Pigeon House Mountain, NSW: Didthul walking track & ladders

The Pigeon House Mountain walk near Ulladulla, NSW, finishes with a series of ladders. The views over Morton National Park, the coast and the Budawang Wilderness are well worth it, though.

Pigeon House Mountain – also known by its Indigenous name, Didthul – is a prominent feature of Morton National Park near the New South Wales South Coast.

It’s in the southern section of Morton National Park, a fair way from attractions in the Southern Highlands section such as Belmore Falls and Fitzroy Falls. Pigeon House Mountain lies to the west of Ulladulla, Mollymook and Milton on the coast.

Or, rather, it stands to the west. Didthul is rather prominent on the skyline, and the walk to the top is something of a rite of passage in these parts.

Pigeon House Mountain walk

The Pigeon House Mountain walk starts at the car park next to the Pigeon House Mountain Didthul picnic area. It’s not an especially long walk, but it is steep in places. The 5km return walk is rated as Grade 4, meaning a decent level of fitness is required.

From the Pigeon House Mountain Didthul picnic area, the walk passes through forest, heathland and an ancient sandstone landscape. That’s when things get considerably steeper. To get to the top of Pigeon House Mountain, you have to clamber up a series of ladders that lead to the summit.

The best time to climb Pigeon House Mountain

Obviously, the best time to climb Pigeon House Mountain is during dry weather – in the rain, those ladders can be slippery.

The views from the top are spectacular. The lookout takes in much of the Budawang Wilderness, with a series of gorges and cliffs cut by the Clyde River. You can also see out towards the coast – on a clear day, Bermagui and Jervis Bay are visible.

There is no entry fee for the Pigeon House Mountain section of Morton National Park, although you do have to pay to enter the Fitzroy Falls and Bundanoon sections further north.

For further information, visit the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service website.