Splendour Rock from Dunphys campground

From Dunphys, the circuit reaches Black Horse Ridge, then climbs through the Blue Dog and Yellow Dog ridge country toward Mobbs Soak. It passes the Dingo Gap and Thommo's Chains area before reaching Mt Dingo and Splendour Rock. The return runs beneath Wombat Parade and along White Dog Ridge, then follows the Medlow Gap and Bellbird Ridge tracks back to the campground. This is a full loop, not an out-and-back; the stored line excludes optional sidetracks.

Expect management trails mixed with narrow footpads rather than one consistently built walking track. Some connecting pads are faint, and there is no continuous trail marking to follow. Keep the route visible on a map and check junctions carefully.

Wombat Parade traverses below the eastern cliffs of Mt Warrigal. Its track is narrow, sloping and can be slippery in shade. A short scramble through a small rock tunnel climbs to the plateau near Mt Merrimerrigal; across the rocky high ground, the tread becomes indistinct. The route then follows narrow ridges toward Dingo Gap and Mt Dingo. Where pads fade, progress can be slow and route finding takes attention.

The outcrop sits at the southern end of Mt Dingo. From its sandstone edge, look across the forested Gangerang Range and Coxs River, with Lake Burragorang farther east. A logbook and memorial plaques honor bushwalkers who died in the Second World War. The rock has also been used for a dawn Anzac Day service.

Give the view more than a quick stop. For a photo, frame a band of the sandstone platform in the foreground with the valley and ridges beyond; it helps show the drop and distance.

The circuit follows Mt Dingo's western cliff edge and descends a steep pass with exposed scrambling toward Mobbs Swamp. It climbs again over Black Horse Ridge, then drops steeply to Breakfast Creek. The final country has repeated Carlon Creek crossings and stinging nettles, so the last stretch can feel longer than the map mileage suggests.

Published ascent figures disagree sharply: an older route description lists 640 m, while a terrain-model estimate is near 1,300 m. The methods and route details differ, and no verified total was found. Plan for substantial climbing rather than relying on the lower figure.

Start at the Dunphys campground car park. The access road passes through private property, so leave gates as you find them and watch for livestock. The campground has toilets, picnic tables and barbecue facilities, but no drinking water or food outlet. Natural water at Breakfast Creek and Mobbs Swamp is not dependable, especially after dry weather. Dogs are not permitted in the national park, except trained assistance animals working in public areas.

The best documented itinerary divides the loop into about 13 km and 11 km. Allow roughly 9 hours of walking across both days, plus time for camp and the view. A digital map estimate gives 6 hours 50 minutes of moving time before breaks, but it is not a field-checked completion time; faint pads can slow you down. Carry enough drinking water, and check current park rules before choosing an overnight campsite.