Polblue Swamp Track

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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	Moonan Brook. (-31.9542664,151.4284404)
Mode	Car
Directions	From Thunderbolts Way, Barrington, head north-west along Scone Road; After 30.8km, continue straight along Barrington Tops Forest Road Cobark. After another 29.4km, turn left on to Moonan Brook. After another 40m, come to the trackhead on Moonan Brook.

Track Notes Turn by turn instructions & maps

Turn map	Directions & comments
	Start (from Polblue Swamp Picnic Area, Moonan Brook) by heading north-west.
	Then almost immediately (at the 4-way intersection, with & Polblue Swamp Walk) turn sharp right, to follow Polblue Swamp Walk. After another 50m, cross the wooden bridge. After another 80m, cross the wooden bridge. After another 80m, pass a seat (5m on the left). After another 30m, cross the wooden bridge. After another 60m, cross the wooden bridge. After another 100m, cross the wooden bridge. After another 200m, cross the wooden bridge. After another 50m, pass a seat (on the left). After another 70m, cross the wooden bridge, over the Polblue Creek.
	After another 250m, (at the 3-way intersection) bear right, to stay on Polblue Swamp Walk. After another 90m, cross the wooden bridge. After another 150m, pass a seat (on the left). After another 450m, cross the wooden bridge. After another 250m, cross the wooden bridge. After another 400m, pass a seat (on the left).
	After another 150m, (at the 3-way intersection, with Polblue Swamp Walk & ) turn right. Then almost immediately you will find the Polblue Campground (30m ahead).
	After another 80m, (at the 3-way intersection, with & Polblue Swamp Walk) turn right, to follow Polblue Swamp Walk. After another 15m, pass a toilet (20m on your right). After another 150m, cross the wooden bridge, over the Polblue Creek.
	After another 150m, (at the 4-way intersection, with Polblue Swamp Walk & ) turn right.
	After another 10m you come to the end at Polblue Swamp Picnic Area, Moonan Brook.

Terrain Know the Hills, grading & facilities

Grading

	Class 3/6 Moderate track
Length	2.9km
Time	45 mins to 1 hr 15 mins

Quality of track	Formed track, with some branches and other obstacles (3/6)
Gradient	Gentle hills with occasional steps (2/6)
Signage	Directional signs along the way (3/6)
Infrastructure	Limited facilities, not all cliffs are fenced (3/6)
Experience Required	No experience required (2/6)
Weather	Storms may impact on navigation and safety (3/6)

Some facilities on route

Campsite: There is one 2.5km from the start.

Toilet: There is one 2.5km from the start.

Seat: There are 4 on route, they are on average 700m part with the largest gap being 1.1km.

Order of key facilities on route

Item	From Start	Name & link to notes
Seat	200m	[seat]
Seat	700m	[seat]
Seat	1.2km	[seat]
Seat	2.3km	[seat]
Campsite	2.5km	[campsite]
Toilet	2.5km	[toilet]

Weather & Alerts Check forecasts & closures
Weather Forecast
- Barrington Tops Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu
  
  Friday 18 July
  
  7°C
  Shower or two.
  70% chance of rain
  
  Partly cloudy. High chance of rain in the north, medium chance elsewhere, becoming less likely inland in the afternoon and evening. Light winds becoming south to southwesterly 15 to 20 km/h in the middle of the day then tending west to southwesterly in the late evening. Daytime maximum temperatures between 12 and 18.
  
  UV Alert: Sun protection 11:00am to 12:30pm, UV Index predicted to reach 3 [Moderate]
  
  Saturday 19 July
  
  2°C → 8°C
  Possible shower.
  40% chance of rain
  0 → 1mm
  
  Partly cloudy. Slight chance of a shower in the morning and afternoon. The chance of morning fog inland. Winds west to southwesterly 15 to 20 km/h tending south to southwesterly 15 to 25 km/h in the middle of the day then becoming light in the late afternoon. Overnight temperatures falling to between 5 and 9 with daytime temperatures reaching between 14 and 20.
  
  Sunday 20 July
  
  0°C → 9°C
  Sunny.
  20% chance of rain
  
  Areas of frost and the chance of fog inland in the morning. Mostly sunny day. Slight chance of a shower, most likely in the afternoon and evening. Light winds becoming south to southwesterly 15 to 20 km/h during the morning then becoming light during the afternoon. Overnight temperatures falling to between 1 and 8 with daytime temperatures reaching between 15 and 20.
  
  Monday 21 July
  
  0°C → 9°C
  Possible shower.
  40% chance of rain
  0 → 1mm
  
  Partly cloudy. Areas of morning frost about higher ground. Medium chance of showers, most likely in the morning and afternoon. Light winds becoming southeast to southwesterly 15 to 20 km/h during the morning then becoming light during the evening. Overnight temperatures falling to between 1 and 8 with daytime temperatures reaching between 14 and 19.
  
  Tuesday 22 July
  
  2°C → 11°C
  Partly cloudy.
  10% chance of rain
  
  Partly cloudy.
  
  Wednesday 23 July
  
  5°C → 11°C
  Shower or two.
  60% chance of rain
  0 → 4mm
  
  Shower or two.
  
  Thursday 24 July
  
  4°C → 11°C
  Shower or two.
  70% chance of rain
  0 → 5mm
  
  Shower or two.
  
  Forecast data thanks to © Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
Alerts
- Barrington Tops National Park alerts
  Closed areas: Seasonal Closure of Barrington Tops NP 4WD trails
  The following 4WD trails are closed to all public vehicles from Sunday 1 June 2025 to the afternoon of Tuesday 30 September 2025 for the winter seasonal closure:
  
  Barrington trail - south
  
  Barrington trail - central
  
  Paddys Ridge trail
  
  Butchers Swamp trail
  
  Bullock Brush trail
  
  Thunderbolts trail (between Barrington Tops Forest Road and Pheasants Creek Road)
  
  Tugalow trail
  
  Vehicle access to Junction Pools, Little Murray and Gummi Falls campgrounds and associated walking tracks and facilities is closed during this time. Visitors can still access all these campgrounds, walking tracks and facilities on foot or by bicycle.
  Unfortunately Little Murray campground is currently closed to all visitors while NPWS deals with a public safety risk.
  Penalties apply for non-compliance. For more information, please contact either the NPWS Gloucester area office on 02 6538 5300, the NPWS Scone area office on 02 6540 2300 or visit the NSW National Parks safety page for park safety guidelines.
  
  Closed areas: Notice of temporary closure - Little Murray Campground, Barrington Tops NP
  The NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) will be temporarily closing Little Murray Campground, Little Murray Trail and Narrow Plain Trail on the Barrington Tops plateau from Monday 31 March to Friday 18 July 2025 (including weekend days) for a park management program to address a public safety risk.
  Do Not Enter. Penalties apply for non-compliance.
  Closure notices will be placed at all visitor areas and relevant access points.
  We appreciate your patience while this important work is carried out. For further information about these closures, please contact conservation.barringtontops@environment.nsw.gov.au.
  
  Other incidents: Barrington Tops Forest Road closures
  The severe weather event in May 2025 has caused major damage to Barrington Tops Forest Road in a number of places, forcing MidCoast Council to close the road on the eastern side of Barrington Tops. There is currently no access to the Barrington Tops plateau, or Scone via the Barrington Tops Forest Rd from Gloucester.
  The same weather event has also caused major damage on the western side of the plateau, forcing Upper Hunter Shire Council to place a 2.5T load limit on the section of road west of the Dingo Gate - see 2.5 tonne Load Limit in Place – Barrington Tops Forest Road - UHSC.
  For more information on the councils closures please contact the appropriate council directly.
  For up to date general information on road closures visit https://www.livetraffic.com/.
  
  Other incidents: No vehicle access to Lagoon Pinch Picnic Area
  There is currently no vehicle access to Williams Top Picnic Area or Lagoon Pinch Picnic Area (due to closure of Williams Top Rd and Lagoon Pinch Forest Rd in Chichester State Forest) following serve weather.
  Access to the Corker Trail is only via Williams River Picnic Area and Rocky Crossing Walk, adding an additional 9km (one-way) to the walk to Careys Peak/Wombat Creek Campground.
  Walkers need to be experienced and well prepared for long-distance, remote hiking.
  For information about State Forest closures, please visit: Forestry Corporation - Closures and notices.
  For more information on accessing Barrington Tops National Park contact Gloucester NPWS on 02 6538 5300.
  
  Closed areas: Tubrabucca Road closed due to severe weather impacts.
  The section of Tubrabucca Rd between Horse Swamp campground and the ridge east of Paddys Creek bridge is currently closed due to impacts from the recent severe weather event.
  For further information contact the Scone NPWS office on (02) 6540 2300.
  
  Closed areas: Burraga Swamp Walk Closed
  Burraga Swamp walking track is currently inaccessible to vehicles due to closure of Mt Allyn Rd. Forestry Corporation of NSW has closed the road due to a failed bridge. The reopening date is not known at this stage. For more information, phone Gloucester NPWS Office on 02 6538 5300.
  
  Safety alerts: Feral Cat 1080 program - Gloucester Tops
  NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) is undertaking a Felixer feral cat pest management program the Gloucester Tops part of the park from Friday 28 March 2025 to Friday 19 September 2025.
  This program is designed to minimise the impact of feral cats on wildlife, especially the endangered rufous scrub-bird and broad-toothed rat. There will be signs at all baiting locations.
  The operation will involve the use Felixer 1080 cartridges, containing 1080 (sodium fluoroacetate) poison, dispensed by a Felixer unit, for the control of feral cats.
  Domestic pets are not permitted in NSW national parks and reserves. Pets and working dogs may be affected (1080 is lethal to cats and dogs). Pets and working dogs must be restrained in the vicinity and must not enter the baiting locations. In the event of accidental poisoning seek immediate veterinary assistance.
  For further information, please call the Barrington Tops area office on 02 6538 5300.
  
  Safety alerts: Visitor Safety Alert: Feral Horses
  Feral horses move through this campground day and night. Campers at Little Murray and Polblue campgrounds should set up tents as close to their vehicles as possible.
  
  Aggressive horse behaviour can pose a safety risk for visitors. Aggressive behaviour includes snorting, head bobbing, stomping front legs, ears erect, aggressive stance and approaching in an aggressive manner.
  
  What to do around aggressive horses:
  · avoid the animals, especially if a stallion is present and there are mares nearby
  · retreat to your vehicle
  · wave your arms around and make lots of noise
  · walk in a group rather than as an individual
  · always be aware of your immediate surroundings.
  
  Please report any such interaction or aggressive horse behaviour to NPWS Gloucester on 6538 5300.
  
  Closed areas: Phytophthora quarantine area - Barrington Tops National Park
  Phytophthora is a mould that causes dieback in plants. It's been found on the plateau in Barrington Tops National Park, predominantly on the Watergauge trail between Beean Beean and Black Swamp. The affected area is under quarantine with absolutely no visitor access.
  Phytophthora is readily spread by mud carried by walkers' shoes and mountain-bike tyres. There are boot wash stations across the plateau for walkers to use, to ensure their boots 'Start clean, Stay clean'.
  Penalties apply for non-compliance. For more information, please contact the NPWS Gloucester area office on (02) 6538 5300.
  
  Alert kindly provided by © NSW Nataional Parks and Wildlife Service

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