment for yourself, The Drip delivers something special.
Quick Details
Length: 2.8km
Elevation: Pretty much flat save for a few short staircases.
Grade: Easy
Best season: When the weather’s warm
Suitable for kids: Yes
Starting the Trail
I found myself in Mudgee this week and decided to check out The Drip for a short solo hike. Although now that I’ve done it, I wish I’d waited until Jess and the little adventurers were with me — they would’ve loved it. It’s a great track for people of all ages. After parking the car, I headed off on a well formed track.
The trail is beautiful and easy to follow. It’s mostly flat, with just a few short staircases. The river gently flows by on your right as you walk alongside sandstone walls. While the track was easy enough to breeze through, I found myself slowing down and appreciating my surroundings.
A short way in, I spotted a small staircase to my right leading down to the river. There are a few spots like this along the trail where you can head down to the water — and I took every chance I could. The riverbank was really pretty.
The water level is usually low, except after significant rain. On a warm summer’s day, it would be the perfect spot to sit while little adventurers played in the water — with large flat boulders to climb on and sandy banks where you can relax in the shade.
Being down at the river also gives you the chance to really take in the sandstone walls from a different perspective. They might not be the tallest or most dramatic I’ve seen, but there’s a quiet beauty to them that suits the setting perfectly.
At one point, you’ll need to cross a small creek that flows into the river — but it’s easy enough. As I was crossing it I happened to notice a couple of sticks poking out from the inside of an overhang on the opposite bank. It took a bit of careful scrambling to investigate, but I found a large abandoned nest hidden inside the overhang. No idea of what it was that used to live there...
Back to the Trail
There are a couple of sign boards along the track giving information about local flora and fauna, as well as how the area would have formed geologically — they’re worth stopping to read. The trail takes you under, what I presume to be, a natural stone arch — the heavy stone overhead balanced precisely on another stone.
The trail continues mostly the same the whole way. If this were in the Blue Mountains, it’d probably be overcrowded — but on my visit, I only passed a couple of small groups. Granted, I haven’t been here on a summer weekend — it might be a different story then.
Drip Lookout
As you near the end of the trail you’ll be faced with a fork — to the left is a lookout and to the right is The Drip. Either direction is only a short distance to the destination. I took the path to the left first and headed up to the lookout.
The lookout is a round platform with a fence overlooking The Drip. It might not offer the wide, sweeping valley views we often expect from a lookout — but the view is still lovely. It gives you the chance to really take in the whole picture.
Why does it drip?
Imagine layers of wet sponges with plastic sheets in between them. The sponges hold water; the plastic doesn’t. Water seeps out of the sponge and runs off the edge of the plastic. That’s pretty much what’s happening here — except the sponges are sandstone, and the plastic is actually claystone. The layering of different types of rock with varying porosity creates a natural drip line.
The Drip
I headed back to the fork in the track and headed down to The Drip. There was a bit of rock scrambling to be done — I was hoping to keep my feet dry but no such luck in the end. Looking up, I saw sunlight catching on the droplets as they fell from the wall above.
The water was icy — to be fair, I was walking barefoot in winter. The area isn’t large, and the water’s not deep enough for a swim — but it’s the kind of place you could easily spend a few hours on a warm day. The rocky river bed is slippery, and I imagine it would stay that way all year round.
It’s possible to continue further downstream to Corner Gorge, which is also meant to be beautiful. It does involve wading and scrambling, so it’s better suited for those with a bit of bush experience. I gave it a miss this time — mostly because I quite enjoy not catching hypothermia on my solo hikes.
After putting my shoes back on, I started the return journey. About halfway back, I noticed a tree with enormous fungi growing on it. I have no idea how I missed it on the way in — but that’s what I loved most about this trail. I saw more on the way out than I did on the way in.
Getting There
The Drip can be found around 50km north of Mudgee on the Ulan-Cassilis road. You’ll likely find “The Drip” in your vehicle navigation system, but don’t stress if you don’t. There are signposts along the road for the car park. The best part about the drive, if you come from Mudgee, is driving past Frog Rock — Why? Because it’s a rock… that looks like a frog!
Tips and Tricks
It’s best enjoyed when you don’t mind getting your feet wet, so go on a warm day.
Be sure to bring your little adventurers along — this is one the whole family can enjoy.
There’s a beautiful picnic area between the car park and the trail head. There are also a number of spots along the trail that would make great picnic spots.
