Mt Nebo and South D'Aguilar National Park is full of interconnecting forest and fire trails. Westridge Break Loop is a great hiking option for people looking for something to push themselves a little bit with this 10 km hike that includes Dundas Road and Bush Camp.
Westridge Break Track
South D'Aguilar National Park is a great place for walking and exploring because of the many trails. These can be smooth and not overly steep forest trails, and the rougher and often much steeper fire trails and breaks. There is not a lot of signage but many of these trails are easily found on Google Maps with the main ones also being on the
South D'Aguilar Forest Trail Map.
The following hike that I will describe is 10.3 kms in length and starts at Westridge Outlook as there is plenty of parking here and a nice lookout. You can also park at the start of Westridge Break or at Dundas Road Waste Transfer Station. If you hike in an anticlockwise direction, the toughest part of the hike is near the beginning, and if you reverse the directions here, the toughest part will be near the end.
Park at Westridge Outlook for great views and the fact there is plenty of off street parking
If you park at Westridge Outlook, you need to walk a short distance down the wide shoulders of Mt Nebo Road to the start of the hike. You can't miss it as it is the first trail you see on the side of the road and once you head in through the gate, you will see a sign saying Westridge Break.
The entrance to Westridge Break
The hike is pretty easy to start with, and in the morning or afternoon, the trees provide plenty of shade. Like the rest of Westridge Break, there is no side roads or branches to worry about.
The start of the track is shady and easy going
The track starts to head down the ridge fairly steeply. It is highly recommended that you take hiking poles, but you can often find fallen branches to use as a walking stick. This has to be the longest steep section that I have seen in this area of the national park and of course, once you have headed down, you need to head back up again.
When heading down the ridge, hiking poles are highly recommended
There is one creek crossing, and unless there has been a lot of recent rain, it shouldn't pose any problem. It is worth taking spare socks just in case your feet get wet.
The creek crossing is not difficult
Once at the bottom the shortest, but not the easiest, way back up is Side Break. This is a long steep section that is a little less steep than the way you came down. A slightly longer but a little less steep option is at the end of the Westridge Break to continue straight ahead on England Creek (Right Branch) Road, and then walk to Goodes Road by Goodes Break.
Heading up Side Break
Once to the top of Side Break hiking because much easier. It is now just a pleasant stroll back towards Mt Nebo Road, first along Goodes Road towards the Dundas Bush Camp.
Once you get to Goodes Road the hiking becomes much easier
One place to stop on the last leg is Dundas Bush Camp. There is a picnic shelter here where you can stop for a break.
Water tank and picnic shelter at Dundas Bush Camp
Even easier and smoother than Goodes Road is Dundas Road. This part of the walk is the only part that is reasonably well signposted.
As the sign says, Dundas Road is the easy part of the hike
Dundas Road takes you to the Dundas Road Waste Transfer Station. One highlight here is Treasure Island, a little stall where people leave items that may be useful to other people. I was tempted to pick up some of the old books here. Other people leave their excess fruit and vegetables, so we were able to refresh ourselves with some locally grown mandarins for free.
Treasure Island at the Dundas Road Waste Transfer Station is a great place to pick up pre-loved items
The last part of the trail is the rough and ready Horse Trail that links Dundas Road back to the start of Westridge Break. If you parked up at Westridge Outlook you will need to also walk back up along the road.
Heading up the rough horse trail back to the start of the walk
After the hike, there are a number of great cafes on Mt Nebo or further up at Mt Glorious, such as the Elm Haus Cafe which has meals, snacks, cakes, coffee and smoothies in an eclectic cafe space with a shady garden environment.
Elm Haus Cafe, Mt Glorious
Overall this is an interesting and challenging walk in Mt Nebo. You can keep it just to 10 kms or take additional trails for a longer walk.
