Shepherds Gully and Devines Hill

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Safer Bushwalks Tips on staying safe on track
Before you start any bushwalk ensure you;
• Tell someone you trust where you are going and what to do if you are overdue
• Have adequate equipment, supplies, skills & knowledge for the whole journey
• Consider the impact of weather forecasts, park/track closures & fire dangers
• Can respond to emergencies & call for help at any point
• Are healthy and fit enough for this journey
If not, change plans and stay safe. It is okay to delay and ask people for help.

Getting There Transport options and directions

Start	At the intersection of Settlers Road & Shepherds Gully Road (-33.3550091,150.9824479)
Mode	Bus Car (There is free parking available.) Special (Wisemans Ferry Dialacar provides a taxi style mini-bus service based in Wisemans Ferry. The cost is typically about $1 per km (ex Wisemans Ferry). They will pick-up and drop-off from Sydney or the Central Coast and will happily drop walkers off or pick them up from tracks in the area. The cost for a pick-up from Gosford and drop off near Wisemans Ferry would be approximately $150 (please call for up-to-date pricing) and the minivan can carry up to 13 passengers. Phone: 0448 122 374)
Directions	From Pacific Motorway, M1 Turn on to Peats Ridge Road Offramp then drive for 3.8 km Keep left onto Cooks Road and drive for another 2.8 km Keep left and drive for another 1.4 km Keep right and drive for another 410 m Turn sharp left onto Popran Road and drive for another 6.4 km Turn left onto Wisemans Ferry Road and drive for another 33.5 km Continue onto Settlers Road and drive for another 8.6 km
Finish	(-33.375265,150.9849863)
Mode (end)	Car Shuttle Bus Car (There is free parking available.) Special (Wisemans Ferry Dialacar provides a taxi style mini-bus service based in Wisemans Ferry. The cost is typically about $1 per km (ex Wisemans Ferry). They will pick-up and drop-off from Sydney or the Central Coast and will happily drop walkers off or pick them up from tracks in the area. The cost for a pick-up near Wisemans Ferry and drop off at Gosford would be approximately $150 (please call for up-to-date pricing) and the minivan can carry up to 13 passengers. Phone: 0448 122 374)

Track Notes Turn by turn instructions & maps

Getting started
From the signposted track head on Settlers Rd, marked with a "Shepherd's Gully Road" Convict Trail signpost (about 9km from Wisemans Ferry crossing), the walk passes the 'Yengo National Park' signpost and follows the management trail gently up the hill. After a short distance the walk passes an information sign and goes around a gate. The walk then continues to wind up along the valley for a long while, initially through very moist forest but getting drier as it climbs. Keep an eye out on the other side of the gully for remnants of the rock retaining walls of the earlier lines of the road. There are also some areas of beautiful scenery with lots of boulders, ferns and grasstrees. The walk eventually arrives at a signposted intersection beside a gate.....

Turn map	Directions & comments
	At the intersection of Settlers Road & Shepherds Gully Road Start heading along Shepherds Gully Road (a vehicle track). After 360 m head through/around the gate.
	After another 1.9 km (at the intersection of Old Great North Road & Shepherds Gully Road) veer right, to head along Old Great North Road. After another 15 m head through/around the gate.
	After another 335 m continue straight, to head along Old Great North Road. After another 360 m continue straight, to head along Old Great North Road. Then find the "Hangmans Rock" (on your left). Hangmans Rock Hangmans Rock is beside the historic Old Great North Road, near Wisemans Ferry, NSW. This beautiful sandstone cave/overhang has some steps and a bench seat cut into it and is part of the history of the convict built OGNR. It is uncertain what purpose the spot served, but stories that convicts were hanged through the hole in the roof of the cave appear unlikely to be true, despite giving a name to the atmospheric spot. After another 1.1 km head through/around the gate.
	At the intersection of Settlers Road & Old Great North Road veer left, to head along Settlers Road (a highway\|tertiary). After another 10 m find the "Old Great North Road" (on your right). Old Great North Road The historic Great North Road was built using convict labour between 1826 and 1836 (this section south of Wollombi was completed in 1832). The road formed a link between Sydney and the Hunter Valley, including Newcastle. There are visible remnants of the original work in bridges, retaining walls and other structures along the way. The 'Convict Trail Project' has member groups involved in the conservation of historical remnants along the road. The Convict Trail Project and the NPWS have erected information signs at various points to illustrate the history. The Convict Trail Project has an excellent website for further reading.
	After another 2 m come to the end. About 25 m past the end is a car park. About 90 m past the end is "Thomas James Bridge". Thomas James Bridge The historic Thomas James Bridge is on Wisemans Ferry Rd, NSW. This is the oldest in-use bridge on mainland Australia (Tasmania has older bridges) and is one of several convict built bridges along the Old Great North Road. The bridge was built during 1830 (the timber deck is more recent) and was named after the overseer of 'Road Party 25' which built the bridge.

Terrain Know the Hills, grading & facilities

Shepherds Gully and Devines Hill

Grading

	Class 3/6 Moderate track
Length	4 km
Time	1 h 45 min to 2 h

Quality of track	Formed track, with some branches and other obstacles (3/6)
Gradient	Short steep hills (3/6)
Signage	Clearly signposted (1/6)
Infrastructure	Limited facilities, not all cliffs are fenced (3/6)
Experience Required	No experience required (1/6)
Weather	Weather generally has little impact on safety (1/6)

Articles Discover more details to thrive on track

Wisemans Ferry
Wisemans Ferry village is on the banks of the Hawkesbury river, NSW. The town, and nearby car ferry, is named after Solomon Wiseman, a former convict who received a land grant in the area and established the ferry service. The town is a popular day trip and weekend destination from Sydney. There are several good spots to eat in town, including bistros at the Wisemans Ferry Inn and the Wisemans Ferry Bowling club, and takeaway food from Bush Bites cafe. The Riverbend Restaurant can be found in the 'Retreat at Wisemans' for finer dining. The area has some great walking and interesting history surrounding the convict built Old Great North Road.

Old Great North Road
The historic Great North Road was built using convict labour between 1826 and 1836 (this section south of Wollombi was completed in 1832). The road formed a link between Sydney and the Hunter Valley, including Newcastle. There are visible remnants of the original work in bridges, retaining walls and other structures along the way. The 'Convict Trail Project' has member groups involved in the conservation of historical remnants along the road. The Convict Trail Project and the NPWS have erected information signs at various points to illustrate the history. The Convict Trail Project has an excellent website for further reading.

Devines Hill
Devines Hill is a historically significant area on the Old Great North Road, near present day Wisemans Ferry, NSW. There are substantial remnants visible here, including cuttings, retaining walls and quarry sites. There were 3 main road lines built at different times to climb the hills just north of Wisemans Ferry, starting with Finchs Line to the east, followed by the Devines Hill ascent and then Shepherds Gully, to the west. Information signs in the area provide some interesting historical background and the 'Convict Trail Project' has an excellent website for further reading.

Hangmans Rock
Hangmans Rock is beside the historic Old Great North Road, near Wisemans Ferry, NSW. This beautiful sandstone cave/overhang has some steps and a bench seat cut into it and is part of the history of the convict built OGNR. It is uncertain what purpose the spot served, but stories that convicts were hanged through the hole in the roof of the cave appear unlikely to be true, despite giving a name to the atmospheric spot.

Thomas James Bridge
The historic Thomas James Bridge is on Wisemans Ferry Rd, NSW. This is the oldest in-use bridge on mainland Australia (Tasmania has older bridges) and is one of several convict built bridges along the Old Great North Road. The bridge was built during 1830 (the timber deck is more recent) and was named after the overseer of 'Road Party 25' which built the bridge.

Get more information
Wildwalks

Weather & Alerts Check forecasts & closures
Weather Forecast
- Gosford Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri
  
  Saturday 27 July
  
  19°C
  Showers.
  90% chance of rain
  
  Cloudy. High chance of showers, becoming less likely in the late afternoon and evening. The chance of a thunderstorm. Winds northwesterly 15 to 20 km/h becoming light in the late afternoon. Daytime maximum temperatures between 15 and 19.
  
  UV Alert: Sun protection 10:40am to 1:20pm, UV Index predicted to reach 3 [Moderate]
  
  Sunday 28 July
  
  7°C → 16°C
  Sunny.
  20% chance of rain
  
  Partly cloudy. Slight chance of a shower. Snow possible above 1000 metres. Winds westerly 20 to 30 km/h. Overnight temperatures falling to between 4 and 8 with daytime temperatures reaching between 11 and 16.
  
  Monday 29 July
  
  5°C → 16°C
  Partly cloudy.
  30% chance of rain
  0 → 1mm
  
  Partly cloudy. Areas of morning frost about the Upper Hunter. Medium chance of showers along the coastal fringe, most likely in the afternoon and evening. Near zero chance of rain elsewhere. Winds west to southwesterly 15 to 25 km/h tending south to southwesterly during the day then tending west to southwesterly 15 to 20 km/h during the evening. Overnight temperatures falling to between minus 1 and 5 above zero with daytime temperatures reaching between 12 and 16.
  
  Alert: Large and powerful surf conditions are expected to be hazardous for coastal activities such as rock fishing, swimming and surfing.
  
  Tuesday 30 July
  
  5°C → 16°C
  Partly cloudy.
  30% chance of rain
  0 → 1mm
  
  Partly cloudy. Areas of morning frost about the Upper Hunter. Medium chance of showers near the coast, near zero chance elsewhere. Winds west to southwesterly 15 to 25 km/h tending south to southwesterly during the morning. Overnight temperatures falling to between minus 1 and 5 above zero with daytime temperatures reaching between 12 and 16.
  
  Wednesday 31 July
  
  6°C → 16°C
  Possible shower.
  40% chance of rain
  0 → 1mm
  
  Possible shower.
  
  Thursday 1 August
  
  6°C → 16°C
  Shower or two.
  50% chance of rain
  0 → 2mm
  
  Shower or two.
  
  Friday 2 August
  
  7°C → 17°C
  Shower or two.
  50% chance of rain
  0 → 1mm
  
  Shower or two.
  
  Forecast data thanks to © Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
Alerts
- Yengo National Park alerts
  Closed areas: Closed area: Yango walking track
  Yango walking track is closed due to storm damage.
  
  Penalties apply for non-compliance. For more information, contact the NPWS Bulga Area Office on 02 6574 5555.
  
  Other planned events: Notice of 1080 ground baiting program
  NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) is conducting an ongoing ground baiting program from Monday 20th May 2024 to Sunday 6th October 2024.
  The operation will use 1080 (sodium fluoroacetate) poison for the control of wild dogs and foxes. The program will take place in Dharug National Park (NP), Koolewong Flora Reserve (FR), Manobalai Nature Reserve (NR), Parr State Conservation Area (SCA), Wollemi FR, Wollemi NP, Wollemi SCA, Yengo NP.
  The program is designed to minimise predator impacts on wildlife, especially threatened species, and to minimise the impact of wild dogs on neighbouring stock.
  Signs will be placed at the entry to the baiting location. Domestic pets are not permitted in NSW National Parks managed lands. Pets and working dogs may be affected (1080 is lethal to cats and dogs). Pets and working dogs must be restrained or muzzled in the vicinity and must not enter the baiting location. In the event of accidental poisoning seek immediate veterinary assistance.
  Please contact the Wollemi Yengo NPWS area office for more information on 02 6574 5555.
  
  Alert kindly provided by © NSW Nataional Parks and Wildlife Service
- Dharug National Park alerts
  Other planned events: Notice of 1080 ground baiting program
  NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) is conducting an ongoing ground baiting program from Monday 20th May 2024 to Sunday 6th October 2024.
  The operation will use 1080 (sodium fluoroacetate) poison for the control of wild dogs and foxes. The program will take place in Dharug National Park (NP), Koolewong Flora Reserve (FR), Manobalai Nature Reserve (NR), Parr State Conservation Area (SCA), Wollemi FR, Wollemi NP, Wollemi SCA, Yengo NP.
  The program is designed to minimise predator impacts on wildlife, especially threatened species, and to minimise the impact of wild dogs on neighbouring stock.
  Signs will be placed at the entry to the baiting location. Domestic pets are not permitted in NSW National Parks managed lands. Pets and working dogs may be affected (1080 is lethal to cats and dogs). Pets and working dogs must be restrained or muzzled in the vicinity and must not enter the baiting location. In the event of accidental poisoning seek immediate veterinary assistance.
  Please contact the Wollemi Yengo NPWS area office for more information on 02 6574 5555.
  
  Alert kindly provided by © NSW Nataional Parks and Wildlife Service

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