Don't let the name fool you. Dunns Swamp, or Ganguddy as it is known to the Dabee People of the Wiradjuri Nation, is nothing like a swamp. Rather it is a stunning and peaceful oasis in the Wollemi National Park.
Ganguddy offers a tranquil escape on the Cudgegong River, where the shoreline is dotted with remarkable pagoda rock formations, soaring sandstone escarpments, winding river valleys and awe-inspiring geological features which also shelter a rich diversity of plants, birds and animals and natural heritage.
Southern Cross Kayaking operate seasonally at Ganguddy on weekends and school holidays from September to April, offering guided kayak tours as well as kayak and stand-up paddle (SUP) board hire.
Kayak Tours at Ganguddy-Dunns Swamp
Southern Cross Kayaking offer guided tours daily during their season, providing a peaceful and spectacular paddle with an experienced and knowledgeable guide. Our tours are enjoyable and enlightening, filling you with fascinating facts about the natural and cultural history of the area.
Learn about the areas enduring and significant indigenous history and the Dabee People’s connection to the land, the first European settlement, a notorious 'lady bushranger' and the incredible tale of the building of the weir that formed the beautiful waterway as it exists today.
In addition to daytime tours, we also provide twilight tours on Friday evenings during daylight saving.
Visiting Ganguddy-Dunns Swamp
Ganguddy is a very special location and visitors enjoy the location for its beauty, walking tracks, waterways and natural heritage.
The Park is open to day visitors and campers. There are a variety of camp sites at Ganguddy campground offering different benefits and aspects, with sites located by the water and others in among the trees or stunning rock pagoda formations. The majority of sites are designated for tent camping, and some sites are a short distance from a carpark, whilst limited spaces are designated for caravans and camper trailers.
- No booking is required for day use visits to Ganguddy
- No park entry fee applies for day use visits
- Camping spaces at Ganguddy are limited and bookings for camping are essential prior to arrival
- Bookings can be made through National Parks and Wildlife service (NPWS).
Aboriginal Art Sites at Ganguddy-Dunns Swamp
Ganguddy-Dunns Swamp is located on Wiradjuri Country and is a place of great significance to the local Aboriginal people. Home to a vast concentration of significant sites, art sites and artefacts, this magical location gives evidence to the Dabee People of the Wiradjuri Nation’s long connection to Ganguddy and its cultural and historical implications to them. Some art sites in the area are signposted, and some are not. If you encounter sites or artefacts on your adventures, please revel in the discovery, understand their significance and treat them with the respect they deserve and leave them undisturbed.
Accommodation near Ganguddy-Dunns Swamp
We spend a glorious 50% of the year camping at Ganguddy and we love it, but we get that camping is not for everyone. If camping is not your thing, there are many great options for accommodation near Ganguddy, and in both Rylstone and Kandos, including farm stays, wilderness cabins, B&B's, hotels and motels. Or even private camping if being in the campground is not for you.
Facilities at Ganguddy-Dunns Swamp Campground
Basic facilities are provided at Ganguddy-Dunns Swamp campground including:
- Numerous pit toilets (long drops – non flushing)
- Picnic areas which are cleaned and maintained regularly by NPWS staff (although it is important to clean up after yourself
- Wood fired BBQs and tables provided in the picnic area
- Firewood is sometimes provided by NPWS, but supply cannot be guaranteed, so if you require a fire for cooking it's best to bring your own wood
- Please note it is not permitted to burn wood found in the park as it provides habitat for wildlife and prevents erosion
- Drinking water is not provided, so bring your own or it is recommended to boil water from the river prior to drinking
- We recommend bring with you what you need
- Please do not use detergents or cleaning products in or near the river. (The Cudgegong River and is one of the state's cleanest waterways, please help us to keep it that way)
As we operate within a remote National Park, there is no access to sanitation products, running water or rubbish collection. We recommend bringing your own sanitation products and additional drinking water. Please make arrangements to remove any rubbish when you leave.
Cooking and Campfires at Ganguddy-Dunns Swamp
Everyone loves a good campfire, but please adhere to these respectful guidelines when you camp at Ganguddy.
- Firewood may be provided by NPWS at Ganguddy, but this is not always possible, so the best way to ensure supply is to bring your own. BBQs and fire rings are provided in the camping and picnic areas and fires must only be lit in these places.
- When firewood is provided, please be considerate to other campers and only take what you need.
- Keep fires to a modest size, this isn't the place for bonfires.
- Do not leave fires unattended
- Do not use the fire to burn rubbish
- Always have water nearby to put fires out and stop fire escaping the fire ring or BBQ
- Always ensure you put the fire out completely before leaving
- Always check online for fire bans before leaving home and be aware that you will not be able to have a fire or use gas to cook in the event of a total fire ban, so will need to bring appropriate food.
Wildlife at Ganguddy-Dunns Swamp
All plants and animals at Ganguddy are protected under the National Parks and Wildlife Act. Don't be surprised if you share your visit with possums, wombats, goannas, quolls, wallabies and many different types of birds.
Some of the animals have become used to their human visitors and may come quite close. Please do not feed the animals as it can be harmful to their health and change their natural behaviour, in some cases making them become aggressive
Please ensure that your food and rubbish is stored securely so animals cannot access them, especially at night.
Walking Tracks at Ganguddy-Dunns Swamp
While we do recommend experiencing Ganguddy from the water by kayak or stand up paddle board, we also encourage anyone who is able to walk to the pagoda lookout for a fantastic view of the river, the surrounding country side and to the east over the Wollemi Wilderness. Most people leaving from our base at the picnic area reach the top in under half an hour. There is a short scramble for a metre or so at the base of the pagoda, but it's not difficult after that. We manage to get up there and we're no mountain goats!
Boating at Ganguddy-Dunns Swamp
Situated on the Cudgegong River, Ganguddy-Dunns Swamp was formed when the river was dammed in the 1920's to provide a water supply for the Kandos Cement Works.
The navigable length of the waterway is approximately 5km. The Southern Cross Kayaking base is located beside the boat launch ramp at about the middle of this distance, so in an hour most people can paddle all the way in either direction and return.
Currently power boats are permitted at Gandguddy-Dunns Swamp, and please note that the entire waterway is subject to 4 knot limit and standard maritime laws and regulations apply and are enforced.
The boat ramp area is also a popular swimming site so caution must be exercised when launching and retrieving boats.
Fishing at Ganguddy-Dunns Swamp
Fishing is permitted at Ganguddy-Dunns Swamp with a current NSW Fishing Licence. While it is home to a variety of fish life, Ganguddy-Dunns Swamp is not renowned among fisher folk for plentiful catches. More success will be achieved at nearby Lake Windemere which is regularly stocked.
Most commonly seen species at Ganguddy are Golden Perch (Yellow Belly) and Eel-tailed Catfish and occasionally Native Blackfish (Slipperies) and Murray Cod.
Please note Eel-tailed Catfish and Native Blackfish are not permitted to be removed from Ganguddy-Dunns Swamp and Cod are subject to season, size and bag limits.
If you are licenced and do wish to fish at Ganguddy-Dunns Swamp please use lures rather than bait. The waterway is home to a large population of Eastern Long-Necked Turtles who readily take bait, so be prepared and have the appropriate tools to carefully remove hooks from turtles.
Please ensure you do not leave fishing line or hooks lying around, they are a hazard to people and wildlife.
Yabby Traps at Ganguddy-Dunns Swamp
The Cudgegong River at Ganguddy-Dunns Swamp is also home to a population of platypus. Please note that as of 30 April 2021, the use of 'opera house' style yabby traps by recreational fishers prohibited in all of NSW waterways, as they pose a risk to air breathing animals such as platypus, water rats and turtles, which can inadvertently get caught in traps.
Additional Ganguddy Information
Smoking ban in National Parks
NSW national parks, including Ganguddy-Dunns Swamp, are no smoking areas. Did you know that 7 billion cigarette butts are littered across Australia every year? This puts lives and property at risk, ruining beaches, spoiling the beauty of our parks, and endangering wildlife.
Since May 2016 smoking has been banned in all parks, with some minor exceptions.
Pets are not permitted at Ganguddy-Dunns Swamp
Dogs and other pets are not permitted in most NSW national parks and reserves.
No Generators are allowed to be used at any time at Ganguddy
Generators are banned at Ganguddy-Dunns Swamp by the park plan of management and by signs posted in the park.
Loud noise and behaviour at Ganguddy-Dunns Swamp
Quiet time is from 10pm to 8am. Please keep fireside chats low as your voice can carry over large distances in the campground. Ganguddy-Dunns Swamp is a beautiful place of quiet reflection, where people come to get away from it all, in peaceful and serene surroundings, it is not the place for loud parties, loud music or disrespectful behaviour.