Alum Mountain, Mount Alum or Bulahdelah Mountain (depending on which map you happen to be looking at!) is around 1 1/4hrs from Newcastle and located on the Mid-North Coast of NSW, AU. We’ve done this hike a number of times and it offers great views across the valley to the Great Dividing Range in the west and towards Port Stephens to the South East. There are a couple of shorter hiking and walking trails here that you can combine into a hike of around 6 kms.
Bulahdelah Mountain (Mount Alum) walking and hiking trails at a glance
Distance: Three short hikes up to 2.2 kms. Combine for a longer hike of 6.3 kms
Duration: 2 1/2 hours to 3 1/2 hours
Track: Combination of fire trails and single track paths. Some stairs
Grade: Moderate. Grade 3.
Start: Scott Street, Bulahdelah
Finish: Scott Street, Bulahdelah
Nearby trails: Booti Hill and Wallis Lake walking and hiking trail
Bookings/Permits: Not required
Other information: Picnic, toilet and playground facilities can be found at the trail head.
Information on how walking trails are graded can be found here.
Bulahdelah Mountain is a place of cultural and spiritual significance to the Worimi people. Tracks pass by the Worimi Cultural area. You are also able to view traditional tree carvings. At the end of the 19th century this area was used for mining, giving it the name Alum Mountain.
The Trails
Boolah Dillah Track
2.2 km return (1 – 1.5 hours)
Carpark – Worimi Cultural Area
The section from the carpark to the intersection with Ted Baker Track is the steepest. But flattens out considerably after.
Moderate hike
Ted Baker Track
850m return (20 – 40 minutes)
Be prepared for quite a few steps at the start of the track. In some places there are handrails to assist with your ascent, but the hike isn’t particularly steep. In good weather you can see Fingal Bay Lighthouse in the distance. There is no barrier fencing at the lookout.
Moderate – hard hike
Mountain Track
1.7km return (40 – 60 minutes)
Worimi Cultural Area – Mountain Lookout
Natural rock cliff lookout with no barrier fencing. A moderate walk with many steps. Views over the township of Bulahdelah towards Barrington Tops.
Moderate hike
If you have time, stop in at the small township of Bulahdelah on your way home. There is a magnificent bakery and coffee shops for a quick bite to eat. Or free/low cost camping either on the river bank or behind the bowling club.
Getting to Bulahdelah Mountain walking and hiking trails
Bulahdelah was on the old Pacific Highway which previously wound it’s way between Sydney in the south and Brisbane in the North. It was bypassed by the new M1 in 2013, making it very easy to access from one of Australia’s major arterial roads. Take the Bulahdelah exit from the M1.
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