Gulaga / Mount Dromedary - Gulaga National Park

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Route: Tilba Tilba, Mount Dromedary Trail, Tilba Tilba Walking Track, The Saddle, Rainforest Track, Gulaga / Mount Dromedary summit, Return

Date: 28/01/2024
From: TilbaTilba

Parking: Central Tilba
Start Point: Central Tilba
Finish Point: Central Tilba
Region: Gulaga National Park

Route length: 13.6km
Time taken: 03:49
Average speed: 4.0km/h
Ascent: 848m
Descent: 848m

Points of Interest: The Saddle, Rainforest Track

At 807m high, Gulaga / Mount Dromedary dominates the landscape like no other landmark on the South Coast. The mountain and its surrounding landscape are spiritually important for Aboriginal people and especially significant to the Yuin women of the region.

The first European observers of the mountain were aboard Captain Cook’s vessel, HMS Endeavour, in 1770, spotting it while 24 km from the coast. Cook christened it “Mount Dromedary” because its silhouette resembled a camel’s hump. Nowadays, following discussions with the Yuin community, the mountain is recognised by the combined name Gulaga / Mount Dromedary. Gulaga means Mother Mountain in the Yuin language and it is the mountain that gave birth to the Yuin people, hence its importance.

Gulaga / Mount Dromedary stands over the green fields of Central Tilba

Gulaga - the Mother Mountain

A series of tracks climb to the summit of the mountain, remnants of an 1800s gold-mining boom which has long since ended. Now, these tracks are open to hikers wishing to climb Gulaga.

The starting point for this hike is in the tiny village of Tilba Tilba, a heritage village that grew up around the success of the local dairy farms. The unique architectural style of the village (including the neighbouring Central Tilba) has given the district a distinctive character.

In Tilba Tilba, there's a small grassed parking area adjacent to the village shop/cafe where you should notice the national park signage directing you towards the Tilba Tilba Walking Track. The walk commences along The Avenue before stretching out through several farm paddocks. As you are surrounded by pastures and beautifully manicured gardens on both sides, you may feel like you are trespassing but the route is signposted.

The Tilba Tilba Walking Track passes through some farm paddocks as it heads towards Gulaga / Mount Dromedary

Central Tilba

Gulaga / Mount Dromedary

After about a kilometre and a half, you will reach a gate and a sign informing you that you have reached the Gulaga National Park. This marks the beginning of the non-stop climb to The Saddle. The Saddle is a great rest spot to take a break before pushing on towards the summit. 

Entering the national park

The Gulaga National Park sign at the foot of the climb

The path to the saddle is wide and east to follow

Further climbing

Some of the only coastal views on the hike

Information board at The Saddle

The Saddle - alongside the info stand there is a small amenities block

At The Saddle, there’s also a short and unmarked path leading to some spectacular rock formations. The formations have been recognised by Geoscience Australia as one of seven significant rock formations in Australia, rubbing shoulders with the likes of the world-famous Uluru and Kata Tjuta.

The Gulaga formations

The tors were used for the life education of boys and girls, their shapes illustrating different aspects of growth and development. Other tors represented animal totems of the Yuin and yet others were devoted to women's business. Gulaga is the place of ancestral origin within the mythology of the Yuin people, the area's Aboriginal people. Gulaga itself symbolises the mother and provides a basis for Aboriginal spiritual identity; the mountain as well as the surrounding area holds particular significance for Aboriginal women

Gulaga formation

Leaving The Saddle takes you to The Rainforest Walk towards the summit, marked by signposts bearing red arrows. Alongside the granite tors, this stretch of path is the highlight of the hike. While steep, the hike itself is more scenic than the summit, which boasts only a sign and a small geodetic station atop a pile of rocks. Be warned, there are no coastal views as some websites suggest.

The Rainforest Track

Starting the steeper climb towards the summit

The depths of the rainforest atop Gulaga / Mount Dromedary

There are some more interesting rock formations close to the summit

The summit

From the summit, the return route to Central Tilba simply retraces the route back through the rainforest to The Saddle and then to the gate at the national park boundary.

Returning back down the mountain

Descending back through the rainforest

Views of Wallaga Lake

Gulaga / Mount Dromedary

As you head back towards Central Tilba, there are some excellent views of the neighbouring Little Dromedary Mountain. The rock outcrop is a striking feature rising sharply out of the valley. It also bears a dual name, known to the Yuin people as Najanuka; one of two sons of Gulaga (the other being Baranguba / Montague Island). 

Najanuka / Little Dromedary Mountain

Gulaga / Mount Dromedary