Canyon Access Information
Access to canyons can be affected for many reasons. These include safety (fires, floods, instability), road closures, environmental protection (flora, fauna), events, and private land blocking access. All these must be respected. Please report any issues to The Australian Canyoning Association.
As we develop this website resource, we will provide a database with detailed information on access to specific areas and canyons nationwide.
Following is information related to Alerts and Safety in the various National Parks throughout Australia. Contact the specific National Park you are planning to go to for the latest information.
National Parks Alerts + Safety
New South Wales National Parks & Wildlife Service + Safety
ACT Parks and Conservation + Opening Announcements
Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service
Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service + Safety
Western Australia Parks and Wildlife Service + Safety
South Australia National Parks and Wildlife Service + Safety
Northern Territory Parks and Reserves
NSW NPWS – Blue Mts National Park Statement
National Parks within the Blue Mountains World Heritage Area have been significantly impacted by fire and/or floods. Many of the region’s canyons have been impacted. Whilst priority areas have been assessed, many remote areas and canyons have not and therefore are closed. The planned process for reopening the most popular canyons is for NPWS to assess the access and exit routes and remove the most hazardous trees before getting detailed condition reports on the actual canyons themselves. The results of these assessments will be used to assess the feasibility of reopening those areas.
NPWS is prioritising works around the most popular canyons to allow commercial and recreational users access to those areas as soon as possible (e.g. Grand Canyon, Empress are open). It is important that all visitors check the NPWS alerts prior to planning or departing on any activity, as these can change frequently.
It is vital that closures are respected to avoid the significant safety risks associated with moving in burnt and flood damaged areas, and to limit the ecological impacts on these vulnerable environments. Once reopened visitors must keep to existing tracks to allow the bush to regenerate, and be aware that abseil anchor points may have been damaged. In addition, visitors must be vigilant of the risks posed by trees and rocks that have been impacted and become unstable. Visitors are ultimately responsible for their own and their group’s safety. Loose logs, quicksand and high water levels may also be experienced. Canyons will open as soon as possible with the priority to open Wollangambe, Serendipity, Juggler, and Claustral in March.
Will Batson
Area Manager Upper Mountains
Blue Mountains Branch
NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service
UPDATES: To keep updated on access to canyons within the Blue Mts National Park, click here to go to their website.
06/03/2020: “Canyons around Mount Wilson: Wollangambe, DuFaurs, Joes and Serendipity. Birrabang and Dalpura are also open. Note: Conditions in canyons may have changed due to the effects of fire and flood. Check all abseil anchor points/hand lines and allow extra time. Empress and Grand Canyon”.