Pigeon House Mountain (Didthul) walk: Morton National Park guide

The Pigeon House Mountain (Didthul) walking track is a steep return climb in the southern section of Morton National Park, on the NSW South Coast about 30 km west of Milton. NSW National Parks grades the track 4 and lists it at 7.1 km return, with 2 hours 30 minutes to 3 hours 30 minutes walking. The track tops out at a 720 m summit reached by steel ladders fixed to the cliff, with wide views over the Budawang Wilderness. It suits walkers with some bushwalking fitness who are steady on steep ground and comfortable with exposed ladders and cliff edges, rather than young children or anyone unsure near drops.

Morton National Park is on the traditional Country of the Yuin people, and Didthul is a place of particular cultural significance in Yuin stories. The NSW NPWS Pigeon House Mountain Didthul walking track page carries the official track notes and current alerts.

Quick route overview

• Distance: 7.1 km return
• Time: allow 2 hours 30 minutes to 3 hours 30 minutes
• Grade: Grade 4
• Route type: return (there and back)
• Summit: 720 m, with about 460 m of climbing
• Terrain: formed track through forest and heath, then steep sandstone steps and steel ladders to an exposed summit
• Start: Pigeon House Mountain Didthul picnic area, off Yadboro Road, Morton National Park
• Access: sealed Princes Highway to Milton, then Croobyar, Woodstock and Yadboro roads (partly unsealed) to the picnic area - about 45 minutes from Milton; the unsealed section can become boggy after rain

What to expect

The track leaves the picnic area and climbs through dry eucalypt forest and heath. It steepens onto sandstone steps that weave between boulders to a broad rock platform, the first open view back over the Budawang Range. From there the route turns toward the mountain and crosses a short plateau before the final push.

The summit is reached by a series of steel ladders fixed to the cliff face, then a short metal boardwalk around the rim. On a clear day the view runs across the cliffs and gorges of the Budawang Wilderness, carved by the Clyde River, toward the coast - Jervis Bay to the north and Bermagui to the south on the best days. The rare Pigeon House Ash eucalypt grows near the upper track, and lyrebirds are sometimes seen in the sheltered sections.

The same route returns to the picnic area. The descent is quick but hard on tired knees, and the ladders and steps are slippery after rain.

Safety and conditions

• Check the NPWS alerts page and the weather before you leave. The park may close in poor weather or high fire danger.
• Walk it in dry weather. NPWS advises the track is very steep and involves ladders, and the views are better in the clear; wet rock and ladders are slippery.
• The summit ladders and boardwalk have unprotected drops. Supervise children closely, stay back from edges, and do not climb onto rocks for a photo.
• Wear sturdy footwear with grip and carry drinking water. There are no facilities on the track beyond the picnic area.
• Mobile reception is limited. Download the Emergency Plus app and a map before you go, and tell someone your plan.
• Parts of the south-eastern park were once a military training area and may contain unexploded ordnance. Stay on the formed track.
• Dogs and other pets are not permitted in NSW national parks, except certified assistance animals.
• The Budawang Wilderness has restrictions on group sizes, firewood and camping, including camping in rock overhangs. See the NPWS Guidelines for walking in the Budawang Wilderness if you are planning more than the day walk.

Practical tips

There is no park entry fee at the Yadboro Road section of Morton National Park; the daily fees ($4 at Fitzroy Falls, $8 in the Bundanoon area) apply to other parts of the park. The picnic area has tables and a pit toilet but no drinking water. The nearest shops and fuel are at Milton or Ulladulla.

Allow a full day for the outing once the drive is included. The walk is most comfortable in the cooler months and in dry conditions; spring brings wildflowers, and the sandstone and heath are at their best colour then. Summer days can be hot and the fire risk is high, so start early or pick another walk on hot, windy days. The unsealed access road is the main reason to check the forecast - it becomes boggy after rain and a 2WD can struggle.

For another NSW sandstone walk, the Grand Canyon track in Blue Mountains National Park is a different gorge day walk. For another Grade 4 summit with a rock scramble and wide views, the Bluff Knoll summit walk in Western Australia is a steeper climb to a higher peak. The Shoalhaven Bushwalkers run regular trips across the Shoalhaven and South Coast if you want company or local knowledge.