Mount Canobolas, Orange, NSW: Ancient volcano walks & tours
Mount Canobolas provides some of the best walks around Orange, NSW. Expect wildlife and wildflowers on this ancient volcano – which you can visit on a trike tour.
Mount Canobolas is an ancient volcano on a spur of the Great Dividing Range in the Central Tablelands region of New South Wales. The nearest town is Orange, just to the north-east, and the most fun way to visit is on a trike tour.
Mount Canobolas is looked after by the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service as part of the Mount Canobolas State Conservation Area. It makes for an enjoyable day out in the fresh air if you’ve overindulged in the Orange wineries.
Mount Canoblas walks: Federal Falls walk
There are several good walking trails within the Mount Canobolas State Conservation Area. These include the Grade 3 Federal Falls walk. This 4km loop track starts at the Federal Falls campground and is best walked in a clockwise direction. You’ll pass enormous rock faces and walk through snow gum forest on the way to Federal Falls.
Five memorable experiences to book in Orange
- Private wine-tasting tour – on board a rather cool-looking trike.
- Sparkling wine masterclass – with vineyard tour and three course lunch.
- Helicopter tour to a top winery – with wine-tasting.
- Private picnic in the vineyard – with wine included.
- Half day foodie tours – taste the best the region has to offer.
Easier walks include the 0.9km Snowgum walking track and 3km Spring Glade walking track. Both join up to the 2km Summits walking track, which connects the twin peaks of Old Man Canobolas and Young Man Canobolas. The walk is along a saddle between the two, and there some good views of Orange from the top of Old Man Canobolas.
Mount Canobolas lookouts and picnic areas
There are also good views of the town from the drive-up Orange View picnic area. Lots of wildlife hangs out here, including crimson rosellas, boobook owls and sugar gliders.
Other lookouts in the park include the Walls Lookout, which takes in views to the east.
If you want to eat al fresco while in the Mount Canobolas State Conservation Area, there are barbecue facilities at the Federal Falls campground and picnic tables at the Orange View picnic area. The park is best experienced in the spring months of October and November, when wildflowers cover the ancient volcano slopes.
Should you fancy seeing the summit a little differently, you can visit as part of a trike tour.
Other things to do in Orange include half day foodie tours and a winery picnic lunch experience.
Where to stay in Orange
The top Orange accommodation choices are:
- For style and cool factor: Byng Street Boutique Hotel.
- For a solid motel with (usually) cheap rates and free parking: Ophir Hotel.
- For a glorious three bedroom cottage in a vineyard: Borrodell Vineyard.
- For quality, business traveller-friendly apartments: Quest Orange.
- For studios with spa baths: De Russie Boutique Hotel.
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Watch the ocean crash as you swim at Wylie’s Baths in Coogee.
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